Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-02-10
CHAPTER VIII.

udllOH SHE exercised over ine ouT HldI-
riage day was fixed. How distinctly
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 Por-
ter provided the entertainment with no
niggardly hand.
When 1 entered the parlor l 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. Humphries.. 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 i'll her
hand. l had never exchanged word
with her since that night when she way
laid ME 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 all old
shoe after me- The young lady was
astounded, and heard her master pause
for a moment to rebuke her for such
'heathenish" act, as he was pleased to
style it.
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 a
fne 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
clung upon every object, dimming the
windows, and half-veiling the cold, gray
light that struggled through them.
''Not pleasant day for marriage"
remarked Miss Humphries. solemnly: it
was the first remark she had addressed
to me.
"More fitting for a funeral" answer
ed drearily.
She looked at me rather strangely. and
It certainly must have sounded a some
what strange remark in the mouth of a
bridegroom.
The ceremony, according to the tenets
of these people, commenced; and as 1
took her hand, 1 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 terrible and
1c;x cI, ind eI,o h,
touch of my hand awoke her from her
reverie She shuddered; but | thought
there was less of hardness and scprn
In her manner, as well [ 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
like a service for the dead. At last
it 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. l was the last. Moodily l was
following the rest, when my eyes hap.
pened to fall upon a small glittering
object. 1t was golden locket. In pick
ing it up my finger pressed the spring
me. 1t contained the portrait of a CIR
of about IA. 1t was the face of the
child had met in the Norman gateway
Who had dropped it. or how had il
come here? Putting it into my pocket,
resolved to carefully note any person
who should appear to or speak of hayin.
lost anything.
The cabs conveyed us home again, ant
he
ing the company dispersed, but no per
son spoke of loss, and the myster,
of the locket remained an inscrutsbl
mystery. l would not make any in
quiries for the owner, ms had resolve,
not to part with it. 1 hugged it as /,
treasure: and, somehow, amidst the mis-
cry of that day. it fell upon my hear
like a gleam Of hope.
While waiting at table Martha con
trived to slip a piece of paper into M
hand. My fingers instinctively graspe
1t. Our visitors had gone. Judith lia
retired to her room to change her dress
and Mr.. Porter was in his storeroom.
seized the opportunity to examine tn
paper. 1t was a note but written in
scrawl almost ilIegible. 1t ran thus:
'This is my last day here | leav
d
No. 3 Rackstraw's building, Camde
Town. Take care of yourself Go
bless you. MARTHA"
So | was deprived of my only FRIEND
/ was now utterly alone in the lion
den. A new feeling of fear and dest
lation fell upon my heart.
CHAPTER TX
I could endure it no longer, and so
fed. One month after my wedding nigf
left that roof forever Upon whs
passed during that month my lips al
sealed. To no living being shall | eve
reveal the story of my sufferings durir
those thirty-one days.
On the night of the 31st of August,
crept out of my chamber, ascended
the boys room and. unseen and unhea1
by them, opened their window and d
scended to the garden by means of tt
pear tree. Vividly did my fright
dream come back upon me at that m
ment, and 1 almost expected to see Il
red snake with his glittering eyes writ
ing round some leafy branch. But
reached the ground in safety, witho