The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1904-10-27
CHAPTER VIII.

nation she exercised ever me. Our mar
hass DAY was 6xsd. How distinctiy !
rsnemhsr svery aspect and event Of that
day. The cere0eny was. Of course. 20
- celebrated a Little bethlehem By
he brides father. All the principal
msahsss ef the ceugrsgation were 20 Be
o. the party. and the Rev. Obadiah Por-
tsr provided the entertainment with No
nissasdly hand.
When I entered the parlor I found u
ieeking young men. whom ! had often
sssn at chapel. represented the erooms-
men: and two remarkably sour-lookine
giris. Daughters Of Mn. Humphries. the
bridesmaids.
Two or three dark-iocking cabs were
at the cate. and when all was ready We
sallisd forth. Martha was standing In
the hall. holding the house door In her
hand had mover exchanged Q word
with her since that night when she way
laid mo upon the landing: indeed. had
ncver seen her. except when she waited
at meal times. How s~orrowfuily she
looked NJ me that morning! Az I passed
out into the garden with Miss Hum
phries upon my arm. she threw an old
shoe aftsr me. The young lady was
astoundsd. and I I heard her master pause
for . mcmc.at 60 rebuke her for such q
"heathenish" act, - he was pleased TO
style II.
Was q most miserable morning. From
edge to edge Of the horizon. the sky was
ono Of uniform leaden hue: there was q
6ne. soaking rain. that blurred and blot
ted 90 the ere every more distant OBJ
yect: the saturated trees kept MP q con-
slant drip. drip; the calyx Of every fow-
Or was Q miniature lake: and on the
point OF every leaf and blade OF grass
quivered slobuies OF water. Large pools
lay In the ~graveled path. aud the earth
was soddened.
The little chapel was chill and gloomy
o. a vault. and the damp atmosphere
chung upon every object. dimmins the
windows. and ~haif-veilins the cold. gray
light that struggled through them.
Net q pleasant day for a marriage
remarked Miss Humphries. solemniy: II
was the frst remark she had addressed
10 me.
More fitting for a funeral" I answer
ID dreariiy.
She looked at me rather strangely. and
e certainly must have sounded q some
what strange remark In the mouth Of q
bridegroom.
The ceremony. according to the tcpets
Of these people. commenced: and as !
took her hand, I looked at Judith for the
Arst time that morning. She seemed
unconscious Of my glance. Her face was
dsathly pale. and very rigid, like ono
who had nerved herself to a terrible and
repulsivc task. as indeed she had. The
touch OF my hand awckc her from her
r~svsrie. She s~huddercd: but l thought
there was less Of hardness and scorn
In her tanner. as well I might, for
her tears were falling fast
Mr.. Porter also was not quite him
self; he seemed sgitated and nervous. To
my morbid fancy his prayers sounded
like q service for the dead. At last,
Il was all over. The whole party was
gathered near the door preparatory TO
leaving. Judith and her father had gone
Into q little room that stood near the
entrance. where she had left her wrap
pirgsL was the last. Moodiiy I was
fo"cwing the rest. when my eyes hap
pensd to fall upon q small glittsrins
object. IL was q golden locket- In pick
ins Il up my finger pressed the spring
and opened II. What q thrill ran through
me. IL contained the portrait Of q girl
o. about IL. II was the face Of the
child I had met In the Norman gateway!
Who had dropped II. or how had Il
come here? Putting II Into my pocket. I
resolved TO carefully note any psrssn
who should appear to or speak OF having
lost anything.
The cabs conveyed IN home again. and
the dinner was waiting. Towards c-sn-
Ing the company dispersed. but no per
son spoke Of q loss. and the mystery
OF the locket remained an ~inscrutGbie
mystery. would not make any In.
quiries for the owner. m Z had resolved
not to part with Il. I huGssd Il o. q
treasure: and. somehow. amidst tie mic
cry Of that day. IL fell upon my heart
like a CLEAN OF hope.
While waiting at table Martha con.
trived TO slip a piece OF paper into my
hand. Ny fingers instinetivsly grsyped
Il. Our visitors had gone. Judith had
retired TO her room 20 change her drvss.
and Mr.. Porter was In his storsroom. !
seized the opportunity 20 examine the
paper. II was a note. but written In q
scrawl slmsst illegibls- II ran thus:
This Ia my last day here. ] leave
tomorrow. Always 60 DO heard Of si
Ne. 3 Rackstraw's baiiding. Candies
Town. Take care Of yourself. God
bless yeu. MARTHA"
So I was deprived OF nay only frtsad
was now utterly alone Ia the ibon's
Aeu. A new feeling Of fear and desc,
istieu fell upon my heart
CHAPTER TX.
I could endure IL no Logger. ana - I
led. One mouth aftsr my wedding night
left that roof forever. Upoa what
passed daring that moath ny lips srs
sealed. To no living bslng shaii I ever
reveal the story OF my suf srtnss during
those thirty-one days.
On the night Of the 3lst Of August ]
erspt out OF my chamber. sscsaded %
the boys room and. unsssn and uahcard
By them opened their window and de-
scendsd GO the garden By meant OF the
pear tree. Wildly did my frshtfu-
dream come back upon me nc that me
ment. and I almost expected % zee ths
red snake with his glittering eyts writh'
ing round sono leafy branch. But
reached the ground In safety. without