The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-08-22
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Copyright. isss. by J. b. Lippincott Com
pany. All rights reserved.
CHAPTER II.--Continucd.

front you with the--woman, neither OF
you will be embarrassed. She will. u
ls true, know your name, but unless she
should look you up In days TO come she
will never see your face. IL that com
forta BILE yes? Well, a moment and
we are gone. Your hand, my friend.
now. and your word Of honor. You
will not look on this womsn's face. nor
seek In any way TO discover from her.
from me. or from anyone aught that I
am seeking to conceal; under all cir
rumstances you will yourself conceal
from everyone the facts Of this nights
business; and you accept the woman
TO whom we 60 as your wife with all
the limitations have outlined. know
that In your own heart you are re
solved, but the honor of woman Is at
stake. and you must promise me rs
man TO man"
AS man 10 man, then. and upon the
honor of Richard Somers, / promise.
Lead on" The chance passer-by who
saw a blindfolded man led from the
elegant apartments Of DR.. Francis
Brodnar was not surprised. The ex-
PLANTATION was easy. But Somers him
self was distinctly surprised at the
length Of the ride and the number Of
corners turned. II seemed 10 him that
the carriage traversed more than once
the same road, for in spite of himself
he could not but take notice OF such
things. DR.. Brodnar deserted the drift
Of his thoughts.
"For man TO note the direction OF
Journey" he said, ''is q natural. an
almost automatic. action of the brain
cells-an inheritance from both animal
and human ancestry. Therefore, Dick,
u have sought 10 confuse you by my
queer route. Il Is only through dis
trust OF the original and savage
Somers, and TO save all parties embar-
rassment. trust few people. Here
we are at last" Dismounting. he led
his companion on pavement. through
q narrow gateway, the gate of which
he unlocked, along a gravel walk with
shrubbery on both sides for about 60
PAGES, up two stone steps to door tha,
had neither bell nor knocker, and into
a woman's room.
How weak Ia human invention.
Richard Somers gathered these facts
without mental effort from small
signs. The football upon the pave
ment, the search for the key. the
clicking lock. the crowding. the gravel
under foot, the touch OF shrubbery,
two steps at the door, and the indie
Enable air Of every lady's room-the
faint, blended odor of powders. toilet
waters and pressed flowers. That II
was the room OF refined woman he
was sure In advance. Had he not
been, there was the deep carpet into
which his feet sank noiselessly.
And II was plain that he had come
into garden from side street, since
no residence would have opened from
woman's room into walk that led
directly to main street.
Here, then. was n woman who lived
upon a first floor with a private gar.
den at her disposal. He had heard
the gentle plashing of water outside;
there was fountain in this garden
On the morrow he had but to walk
the city until he found the premises
u he would. So much for the secrecy
of his friend Brodnar!
BY this time Richard Somers was q
deeply interested man. Despite hi,
resolution to carry of the affaiI
lightly, he began to feel the presence
of something like n tragedy. Where
was the woman who was to make MS,
of him blindly and go through the
form Of marriage? Dimly at first
perhaps as a matter OF logic, he wa,
conscious that she was In the room
and near him. Then without NOR,
reason he became certain of IL. Tn,
room was not dark, for he felt ligh,
upon his bandaged eyes. Instructive
lN he stretched out his hand.
Then there was laid within II nn
other MS soft as silken velvet and smal
and tremulous. The touch thrilled hin
from head TO foot; il was the hand o
young woman--the timidity be
Ionged to girlhood--and instantly ,
deep sympathy moved him. II wa
indeed an urgent cause that forced hel
into this ssituation-forced her, because
now she was softly crying, and he
emotion shook the little hand. Instant
ly his own hand closed above hers.
'Be not afraid. my child" he said
"all will be we'll" His voice, low an'
sympathetic, was the first to break tn
silence OF that room. The girl cease'
crying and her hand lay quiet withil
his own. Then the doctor spoke In
whisper:
I'VE are ready" he said to thir,
person; make the ceremony as brie
as possible" The other began:
''Richard Somers, do you take thi
woman to be thy welded wife, to liv
together after Gods holy ordinance Il
the holy state OF matrimony? Wiltthol
love her, comfort her, honor and kee
her In sickness and in health, and. for
ssling all others, keep thee only unit
her. 80 long a. ye both shall liveg'
There was silence. and then Richar,
Somers said gravely: ~ take this won
an TO be my lawful welded wife; and
shall comfort her, honor and keep he
I'm sickness and In health, TO The best o
my ability, as long as shall continu
10 be her welded husband. ID tina
suf5icient, sir, TO answer all legal RI
quirsments?"
''That Ii sufficient" said the unknow
speaker. "Frances. wilt thou have thi
man to be thy welded husband"
ITO honor him at all times and In al
hours while life shall last?" saio Som
ers, interrupting. II ask no more. n
less"
Then upon his hearing fell cleaI
musical voice, fawless as the note Q
a dove, plaintive as the wind-harp O
Sl.a s.fses.