Cañon City record., 1903-01-01
A STRANGE
MARRIAGE
FenalaLl

of Massachusetts, one Sunday morn
Ing during the sixteenth century
congregation OF Puritans was assem-
bled for divine worship. The minister
obedlah Armstrong, young man Of
twenty-eight. had been a captain in
Cromwell's army and had led his men
to battle to the music Of psalm
rather than the drum. the fife or the
bugle.
Suddenly the door opened. and a
young girl rushed in among the wor-
shippers with every appearance Of dread
excitement
How now, Mistress AsenethE' said
the pastor why do you thus disturb
our worship with your unholy inter
ruptiouf'
.The Indians gasped the girl
''They are comingr"
The men of the congregation were
about to rush for their weapons. which
stood against the leg walls of the
church when the pastor stopped them
LET there be no unseemIy haste in
the temple af the Lord he said ''If
what Aseneih Gwynne says is ruc
we may soon appear before the heav-
emily throne, II Is not meet that we
should 20 .hcre after showing
cowardly haste to save osr lives
Rather should we be dIligeut in saving
our souls. Let US slng-the One Hun
dredth Psalm"
The psalm was sung. the men set
ting their jaws and believing what
was really defiance 10 the savages.
the women singing In trembling voices.
The eye of the parson lighted as it had
lighted on the eve Of Marston Mcor.
and while he sang he looked upon the
comely face and figure OF the dHmsel
who had brought the warning When
the last stanza had been sung. there
was n movement In the congregation,
but the pastor raised his hand.
''The doxolo.y" he said.
At the moment there was a blood
curdllng whoop without. but the holy
man did not heed il. nor did his con.
gregailUn finch The doxOloEy 1--WE
vent to a flnal defiance TO the red men
whose arrows were now pauerirg
against the walls OF the church like
the hrst drops OF thunder shower
When the last word had been sung.
the pastor said:
- NoN AIfAAAAfAAs AAAsAA
should command you In battle as
have commanded some Of you who are
now here We win smlte the heather
savagcs with their oily skins AMI
scalplocIss as we once smote The cav
alters with their essences and unhoiy
sensual euris To your rnns!'
SEEKING Us. great sword whleh he bad
welded 80 wen in England and had
brought With him 10 the wilds OF
America. hc went about among lis
men. cach 90 his luopLelc. tirInE every
one with his own zai. embodied IN
some tex, r. IN Holy Writ.
Tie talgUl 10 - ot the rurtnns with
stood tlr iultrihF weapons ~ the say-
agcs. but s'ls latter seeing that they
could not e-trry the little church by
assault. made Preparations FOR burnIaE
the buili.uE The rear stood against
low bank. hrtwccp which ana tlse cdi.
fice was q well The savaEcs mIde
rush. gctiing sufficiently nesT 10
throw burning brush against the lat
ter. IL WAS then that the pastor ccnsctl
10 exliort aud. scixin@ a bucket. was
about to open rcar dooI ana 20 ont
for water when Asenetb Gwynne
stopped him.
THAT is certain DEATH" she said.
.if you die. this congregation will b,
hutchcrcd if 1t is not burned. Give nv
the bucket"
Il. captain In that war which sen;
king To- the block. give place To wo.
man, stand asider'
Thers was savage yell without
and the parsnn turned away. The In.
dams wcsc coming to rush the build
Ing. doubtless TO SO engage the English
that they would not I've able TO put ont
the fire The parson threw open the
door and, scizinE gun. led his men,
firing as he went Meanwhile Aseneth
opened the Iaar door, drew bucket OF
water and. going through shower OF
arrows to the front. dashed II upon the
burning brush That was ignitinr the
woodwork OF the church. She had no
sooner done 80 than she fell pierced
by AN arrow, but She had saved the
building from the flames The parson.
having exhausted his ammunition.
took his plecc 10y the mlizzle and
swung IL about him. Draining an In.
dian with every blow. He was a pow.
erful man. standing o feet inches.
and loved To strike down an enemy us
he lovcsi to preach dnmnatlon 10 sin.
ncrs His body bristleJ with arrows.
none OF which pierced a vital part. and
at last the IuG.lus, seized with fear
that he was n god. turned and fied
Then obadiah Armstrong staggered
back 10 the church and. seeing Asencth
Gwynne lying with an arrow In her
breast gently withdrew 1t and. raising
her head. rested IL upon his knees,
The men, except the wounded. had
gone in pursuit of the Indians, hut the
women poured out OF the church.