The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-01-08

event had been the cnat Vi lne to"h
for David Stires, who today retired
from active business, was its magnate'
tbe owner of its finest single estate
and of its most important bank. From
his scapegrace boyhood Hugh Stires
had made himself the subject OF I'M
comfortable discussion. Ills sudden
disappearance after the rumored quar-
rel with his father and the advent oil
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 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 pro"nostication she
had built so much had arrived and
had operated. The experiment had
been completely successful. and Jessi-
cas- hope of vision had become sure
ana ceTldIu plouiiSe-
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 it had come about that the wed
ding was to be on this hot August aft
ernoon. although it would be yet some
time before the eye bandagcs might
be laid aside save in a darkened room
In her girIish. passionate ideality Jes-
sica had offered a sacrifice to her senti-
ment She mad promised herself that
the first form her new sight should be-
hoe 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 parlor limp handker.
chiefs and energetic fans fought vain
ly against the intolerable heat There
rs the clock struck 6, q 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 -,..
rs lie stood there, backed ~ -.
ers, his waving brown hal --,-L
cd the ruby ring elowir- lcI red
against the dark leather OF the BOOK lie
held. But Harry Sanderson was far
from feeling the grave. alien figure be
appeared. In the past weeks he had
WaGcd silent warfare with himself
bitter because repressed The strange
new thing that had sprung up in him
he had trampied merciessly 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
NorthlCssness. To that .tstling assem-.
o!age 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 SanGerson, he
was f1aneur, marginless gambler in
the futures of his fathers favor and a
womans 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 enumeration 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 IN insane pronptinr
to tear off his robes. to proclaim to this
roomful of heated gaping. fan hutter
ing humanity that he himself n min.
lister of the gospel, the celehrant of
the rite knew Just cause"
The choking impulse passed The ne
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 kncplinc on the white
satin priedicu with bowed heads nm.
der the final invocation As they knelt
choir voices rose
Then, while the music fingered. the
hlsh of the room broke in confused
murmur. the white ribbon wound ronos
were let down. and voluhle wave of
congratulations swept over the SPOT In
a moment more Harry found himself
laying off his roheS IN tho newt rp,,,,
Y il TIL