Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-01-09


the owner OF it's finest single estate
and OF its most important bank From
his scapegrace OOyhOOd Hugh Stires
had made himself the subject Of IN.
comfortable discussion His sudden
disappearance after the rumored quar-
rel with his father and the advent %
Jessica Hoime bad furnished the com
munity sufficient material FOR rossip
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 jos
sica. who had never yet seen her lover
would see her husband The great
surgeon on whose proguostcaton she
bad built so much had arrived and
had operated The experiment had
been completely successful. and Jessi
cas- hope OF vision had become n sure
and certain promise
The operation over. there had re-
manned many days before the bandages
could De removed-hefore Jessica could
be given her first glimpse OF the world
for nearly three years. Hugh bad
urged against delay n ne had strin.
gent reasons OF his own he was silent
concerning them. And Jesslca. steep
cd iu the delicious wonder OF new and
nchoate sensations. had yielded
So it had come about that the wed
ding was TO be Oh this hot August art.
ernoon. although IL would be yet some
time before the eve bandages mirht
be laid aside save In a darkened room
In her girlish. passionate ideaHty les
sica had offered a sacrifice 10 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
or romance.
IL was sweltering afternoon. and
In the wide east parlor limp handker
chiefs and energetic fans fought vain.
" against the intolerable heat There.
as the clock struck G. q hundred pairs
OF ewes galloped between two centers
or interest-the door 40 which the bride
would enter and the raised platform at
the other end OF the room where.
prayer book in hand 10 his wide robes
and lowing sleeves. Harry Sanderson
had just taken bis stand Perhaps
more looked at Harry than ut the
door
He seemed his usual magnetic self
as he stood there. backed by the fiOw
ers. his waving brown hair unsmooth
ed. the ruby ring glowing Gull red
against the dark leather Of the book he
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 the thought that he loved the
promised wife OF another a 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-.
blage the man who was TO make those
solemn promises was David Stires'
son, who had had his ding. turned over
bis new leaf becomingly and was now
Offering substantial hostages to good
repute- To him. Harry Sanderson, he
was a aaneur. a marginless gambler in
the futures OF his fathers favor and a
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-
Duration with clear enunciation. with
almost perfunctory distinctnesz He
did not look at hugh.
II 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 be felt an insane prompting
to tear Off his robes. to proclaim 70 this
roomful OF heated. gaping. fan futter.
"-r- ~ sa+e+iAAr AAiNA TIC Iultl-
ister OF the gospel. the celebrant or
the rite. knew lust cause"
The choking impulse passed The De
rfcds rolled on The long white glove
was slipped from the hand. the ring
put on the tnger, and the pair whom
God and Harry Sanderson had Joined
together were kneeling on the white
satin priedieu with bowed heads nm
DER The hnal Invocation As they knelt
choir voices rose
Then. while the music fingered, the
hush OF the room broke In a confessed
murmur. the white ribbon wound ropes
were let down, and a voluble wye OF
congratulations swept over the spot lie
moment more Harry found himself
laying OF his robes In the next room