Middletown transcript., 1903-05-16

ding, he said, and there was a
feverish impatience in his air.
Thank heaven, here is the church,
and a crowd about the door. Bah!
Agnes, once more, and for the
last time before you are mine
forever, ! ask you, do you love
me?
4 A tremor went over her from
head to foot as it ever did at the
sound of his voice. The satin
and lace on her bosom stirred to
Eher quickened breath.
| So well, she answered, in a
faint, agitated tone SO well that
| am afraid of my own happiness.
I seem to be moving in dream.
| Oh, hold me fast. Do not let me
awake.
| The carriage stopped.
Perfect love casteth out fear,
he said hurriedly.
The next moment the soft.
white snow was blowing in their
faces. They had entered the
church-porch. People were gaz-:
ingat them, among othersa brown
rough-bearded man, who stood
just within the inner deer, and
stared blankly at the pair as they
passed. The place was densely
crowded. Half the city, it seem
ed, had gathered to the marriage
of the famous surgeon. Agnes
March walked forward to the
alter. Behind her veil she could
see the dollhouse exotics which
covered it. Their perfume drift
ed, deadly sweet, through the
nave. A pause, a little expectant
hush; then the service began
which made those two, man and
maiden, one for evermore.
Softly the snow fell without,
and the dark night settled down.
Almost as softly on the silence Of
the church dropped the solemn
| words, What God hath joined to-
gether. Eric Brandt's eyes were
fixed on the face of his bride.
His hand held hers like a wise.
Over their heads the benediction
foated out on the scented air. 1t |
was over. She was his wife.
They turned from the alter, and
went back along the aisle toward
the door. As they approached
it, the brown man with the
rough beard and rougher dress,
still standing agape by the mid
die entrance, took step nearer
the pair. Heaven only knows
why Agnes March should have
lifted her downcast lids at this
moment, why Eer eyes should
have singled out that one rude
figure from all the others there,
but so it was. AS the two reach
ed the door, the man made as if
to lay a hand on the surgeons
arm, but overawed, recoiled.
By the Lord! he cried aloud,
I'm beat if il isn't Golfer!
Doctor Brandt started, swung
half round, startled at the speak
er an instant. then nodded, and
passed on. The man fell back
into the crowd. The bridal-pair
departed through the church
porch, and all was done.
But Agnes? We're the skies
falling? Had the earth parted
beneath her feet? Her heart for
a moment ceased its beating.
Rumble, rumble went the
wheels over the snowy pavement.
They were going home-home to
his luxurious house in the aristo
cratic streetnear by land stunned,
paralyzed, in a corner of the car
riage she crouched, her lips
frozen in horror, ready to shrek
aloud, yet having no voice, and
staring in awful fascination at
the man who sat opposite-the
husband of a few moments, mon
strous in his stony calm.
The carriage turned the corner
Of the street, and stopped at the
door Of the elegant house. Doc
tor Brandt extended his hand to
help her alight. Even through
her glove he could feel its icy
coldness. Like an automation, I
she moved on beside him up the
broad steps, across his threshold,
and into the superb hall, blazing
with light, and filed with the
servants of his household. She :
paused there, and flung back the
tulle from her face, whittier even {
than its airy folds.
Send them away, she gasped,
catching his arm for support; I
let me speak with you alone.
Without word he drew her {
into drawing room, glowing
with wintry tints of crimson and {
gold, closed the heavy black wal j