The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-12-28

roof, and the murmur from it grew
more and more distinct.
Everywhere the faces were eager and
happy in the coming happiness of the
heroine and hero of the night, save
where mother thought of daughter
already given or to be given in mar
riage and the pangs of the following
separation, or husband unused on his
own shortcomings since he stood up
there at the altar plightng his troth.
The masses of green foliage and white
blossoms in the chancel waved gently
in the draft from an open window and
seemed to bcckon the bridal party.
Then from the vestry room came the
bishop in the flowing robes of his high
office, followed by the rector, and for
moment stiffness reigned, and as they
took their places before the altar the
organ burst forth into solemn melody.
The bridegroom, leaning on the arm
Of his best friend. entered, and down
the aisle marched the daintily gowned
bridesmaids to meet th" bride. Then
slowly the procession tllned as Miss
Fielding entered the church upon her
fathers arm: and, preceded by the Choir
listers, their youthful faces uplifted in
the notes of the beautiful wedding
hymn, the group of sweet young wom-
anhood moved back toward the altar.
Just as the party halted in their
places before the chancel rail the doors
Of the church We're pushed open to adj
Il . l,i, law,
the Sinking manner of his walk and
the evident desire to be unseen as he
made his way into the nearest pew, he
was an unlimited guest. But all eyes
were to the front now, and no one said
him nay. He produced singular spot
of unattractiveness in the throng of
well dressed, we'll looking men and wo-
men about him. 1t was not to be won
dered at that the young woman beside
whom he seated himself drew her gown
a little closer about her for fear of the
effect upon her from touching this I'M
couth creature. He was tall, but phys
zeal and mental disease had worn away
the flesh. If it had ever been there
which was necessary to give the mass
i've frame its proper proportions. His
clothes, like his garment of flesh, We're
too small. His boots had long been
without the attentions of Il shoemaker
or backing and brush. They We're
laced in places with bits of once white
string. His trousers, barely reaching
to the tops of his miserable boots We're
baggy and threadbare and variously
patched. His coat, which had once been
black, was gray with dirt and shiny
from long wear and buttoncd so close
ly about him as To give the familiar
and pitiful appearance of having moth
ing underneath. 4 grmy, ragged collar
about his neck was the only bit of linen
in his costume. His hair was long and
unkcmpt. In his hand he held a dusty
greasy. old felt hat. which he fingered
nervously. And his face crowned right
well this picture of fallen manhood and
misery Some mishap had terribly dis
figured his face Great livid sears ran
down his check and neck until lost
from sight under his rags, One of his
eyes was fixed and white and sightless,
and in the other, bloodShot and wild,
and the bloated flesh about II were the
unerring signs of the dissipatcd man
ner of his life. only emphasized by his
harsh little cough and breath redolent
with the sickenng odor of liquor.
And yet there was something. had
any one taken the trouble to notice it.
in the delicate structure of his hands,
the queer proud little shake of the head
and the timid courtesy with which he
found his sitting. which might have
made the close observer wonder wheth
er these things were only phenomena
in their companionship with dirt and
meanncSs or the Pickering rays of Il
bright light just going out. But no
body did take notice, unless it was to
casually comment mentally that one of
the city's great army of half frozen
vagabonds was taking advantage of Il
few moments grace in the warmth Of
the church
The service was about to begin The
charming, sacred notes of the Mar
cissus" came softly from the organ.
The deep and musical voice of the
bishop arose from the altar side, reach
ing distinctly to the most distant mem
Der of the hushed congregation. Slow
ly the bishop uttered the opening words
Of the wedding service, concluding still
more slowly and impressively with the
sentence. IF any man can show just
cause why they may not lawfully be
joined together, let him now speak or
else hereafter forever hold his peace"
As the last words died away the
bishop, rector, bridal party and con-
gregation inStinctively bowed their
heads waiting. Not Il move or sound
broke the stiffness for moment; even
the flowers seemed to stop their way
Ing and to wait and listen.
Then there came slight, shuiIling
sound from the rear pew, and the I'M
hidden guest stood in the aisle, erect
in his garments of rags and dirt. His
one hand clasped convulsively the old
hat and his other was raised high
above his head, trembling, as was his
whole frame, with excessive emotion.
His face was uplftcd and ashy pale,
save where the sears drew lvid lines
across it; the muscles around his mouth
were strained and set, his lips were
open slightly and his tongue moved,
but his voice seemed gone Then two
men, attendants at the entrance, nov
ed quickly to the figure in the aisle
and, grasping him by the arms, forced
him through the doors.
1t was all over in Il moment. Few,
save those nearest to the scene, had