Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-30
TIE SAGE BRUSH PARSON
BY A. B. W ARD.
Copyright 1905. By IAtt,e. Brown cs.p.as,.

heard anything from Delia?''
He gently withdrew hImself from her.
Nothing definite" he answered. flushing.
"oh. she wrote. then" said Mary in a re-
''She wrote my name on the outside Of
the envelope in which my letter to her
was inclosed.''
She caught his hand. "Unopened7'
Unopened
'Oh. Clement"
Come. come called Frank, and she let
him go.
When the two travellers reached the
church they found a slip of paper tucked
under the study door. On 1t was scraweIed.
Come to Mrs. McClintocks and marry q
couple"
We'll have supper first" decided
Vaughan. Minnie had packed for them a
generous basket Will brought II in, and
by the light of the lamp they spread out
the goodies.
They'll think you amt comm" said
VIII biting into sandwich. "Td hate to
have you lose fee
"A man must eat" replied Clement at
lacking raspberry tart. He had forgotten
the fast at Galena.
go to his room. Clement to the boarding
house. Before they separated at the cor
ner the scraping of fiddle and the stamp
or heavy feet upon wooden floor came
over to them through the open windows OPP
posite. then an outbreak OF harsh. hilarious
voices.
They've started in" said Will Per
haps they've found some one else to do it..
III stop and see,' said Vaughan. He
took the narrow footpath up to the house
and Will went on
1t was some time before any one an
swered the rap at the door. AT last the
widow herself responded. She was in holt
day attire and SO much the more dreadful
for that, Vaughan decided.
We calclated you want comm" she
said. with an Independent fling, 80 he
started for another parson"
Who was he, Vaughan wondered wn.
was the poor besotted fool who could $50
far forget himself as to marry either one
of these women
The sister was the bride 1t seemed In
addition to her other hnery she wore a
wisp of veil dropping Enthusiastically over one
ear.
The room was full of men and women
miners. workers In the mill or at the fur
mace. a coarse, brutal lot. All of the men
were smoking. Men and women alike had
been drinking.
There he comes!" shouted the bride The
rest took up the cry, and there entered
Dick, the bandage still over his shoulderl
He was followed by Haverford, the Epis-
copal minister whom Vaughan had met on
the hill. Dick went obediently to his bride
Haverferd stood with his bag. looking for
a place in which to robe. Finally he spied
Vaughan.
"Ah. you came" he said In a relieved
tone. you will, of course, perform the
II am not anxious to-" Vaughan return
ed gloomily. 1T ought not to be allowed.
Il don't see how any one is going to pre-
vent It,, said Haverford, glancing at the
formidable array of witnesses.
Here Dick. prompted by the bride, cross
ed over to them.
What are you waiting for?" he demand
ed.
"Can this be you. Dlck?" asked Vaughan
reproachfully.
That's who it Is" returned the cowboy,
with a string of oaths establishing his
identity beyond question. The company ap
plauded. The bride giggled.
Very well, stand UP there said
Vaughan stiffly, and the pair obeyed.
The ceremony proceeded. Except for q
dazed faraway look in his eyes the unlucky
bridegroom seemed quite himself and con-
scious of what he was doing. He respond
ed promptly, did as he was told.
1t was the bride who showed signs of
more than ordinary stimulation She had
fortified herself for the event, and, with
her exuberant delight over her capture, APP
peared grotesque bacchante, with all OF
the abandon and none of the grace that
makes such a figure tolerabie. She pranced,
she bridied, she turned this way and that,
cast sidelong glances at the bridegroom,
whose eyes kept their azed, PARKWAY look,
and when it came her turn to respond to
the question, wilt thou have this man to
be thy welded husband?" she threw her
arms around the victims neck, shouting,
by gosh. l will, Dickr'
The ritual fell from the parsons hands.