The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-02-15


but believe me It has its proper use
In the future, II accident should con
front you with the-woman. neither OF
you will be embarrassed She will. il
is true, know your name, but unless she
should look you up in Gays TO come she
will never see your face. Is that com
forta ble?-yes? We'll. a moment and
we are gone Your hand, my friend,
now. and your word Of honor You
will not look on this woman's face. nor
seek in any way to discover from her,
from me- or from anyone aught that
am seeking to conceal: under all cir
eumstances you Will yourself conceal
from everyone the facts of this nights
business; and you accept the woman
to whom we go 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 as
man to man"
''As man to 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 to him that
the carriage trayersed 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
a journey" he said. lis natural. an
almost automatic, action of the brain
eells-an inheritance from both animal
and human ancestry. Therefore Dick.
If | have sought to confuse you by my
queer route, it 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
a 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 that
had neither bell nor knocker, and into
woman's room.
How weak is 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 it
was the room of a refined woman he
was sure in advance. Had he not
been, there was the deep carpet into
which his feet sank noiselessly.
And it was plain that he had come
into garden from side street, since
no residence would have opened from
woman's room into a walk that led
directly to a main street.
Here, then, was a woman who lived
upon first floor with a private gar
den at her disposal. He had hearG
the gentle FLASHING of water outside;
there was fountain in this garden
the city until he found the premises
If he would. So much for the secrecy
of his friend Brodnar!
BY this time Richard Somers was
deeply interested man. Despite hi
resolution to carry off the affai
lightly. he began to feel the presenc,
of something like tragedy. Wher,
was the woman who was to make us,
of him olindly and go through tn,
form of a marriage2 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 it. TIL
room was not dark, for he felt ligh
upon his bandaged eyes. Instructive
y'he stretched out his hand.
Then there was laid within it an
other as soft as silken velvet and SINAI
and tremulous. The touch thrilled hin
from head to foot; it was the hand O
young woman-the timidity be
longed to girlhood-and instantly
deep sympathy moved him. 1t wa
indeed an urgent cause that forced he
into this situation-forced her, becaus
now she was softly crying, and he
emotion shook the little hand. 1nstan
" his own hand closed above hers.
''Be not afraid. my child" he sale
"all will be well" His voice, low an
sympatheJlc, was the nrst TO break n
silence of that room. The girl cease
crying and her hand lay quiet with
his own. Then the doctor spoke in
whisper:
eve are ready" he said to a thin
person; make the ceremony as bril-
as possible" The other began:
Richard Somers. do you take tn
woman to be thy welded wife. to liz
together after Gods holy ordinance
the holy state OF matrimony? Wilt the
love her, comfort her. honor and Ike,
her in sickness and in health, and, 70
saking all others. keep thee only un
her, so long as We both shall live -
There was silence, and then Richai
Somers said gravely: 81 take this wei