Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-15
CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)

dared say NOT at the attar!" she said
wildly, pressing her hands against her
q burning forehead. 'But then they would
blazon the story of my going to Con
ALAS with him to the world could
never hold up my head again. Oh, if /
could only die now-before-"
There came a knock at the door She
started and turned as if to face an enc
nv. her hand ,eryously clutching the
toilet glass. 1t seemed to her as If it
really was an enemy too, for 1T was Mrs.
Warrington, her arms half lost in the
costly folds of white satin which pro-
claimed the wedding dress.
Well" she said, in her loud. rough
voice. cts time to dress, and I've come
10 help you. Good heavens, Theo, YOU
look like a ghostl Don't stand staring
rub your cheeks. A pretty sight you'll
BET.
dAuntt' said Theo desperately, q
want TO make last appeal to youI
waIit-
None of that nonsense!" burst out
Mrs. Warrington, working herself up to
passion after her usual method. I'll
stand no more of it, or Pitt Samson
either. Come, hurry up; you don't want
to keep him waiting, or make him cry
of his bargain;" she added threaten
ingly.
Theo shuddered, but stood passive, like
some creature at bay, while he aunt ar
rayed her in the shining gown whose rich
white was hardly more colorle= than her
face. In spite Of her pallor there was
something terribly lovely about Theo
when at last she was dressed, from the
long white veil to the little slippers
but it was almost like the beauty OF
death. Mrs. Warrington looked her over
with q cruel triumph which she scarcely
cared to mask, and thrust the great bou-
Guet which Mr.. Samson had sent into her
cold, trembling hands. There was some
thing of the air of gaoler about her rs
she drove the bride out Of the room be-
fore her. and down to the carriage
where Mr.. Warrington was waiting to
take her to the church, looking furtively
uncomfortable. He had no mind to be a
party ito the affair, and if he could have
let his wife give Theo away in his stead,
would gladly have resigned in her favor.
i was to be q quiet wedding, but it
seemed to Theo, as her uncle led her up
the aisle, that the place was full of eyes.
They scorched her, they seemed to sur
round her, and to prohibit the last faint
hope of escape. The fact was that Mr..
Pitt Samson had invited all his acquaint-
ances to come and see him married to the
well-boTn heiress, and stood amongst
them himself, swelling with satisfaction,
near the front pews, his large frock coat
and white waistcoat conspicuous even
from the bottom of the church. Most of
his friends were city people, the men
made on the same pattern as himself, the
women as over dressed as Mrs. Wsrring-.
ton, and aIl talking in loud whispers
more audible than ordinary conversation.
Here she is!"-"How pale!"-"Well,
he isn't getting much of a bargain in the
way of ks!"-"What a train!"--
4'She can pay for it herself, anyhowi"
Theo heard the words as though they
were a long way off. Half dozen gold
trimmed lorgnettes seemed turned on her
as she dragged one foot after the other
towards Pitt Samson, awaiting her at
the chaneel steps.
Gam i dying?" she thought "Shall 1
fall What is happening to met"
Her dark, unhappy eyes roamed for
one last searching moment round the
church, but the face she sought was not
there. Lord Calne had failed of his
trust!
The clergyman opened his book, and
began to read. His voice sounded like
the gable of nonsense to Theo, who
tried ITS if in dream to follow its low,
measured tones. She never once turned
her eyes to the burly figure at her side,
though Pitt Samson cast furtive glauces
of triumph at her still, white face.
81 require and charge you both, as We
viii answer at the dreadful Day of Judg-
meHt, when the secrets Of all hearts
shall be disclosed, that if either of you
know any impeachment why We may not
be joined together in holy matrimony,
ye DO confess it,
Theo's wild eyes were raised to the
clergyman's face. She made a move
merrt as if to put out her hand in pro
test, but dropped it again to her side.
For be We we'll assured, that so many
as are coupled together otherwise than
Gods Word doth allow, are not Joined
together by Cod neither is their matxi
mony lawful"
There was the usual momentary pause
Through the silence a voice spoke, 50
clearly and deliberately that it rang
through the length and breadth of the
church, and reached every one of the
spectators.
4 dOIDIQ IHe DdnHS! MS marriage
must not 60 onr''
Pitt Samson swung round on his heel,
uttering a fierce oath, He forgot the
sacred building IN which he stood, and
the ciergyman's shocked "Hush!" fell on
deaf ears. He showed the cloven hoof
under his usual disguise of good man
ners. With some idea of claiming her
as his own, he seized Theo's arm, crush
ing and tearing her veil in his roughness,
and faced the interTuptor, his face
flushed dark red with passion.
As by instinct the congregation turned
too, and found themselves face to face
with little group which had come
quietly up the aisle impoverished until
now. Of all strange things In that !
scene, these people were surely the |
strangest A tall man. in long, rough, |
travelling coat, at sight of whom Mrs |
Warrington gave fierce cry of anger,
for it was Lord Calne; and with him |
were little withered man in Scotch |
plaid and n tall bony elderly woman |