Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-09-26

/
comfortable discussion. His sudden
disappearance after the rumored quar-
rel with his father and the advent of
Jessica Holme had furnished the COM
munity sufficient material for gossip.
The wedding had capped this gossip
with an appropriate climax. Tongues
had wagged over its pros and cons,
for Hugh's past had induced a whole
some skepticism of his future.
There was an additional element of
romance, too, In the situation, for Jcs-
sica, who had never yet seen her lover,
would see her husband. The great
surgeon on whose prognostication she
had built so much had arrived and
had operated. The experiment had
been completely successful. and Jessi-
cas- hope Of vision had become a sure
and certain promise.
The operation over, there had re-
NAMED many days before the bandages
could be removed-before Jessica could
be given her first glimpse of the world
for nearly three years. Hugh had
urged against delay. If he had strin-
gent reasons of his own he was silent
concerning them. And Jessica, steep
ed in the delicious wonder of new and
inchoate sensations, had yielded
SO 1t had come about that the we'd
ding was to be on this hot August aft
ernoon, although it would be yet some
time before the eye bandages might
be laid aside save in darkened room.
In her girlish, passionate ideality Jes-
sica had offered sacrifice to her senti-
ment. She had promised herself that
the first form her new sight should be-
hold should be not her lover, but her
husband. The idea pleased her sense
of romance.
1t was a sweltering afternoon. and
in the wide east parIor limp handker-
chiefs and energetic fans fought vain
~ against the intolerable heat. There,
as the clock struck G, hundred pairs
of eyes galloped between two centers
of interest-the door at which the bride
would enter and the raised platform at
the other end of the room where,
prayer book in hand. in his wide robes
and flowing sleeves, Harry Sanderson
had just taken his stand. Perhaps
more looked at Harry than at the
door.
He seemed his usual magnetic self
as he stood there, backed by the flow
ers. his waving brown hair unsmooth-
ed the ruby ring glowing dull red
against the dark leather of the book ne
held. But Harry Sanderson was far
from feeling the grave, alien figure he
appeared. In the past weeks he had
waged a silent warfare with himself.
bitter because repressed. The strange
new thing that had sprung up in him
he had trampled mercilessly under.
From tie thought that he loved the
promised wife of another q quick, fas-
tidious sense In him recoiled abashed.
This painful struggle had been sharp
ened by his sense Of Hugh's utter
worthlessness. To that rustling assem-
mage the man who was to make those
solemn promises was David Stires'
son, who had had his fling, turned over
his new leaf becomingly and was now
offering substantial hostages to good
repute. To him, Harry Sanderson, he
was flaneur, marginless gambler in
the futures of his fathers favor and
woman's heart.
Only a moment Harry stood waiting;
then the palm screened musicians be-
gan the march, and Hugh took his
place, animated and assured, looking
the flushed and expectant bridegroom.
At the same instant the chattering and
hubbub ceased. Jessica, on the arm of
the old man, erect, but walking feebly
with his cane, was advancing down
the roped lane
Harry's eyes dropped to the opened
book, though he knew the Office by
heart He spoke the time worn ad-
juration with clear enunciation, with
almost perfunctory distinctness. He
did not look at Hugh.
"If any man can show just cause
why they may not lawfully be Joined
together, let him speak or else here
after forever hold his peace" In the
pause--the slightest pause-that turned
the page he felt an insane prompting
to tear of his robes, to proclaim to this
roomful Of heated. gaping fan iutter-
ing humanity that he himself. a min
lister Of the gospel, the celebrant Of
the rite, knew "just cause"
The choking impulse passed. The pc
RODS rolled on. The long white glove
was slipped from the hand, the ring
put on the finger. and the pair whom
God and Harry Sanderson had Joined
together were lmeeling on the white
satin priedieu with bowed heads I'M
der the final invocation. AS they knelt
choir voices rose.
Then. while the music fingered, the