Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-25
"1 am ready"


you will be embarrassed. She will. it
ia true. know your name, but unless she
should look you mp In days to come she
will never sec your face. Is that com
forts BILE ?--yes2 Well, a moment and
wa are gone. Your hand, my friend,
now, and your word Of honor. You
will not look on this won n e face, nor
seek in any way TO discover from her,
from nc. or from anyone aught that (
am seeking TO conceal; under all cir
cumstances you will yourself conceal
from everyone the facts Of this nights
business: and you accept the woman
70 whom we 60 as your wife with oil
the limitations 7 have outlined. TkneW
that in your own heart you are re-
solved, but the honor Of a woman IL az
stake, and you must promise mo as
man to man."
"As man to man, then. and upon Tho
honor OF Richard Somers. promise.
Lead on" The chance passer-by who
cav a bAndfoded man led from the
elegant apartments Of Or. 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 traverscd 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 a man to note the direction Of
journey" he said "is a natural. an
! almost automatic, action Of the brain
cells-ap inheritance from both animal
, and human ancestry. Therefore. Dick
If have sought to corfuse you by my
queer route. it is only through dis
trust of the original and savage
Somers, and TO save all parties embar-
rassmcnt. I trust few people. Here
we are at last" Dsmountng. he led
his companion on pavement. through
narrow gateway, the gate Of which
he unlocked. along a gravel walk with
shrubbery on both sides for about 80
paces,mp two stone steps to n door that
had neither bell nor knocker. and in o
q 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, tho
clicking lock, the crowding. the gravel
under foot, the touch of shrubbrrv.
two steps at the door, and the indie
Unable air OF every lady's room-the
faint, blended odor Of powders. toilet
waters and pressed flowers That it
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 it was plain that he had come
into garden from a side street since
no residence would have opened from
a 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 heard
the gentle FLASHING OF water outside;
there was a fountain in this garden
On the morrow he had but to walk
the city until he found the premises
if he would. So much for the secrecy
of his friend Rrodnar!
BY this time Richard Somers was a
deeply interested man. Despite hi,
resolution to carry of the affair
lightly, he began TO feel the presence
Of something like tragedy Where
was the woman who was to make use
of him blindly and go through the
- E,e
perhaps as a matter of logic, he was
conscious that she was In the room
and near him. Then without more
reason he became certain OF il. The
room wos not dark, for he felt light
upon his bandaged eyes, Instructive
ly he stretched out his hand,
Then there was laid within II an
other as soft "a silksn velvet and small
and tremulous The touch thrilled hin
from head 20 foot; il was he hand o.
young woman-the timidty be
longed to girlhood-and instantly {
deep sympathy moved him. 1t was
indeed an urgent cause that forced hel
into this situation-forced her, because
now she was softly crying, and hel
emotion shook the little hand. Instant
~ his own hand closed above hers.
"Be not afraid. my child" he said
"all will be we'll" His voice. low ant
sympathetic. was the first to break tn
silence of that room. The girl cease
crying and her hand lay quiet With
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 Somcrs, do you take thi
woman to be thy welded wife, to liv
together after Gods holy ordinance i
the holy state of matrimony? Wilttho
love her. comfort her, honor and kee
her in sickness and in health. and, fol
saking ell others. keep thee only unit
her, SO long as We both shall liveP"
There was silence, and then Richar
!. Somers said gravely: 81 take this won
an to be my lawful welded wife; and
shall comfort her, honor and keep he
in sickness and in health, to the best c
my ability as long as l shall confirm
to be her welded husband. Is tina
= sufficient, sir, to answer all legal II
!, qnirements?"
THAT is sufficient" said the unknow
: speaker. Frances. wilt thou have til
man to be thy welded husband"
. ITO honor him at all times and in a