The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-28

Jane struggled to free herself and stood erect before him.
 "Ah." said he. your will shall decide your destiny. I offer you my hand and heart. I ask you to pass through life at my side Then he explained that he had never had any intention of marrying Miss Ingram-that 1t was Jane, and her alone, he wanted.
 Then sir, I will marry you. said Jane
 An early date was fixed for the wed ding and the time of preparation passed rapidly. It had been settled that they would leave Thornfield and make tour abroad after the wedding which was to take place in the little church near the park gates. and was 10 De private.
 The night before her wedding Jane had an experience which, for a tfme' filled her with doubt and dread. Sne awoke in the middle of the night 10 find a woman with candle In her hano standing before her dressing table The woman turned. disclosing darK' swollen hldeous countenance. and tax ing lanes bridal veil from the chair over which 1t had been thrown, tore 1t in pieces and trampled it under her fott. Then the apparition held the candle close to Jane's face, glared at her, blew out the light and went out or the room, leaving Jane insenslole rom terror.
 She told the story of her midnight visitant to Rochester the next mornlng E. hut he nursuaded her that it was only Grace Poole and that, in halt-walk, ing half sleeping condition she had imagined the distorted countenance. Why Grace was kept in the house. no said. was a secret which he would dis close to her year and day after their marriage-not before.
 Though not entirely satisfied Jane being in love, accepted Rochesters ex- planation as the only possible one ana smiled contentedly at him. Most people are rather easily fooled on their wed ding morning.
 Hand in hand Jane and Rochester walked down to the church, where the curate and the clerk were waiting ana the marriage ceremony was peg uh' Then two strangers who had been standing in the dark corner of the church came forward and voice said: The marriage cannot go on"
 One of the strangers was MT Mason the other a London lawyer. It was the lawyer who had spoken The clergyman and his clerk looked up at the speaker and stood mute
 Rocheste@ swayed a little and then taking a firmer footing and without turning ms Htdu,
 "I cannot proceed without inVestiga- ton" replied the astonished curate What is the nature of the objection?' continued he. turning to the lawyer
 Tt simply consists in the existence of a previous marriage. Mir Rochester has a wife living
 Jane felt a chill strike to her heart but she was collected and in no danger of swooning She looked at Rochester His face was like colorlcss rock. The lawyer then produced an affidavit signed by Richard Mason which stated that fifteen years before Rochester had married his sister Bertha Mason. of Spanish Town. Jamaica, and that he had recently seen her alive.
 As Mason stepped forward to corrooo- rate this. Rochester's whole frame shook with a convulsive shiver.
 Where did you see her?' asked the clergyman. Mason.
 Impossible" replied the curate ''I am an old resident here and never heard of a Mrs. Rochester at Thornfield Hall"
 No" cried Rochester T took care that none should hear of 1t. The ser wants knew had a crazy woman there but not who she was Close your book and take off your surplice. There will be no wedding to-day. Btgamy is an ugly word. I meant. however, to be a bigamist, but fate has outmanoeuvred me--or Providence checked me. Bertha