The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-04-05

attendants, took their places, the Iar'
son rose, and the ceremony began.
But when nearly through, and just
arrived at that highly critical part of
the ceremony when the couple are
questioned as to whether they accept
each other as husband and wife, sud-
denly out went the gas, and the room
was left in total darkness.
This created some CONSERVATION.
"Blame the luck!" cried Frisker, and
he beloved for match.
'Pll go downstairs for one" cried
the man on guard at the door, and he
opened the door to go; but at the same
moment the bridegroom, Stephen Dar-
rell, called out that he had match in
his pocket
There was no use then of the guard
going for one, so he shut the door
again; but before he did so dark
figure passed into the room unnoticed
in the gloom.
Stephen Darrell was intensely
fiurried by the interruption, and rushed
to light the gas himself But when
he got to the jet he found that he had
no match as he had supposed, and that
it was only a toothpick he had felt in
his pocket. Then, desperate with
rage, and - simple fellow! quite
frightened, It must be admitted, at the
sudden extinguishment of the light,
which he superstitiously took to be a
bad omen for his wedding, he rushed
out of the room and downstairs to get
a light himself.
No one knew who It was that went
out, but thought it some one of the
young men gone on the errand
"Confound the thing!" cried F'ris-
ker. There amt much more jobbing
to do, is there, parson? Well, then,
let the wedding go on in the dark.
Darn it! I've heard that it's bad luck
to stop in the middle Of marriage;
and if that's the case, the dark amt
going to stop my daughters"
Eyes, let it go on in the dark"
cried Farmer Darrell. 1--WE heard that
it's bad luck to stop, too"
The parson attempted to expostulate;
but both the farmers ordered the mar
riage to go on in the dark. So the
bride took her place beside a figure
which she supposed to be that of her
husband, and the service went on.
do you accept this woman as your
welded wife?"
No answer was heard. Everyone
supposed that the bridegroom had
spoken it, but that, owing to nervous
ness which sometimes does affect
bridegrooms to great degree, he had
spoken inaudibly.
DO you accept this man for your
welded husband?"
81 do" replied the bride, in a firm
voice. Gracious, Stephen, how you are
trembling[" she was then heard to
whisper.
Then | declare you man and wife,"
said the parson, "and the blessing OF
God, and of everyone, be upon this
union"
AS he said these words the figure of
the husband bent toward the bride.
She thought he wished to kiss her, and
presented her lips for the purpose of
being so treated.
Her lips met something, but it was
not the lips of her husband. 1t was
something very cold, and a strange,
shivering sensation passed over her as
she felt it's touch.
"His-want some-hic?" asked a
quavering voice, and the next instant
the young bride felt cold stream of
some liquid poured over her face
Some of it went down her throat and
nearly choked her, and by its taste
and smell she knew it to be whisky
She uttered a piercing shrek and
fell back into the arms of her father
who was standing beside her, just as
Stephen Darrell entered the room in
the greatest haste, bearing a lamp.
Light being thrown upon the scene,
a strange tableau was revealed.
Stephens bride lay in half-faint
in her fathers arms, and Spriggs, the
dark figure who had stood beside her
during the latter part of the cere
nbIly, slOOu III lLe Sldle VI Iie llShIs
with one hand grasping his brown
flask, and the other clutching the table
for support-spriggs, the bachelor,
stood half. married to Miss Sarah
Frisker.
The excitement that prevailed after
this thrilling tableau it would be hard
to portray.
Blame that Spriggs!" roared Farm
er Frisker. Throw him out Of the
window"
let me at him till l break his
neck" cried Stephen, and indeed the
angry pair would have broken the
poor bachelors neck had friends not
interfered and Gained them down, and
bore Spriggs out of sight.
Then, when the full Righteousness of
the scene was realized, there was
great amusement The cause Of the
light going out so suddenly was that
somebody downstairs had turned off
the gas, but whether designedly or ac-
cidentally could not be ascertained.
The mirth and excitement over the
affair did not subside for fully fifteen
minutes.
Rv that time the bride had recovered