The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-29
IT WORKED WELL,
nn AMnREM 9. EMINc.

put themselves la my hands for an
experiment IN the line Of my matrimo-
NAL theory John AuchIncl0ss frankly
ayerred that he believed Ia marriage
but had always considered 1t matter
Of fate. My idea OF taking 1t ont of
the hands of fate struck him forcibly
Besides, the plan If properly worked
BY a third person afforded the best
4 possible chance TO at lenst avoid any
bad matrimonial blunder Helen Eng.
lander pretended to make her PROPOSE.
ton In spirit of banter. but admitted
that to spend week continuously
with any man would cause her to hate
him, aud Ii she married at all II must
be as plunge into 4 cold bath. Fol
lowing these two lines OF reasoning,
both agreed to marry any person
might select, the paIr not TO meet un-
/ til one minute before the wedding. !
had long considered Auchincloss and
Miss Highlander as eminently fitted
! for each other and selected them for d
matrimonial venture One stipulation
was made by the bride. After the GER
emony she was to have a month be-
fore living with her husbarld He
( must leave her immediately after the
benediction. This. she said, was nee
essary 10 permit her to gather her
forces for what she considered "the
great sacrifice on the altar Of family
ties and affection
There are people who do not impress
us at once, but grow on Us slowly. The
principals In this case both impressed
those who met them on sight. Every
one said On meeting John Auehincioss,
tWhat a splendid mang And Helen
Englander called forth Ike encomi-
ums Would the strong Individuality
Ia both barmonize. This must be left
to fate, but 1t is better to take one
chance than dozen. and ID this case
there was no chance whatever that
either would get an unworthy life
partner.
The wedding was In every respect
worthy Of the practical couple con-
cerned ID 1t. II occurred at II 10 the
morning. and the only persons pres
emit exeent the bride and groom were
the brides mother and myself. AT II
o'clock John and / stepped lip to the
Highlander front door. rang The bell
and were ushered into the drawing
room, where Mrs. and Miss Englander
wore awaiting us. OF course watch.
ed anxiously for the first look that
should come over the face Of each az
beholding the other. Johns counte
nance was perfectly serene II there
was disappointment in ii failed to
discover II Helen's lit UP with a
quick pleasure. aud she drew long
breath as II she had been freed from
great dread. But for these scarcely
I'd be detected features one might have
supposed the two had met for the pur-
pose Of transferring piece Of prop
erty.
IS VIC entered drew out M watch
and noted the time. then went across
the hall, where clergyman was IN
waiting. brought him III. and the eere-
mony begun exactly forty-eight sec-
onds after the principals had met
John answered the responses as me-
thodicelly as II be we're making an
affidavit before q notary. but Helen
hungled everything II was plain that
there was no small connection beneath
her rapidly rising and filling bosom.
As soon as she had been pronounced
q wife she turned 10 salute her moth
err her chief object being 70 hide the
turmoil within her Then suddenly
turning about, she looked her husband
full In the face. Tor the frst time in
my life | wished such woman would
give me such a look
John had ordered carriage 70 call
for him at eve minutes past II. and
the first glance between husband and
wife was cut short By the butler an.
nouncing that It had arrived. John
bid adieu to his mother-in law. then to
his wife. The latter kept her eyes on
the carpet till the last moment, then
looked up. with soft reproach Ia her
eyes.
May | beg d few minutes indul-
geneeg said John. 4 assumed that
our contract made It obligatory Oh me
to depart at once.
q don't remember that the exact
time was stated, said the bride, with
a blush.
This was q positive untruth. She
had used the word Immediately.
Mrs. Highlander asked me il would
partake of some Refreshments. and, ac.
eompanied by the clergyman, we went
out to another room, ieaying the newly
married pair alone together.
Up to this point | have told that In
which | was an important actor. The
rest of the story can only tell by In
ference. John had agreed to iuhch
with me at ! o'clock. He did not ap-
pear at the appointed time. nor did !
zee or hear anything Of him during
The afternoon. In the evening went
to his rooms. but be had not been
there A messenger had called with q
written permit to enter the rooms and
remove any articles he chose. A trunk
was necessary to take what he select
81. | did not see John for thirty days
after leaving him with his bride. Then
he walked into my Office one morning,
Where have you been?'' | asked,
somewhat RULED.
you remember the contract | was
% leave Immediately after the cere-
mony. as she needed month in which
10 recover from the shock and prepare
Tor married life. Well, | left, accord.
ing to contract. and my wife said
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