The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-12-16
CHAPTER XIII.


had asked her to marry him. After
the faithful love of years, she had won
him at last!-she had gained her re-
ward for the patient devotion with
which half her lifetime her heart had
worshipped him in silence. She was
exuberantly happy.
Louise Carroll was secretly uneasy
She had at first been overjoyed with
the news of their engagement, for was
1t not her own pet scheme for their
happiness-planned and conceived long
ago. and only laid aside with regret at
Q time when 1t had no longer seemed
practicable? But as the days went on,
she saw that although Agatha was per-
fectly satisfied, and in fact almost too
radiantly happy-her brother was by
no means so filled with joy and con-
tent. as might have been expected Of
him. Louise watched him narrowly,
and with an ever-increasing anxiety.
The 10th of January fell on Tues
day, and on the previous Saturday
Carroll came down to stay at The
Lodge till over Sunday-on the Mon
day night it was arranged that he was
to sleep at the clergyman's house in
the village in order TO conform 10 an
ancient superstition that a bridegroom
and his bride shall not stay under the
same roof en- the eve of their wedding.
When Rupert arrived by an after
noon train he was moody and abstract
ed-he kissed Agatha carelessly and
flung himself down upon the sofa with
a gesture almost of misery, complain
ing that he was tired, that his head
- cot
seriously:
My dearest Rupert, surely there is
something wrong with you? You look
-well-almost unhappy. Has any
thing happened?"
Nothing-nothing that is the worst
of it," he replied, despondingly. 4
cannot put a name to it-but it weighs
upon me like lead-it is an intangible
something, a black shadow that seems
to envelop me-yet the only distinct
thing L can put my finger upon is that
my head aches as if it would split-all
this week it has ached more or less
but now it seems to increase every
hour; the pain is simply awful"
My poor dear boy. You ought 10
go and lie down in darkened room
of course such a headache as that is
enough to account for all your other
sensations. No doubt the excitement
OF your wedding is too much for you.
When it is over. and you are married
and at rest after all this commotion.
you will settle down and become per-
fectly well and happy again."
NO. no, no." he cried. emphatical-
~, 1T is just that. that is making me
Agatha, there is something day and
night that calls out to ne to stop-not
to do it-something that seems to drag
me back-and yet for the life of me
do not know what 1t is. o. why
should not marry her."
My dear Rupert, this Is very dread
ful, Do you not love Agatha?"
Il believe 1 do love her in a way
at any rate am very fond of her
I always was, you know-only--'
"Oh, my darling boy, If you Ire not
quite sure of your feelings. pause be-
fore it is too late-at whatever cost to
yourself and to dear Agile, tell her the
truth and break it off,"
Il cannot" he said, at length. How
II a man to behave like a blackguard
to a good girl who loves him and
trusts him? / could give her no rea-
son for such conduct either-none-
nonel / don't know why / feel as 1 dc
but. Louise" he said. suddenly stop
ping short in front of his sister, and
looking at her earnestly and solemnly
IT swear to you that if anything or
earth should arise. even at the last
moment. 20 break off this marriage,
cIr Pol
heaven from the very bottom of my
heart Only I cannot move a finger
myself to stop it. 1t is impossible,'
When he rose on his wedding morn
ing, IT seemed to be rather late. ana
yet the oppressive weight upon his
mind, of which he had spoken to his
sister, lay heavier than ever upon him
1t was a bitterly cold day. the ground
was frozen hard. and thin flakes o.
snow drifted now and again one by one
from the grey and gloomy clouds.
There would probably be a heavy
fall before night-there was every ao-
pearance of it; although for the pres
ent the snow was not enough to neces.
state an umbrella. But, for certain
no sunshine would fall on the bride.
head to-day. Carroll shivered as ht
looked out Of his bedroom window al
the Vfcarage. 1t seemed to him thai
the weather was typical of his owl
condition; the hard frost was in his
heart, the chilling snowflakes were
harbingers of trouble ahead, the low
ering skies were not blacker than thai
black shadow that brooded over his
fate.
The little church was gay with flow.
ers that morning. and crowded to over
flowing with friends and neighbors
Everybody turned round in a flutter o.
excitement as Agatha came up the
nave, on the arm Of distant Dale
cousin. The bride had never looked
30 well; her fine figure showed to ad-
vantage in her white satin dress, am
she held up her head as she went by
with a glad light in her eyes and 6
flush upon her cheeks.
Nobody had looked much at the
bridegroom, as he waited for her at thu
chancel. or it might have been seer
that he was deadly pale The servics
began. The bride answered the re-
sponses we'll; the bridegroom was in.
audible.
A little contretemps took place; the
ring dropped on to the stone pavement
with little changing noise. just as Ru-
pert was about to place it upon Aga
tha's finger. The clergyman picked i
up quickly. and the ceremony proceed
ed.
Presently tho service came to ar
end; Rupert and Agatha were pro
nolnced to be man and wife. The bri
DIAL pair went into the vestry. and I'm
mediately Miss Carroll went in aftel
them, followed by as many intimate
friends as could possibly crowd II
through the doorway after her. Al
over the church the rest Of the com
pany experienced a sense of freedom
and relief from a tiresome and trying
ordea.- that was satisfactorily go
over; and everybody began talking
and laughing, and walking about from
pew to pew t-actly as II they were
not In a church. but in their own draw