The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-09-22
CHATTER VIII


remember every aspect and event of that
day The ceremony was. of course. to
be celebrated at Little Bethlehem by
the brides father. All the principal
members of the congregation were to be
Of the party. and the Rev. Obadiah For
ter provided the entertainment with no
niggardly hand.
When / entered the parlor / found it
full of people. OF these two solemn
looking young men, whom / had often
seen at chapel, represented the grooms-
men; and two remarkably sour-lookins
girls. daughters of Mrs. II lmphries. the
bridesmaids.
Two or three dark-looking cabs were
at the gate. and when all was ready we
sailed forth. Martha was standing in
the hall. holding the house door in her
haNd. / had never exchanged word
with her since that night when she way
laid IRE upon the landing; indeed, had
never seen her. except when she waited
at meal times. How sorrowfully she
looked at me that morning. As passed
out into the garden with Miss Hum
phries upon my arm, she threw an Cd
shoe after me. The young Lady was
astounded, and heard her master pause
for q moment to rebuke her for such
"heathenish" act, as he was pleased to
style 1t.
Although in the height of summer, 1t
was a most miserable morning From
edge to edge of the horizon, the sky was
one Of Uniform leaden hue; there was
fine, soaking rain. that blurred and blot
ted to the eye every more distant OBJ
ject; the saturated trees kept up con-
slant drip, drip; the calyx of every flow
er was a miniature lake; and on the
point of every leaf and blade of grass
quivered globules of water. Large pools
lay in the graveled path, and the earth
was soddened.-
The little chapel was chill and gloomy
as a vault. and the damp atmosphere
chung upon every object dimming the
windows. and half-veiling the cold. gray
light that struggled through them.
Not a pleasant day for a marriage"
remarked Miss HUMPHREYS. solemnly: it
was the first remark she had addressed
to me-
More fitting for funeral answer
ed drealily
She looked at me rather strangely. and
It certainly must have sounded a some
what strange remark in the mouth of
bridegroom.
The ceremony, according to the tenets
of these people. commenced; and as
took her hand, / looked at Judith for the
first time that morning. She seemed
unconscious of my glance. Her face was
deathly pale, and very rigid. like one
who had nerved herself to a terrible and
repulsive task. as indeed she had. The
touch of my hand awoke her from her
reverie. She shuddered: but l thought
there was less of hardness and seorn
In her manner, as well l might, for
her tears were falling fast.
Mr.. Porter also was not quite him
self: he seemed agitated and nervous. To
my morbid fancy his prayers sounded
ike a service for the dead. At last,
1t was all over. The whole party was
gathered near the door preparatory to
leaving. Judith and her father had gone
into a little room that stood near the
entrance, where she had left her wrap
pigs / was the last. Moodily / was
fo'ewing the rest. when my eyes hap
pened to fall upon a small glittering
object. 1t was a golden locket. In pick
Ing il up my finger pressed the spring
and opened it What thrill ran through
me. 1t contained the portrait of girl
OF about IA 1t was the face of the
child / had met in the Norman gateway
Who had dropped 1t, or how had il
come here? Putting it into my pocket, l
resolved to carefully note any PERSON
who should appear to or speak of having
lost anything.
The cabs conveyed us home again. and
the dinner was waiting. Towards even
ing the company dispersed, but no per-
son spoke of a lpss, and the mystery
of the locket remained an inscrut bic
mystery. / would not make any in
quiries for the owner, as l had resolved
not to part with it. | Rugged it as a
treasure: and. somehow. amidst the mis-
cry of that day. it fell upon my heart
like CLEAN of hope.
While waiting at table Martha con-
trived to slip piece of paper into my
bend. Ny fingers instinctively grasped
II. Our visitors had gone. Judith had
retired to her room to change her dress,
and Mr.. Porter was in his storeroom /
seized the opportunity to examine the
paper. 1t was a note, but written il, q
scravl almost illegible. 1t ran thus:
This is my last day here. leave
tomorrow. Always to be heard of al
No. 3 Rackstraw's building, Camden
Town. Take care of yourself God
bless you. MARTHA"
So / was deprived of my only friend
was now utterly alone in the lions
den. A new feeling of fear and desc
lation fell upon my heart.
CHAPTER TX.
1 could endure it no longer. and 50 ]
fed. One month after my wedding night
left that roof forever. Upon what
passed during that month my lips are
sealed. To no living being shall / eyeI
reveal the story of my sufferings during
those thirty-one days.
On the night Of the 31st of August,
crept out of my chamber. assembled te
the boys room and. unseen and unheari
by them, opened their window and de
scended to the garden by means of the
pear tree. Vividly did my frightfu
dream come back upon me at that mo
ment, and I almost expected to see thu
red snake with his glittering eyes with
ing round some leafy branch. But
reached the ground IN safety, witbou
encounterins any object, fanciful or real
In less than three minutes more / wal
IN the high road. a vagabond, a homeless
sutcast. but free man. All my world,
possessions we're tie suit of clothes
wore. and my wedding suit and chang
of linen that / carried tied up in bun
de- 1t was a bright moonlight night
cast one farewell glance upon the onl,
home l had ever known aud wall e
swiftly onward.
I made towards Bury. I passed Lit