The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-12-04
cHAPTER xxvlI-conti,u.d.

SHRf Elk HSVll7Continued.
AT a word from DR.. Wilingham We
knelt before him, and in q low, full
voice he began to read a service. A
Ft-7nger wedding, surely, was never
len; the dimly lighted chamber of
oath, a dying woman devouring us
with her eyes, a beautiful young bride
giving her hand to a groom in clownish
homespun. and a priest wrapped in a
Shabhy horseman's coat.
This is rs l hav seen It since in
looking back pon that BILE
Svening, not as l saw II then. All, no!
l hx- no thoughts for such tribes as the
quaint figures we presented; my mind
was too strongly bent on the solemn
situation in which we stood at the mo-
ment.
The rite was ended. and the reverend
silence which followed the doctors last
words was still unbroken, when a sud
den, sharp rapping on the door rang
through the house. William ran at
once, and We heard him hold a muffled
colloquy with the person withou Then
Doctor Wiliingham with so disturbed
n mysterious an air that l felt sure
some bad news had arrived.
What IS it?" whispered the sick
oma 'let William come here"
The old man came forward and told
MS story IN low tones.
It's the landlords wife from the
Holly Bush said he. She slipped
up. being friendly to US, to give notice
that some one has carried word to
yonder attorney at the inn that Doctor
Wiilingham was seen hereabouts. And
now the attorney is egging on Hum
phrey Brown. the constable, to come
here n search the place"
The old story, the old story" said
tho pond Doctor rom n0SaHly
GO, GO" said Mrs. Whitgift, family.
Il have a piece of duty yet to per-
form which I would leave undone at no
cost" replied he, then it is time TO talk
OF going" And he called for writing
materials. He wrote a careful state
rent, testifying to the marriage he had
solemnized and signed 1t. Next We put
our names TO the document. and then
Mistress Whitgrift, whose earnest wish
It was also to attest, was assisted by
the clergyman to write her name IN
trembling characters. William wit
messed 1t also, II the women signed
by crosses.
Now, leave US for a few minutes
said the doctor, giving the paper TO
Enid.
We went softly out. and as we passed
through the doorway his quiet, deep
voice was heard reading the last pray
ers.
William vent 20 the dOor anu l. 1oi-
lowed him. The old man held UP his
finger and We listened earnestly. No
sound. He cautiously drew the bolt
and peepd out. Everything was quiet
and he stepped out. I went with him
and we trod softly down to the gate
which led to the road. The mist vas SO
thick that the lights Of the village were
blotted out, and heavy, slow drops pat
tered down from the trees above. We
had been watching some five minutes
when q muftied tramping Of feet echoed
along the road.
They are coming whispered William, |
and We ran back to the house. The
doctor himself stood IN the doorway.
Haste, sir" cried William, there's
& party not a hundred yards from the
gate"
DR.. Willingham Rugged me tight for
q moment and whispered: If the poor
lady lasts SO long, I'll be here again
this time tomorrow night" and we
parted. He went of as composedly as
possible by & path leading through a
little Wood at the back Of the house.
He had been hunted SO often that he
minded il no more than an old dog fox
who knows Of a sure earth within easy
each.
~ I