Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-02
and turned their steps toward the prin-

cipal street of the town.
| Here stood the public house, q
church and little white parsonage
In the latter lamps were still burning
as If in expectation Of visitors. Fleet
wood and his companion went up a
walk of cobblestones and rang the bell
by this time." whispered the lover
the island. 1 greatly fear my darling
that we shall be pursued. Your grand
father is your nearest Of kin, and
probably he has full power over YOU
NO." she corrected, quietly; "he is
not my nearest of kin, and he has no
power whatever over me-"
| He was surprised at the answer.
even then. but before another word
could be spoken, the Rev. David Lane,
the white haired shepherd Of the Gin
derville sheep. opened the parsonage
door with his own hand, and bade the
pair enter.
They followed him into q neat little
parlor, lighted by kerosene lamps.
Here the clergyman's wife was wait
ing to witness the marriage.
"Will you take off your hat and
cloak, my dear?" she said to Esther,
in gentle, motherly voice.
The bewildered girl dropped her out
er garments, burst from them, as 1t
seemed, like a butterfly from a chrys-
alis-at any rate, she quite took her
lovers breath.
She had knotted her magnificent hair
in one silken, shining mass at the nape
Of her milk-white neck and pierced 1t
through with great pin of solid gold.
Her wedding gown was of thick, lus-
on the ripe grape, in color, and 1t fitted
her queenly shape like a glove. Some
fine. creamy lace fell over the corsage,
and was fastened at the throat by an
arrow of big. luminous pearls. She had
put on no other ornaments, although
she possessed a generous share Of such
things. Her faultless face was with
out a vestige Of color. The great, vel
vety eyes shone like stars. She was
Iregal-she was marvellous!
The Rev. Mr.. Lane looked at the
marriage license and found 1t satisfac-
tory. Esther slipped her small, trem-
ulous hand into Fleetwood's-in spite
of her grand air the island girl was
quaking like leaf-then the solemn
voice Of the clergyman arose and filled
the room for few moments, and 1t
was oversize was Guy F1eetwood's
lawfully welded wife.
II wish you much happiness, my
DEAR" said Mrs. Lane. and she kissed
the bride as a mother might.
Mine, now-mine forever!" whis-
pered Fleetwood, triumphantly, as he
folded the gray cloak around Esther
again. Then he put the marriage fee
into the clergyman's hand, and stepped
forth with his bride into the still sum-
mer midnight.
The sea was murmuring on the
shore; the stars shone bright overhead.
What had he done? Deceived and
wronged Maud LOTUS, indeed, but
won, at the same time, the desire Of
his eyes. Esther was now his wife,
and before this supreme fact all other
things sank into insignificance.
He carried her to the little inn be-
yond the Cinderville church.
II wish, my darling" he said, grave
ly, that 1 could conduct you to my
own house and present you to my
mother this very hour; but that can
not be. 1t Is best that We should re-
main in this place for a few days, at
least"
The average American girl looks up
on herself as a match for the best of
men. 1t never occurred to Esther that
the relatives of her well-born Canadian
husband might consider his hasty mar
riage a mesalliance. She simply said:
II will try to love your mother, Guy;
l want your friends to be my friends
also"
In the still, small hours Of that fate
full night, in a chamber Of the seaside
inn. the young husband, tossing un-
easily in his sleep, muttered aloud
three words, as though they were the
keynote Of his dreams. Esther, wax
ing suddenly, heard them-listened-
heard them repeated, Forgive me,
Maud" and wondered.
Who was Maud, and for what trans
gression did he, her bridegroom, desire
to be forgiven?