The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-05-12
CHAPTER Xxx.

Benoni withdrew and lie MalheureuN'
stin yelled. congratulated Larry Norris
and Betty
II you wish TO be married before
you leave here" he said. there is the
old French priest who used to be my
mothers chaplain still here. He is
nonogenarian, but still a priest for all
that. He win marry you yet tonight,
II you wish. and l think, Miss Lancey.
it might be better if the ceremony were
celebrated. Do you not think so?
There's no knowing what may await
YOU
Betty flushed. but Larry hesitated
not a minute.
Bring him on. bring him on" he
cried Wen be married tonight"
And I'll be the best man." shouted
Johnny.
And City Editor Burton can ush-
err"
Will you let Meta be the brides
maid?" questioned Betty. "Oh. but
what shall I do for wedding gown:
II you weren't so big" said Tyosa,
surveying her critically, I'VE could loa
you Mrs. Hackleye's mothers bridal
robe. / have it still upstairs in an old
chest"
Meta and Tyoga had come in silent
~ in the wake OF lie Malheureux. But.
mother" interposed Meta, there are
other garments up in the old chest
Perhaps we could make some OF them
fit"
Your wedding clothes will fit as well
as mine. anyhow" ventured Larry.
Put a woman on a desert island and
the prospect of a wedding will cause
her inventive faculties TO evoke the
fiesh-pots OF Egypt from the barrenest
sand
The old chest proved a treasure
house. The gowns. the youngest or
them. were at least a quarter OF CEN
fury old, and some of them were of the
mode Of the French empire. All were
rich with rare lace and heavily wrought
hand-embroidery. Some were Of cloth
of gold, furnished now with the scowl
OF time but exquisite still. There wee
quaint old slippers. and a bridal veil
of the filmiest Honiton that ever came
off a loom
No bride could be decked with more
loving hands than was Betty for her
midnight marriage in mid Africa Meta,
as bridesmaid. had glowing frock OF
scarlet satin and faintest amber lace.
and great topazes about her shining
ebony neck. and Tyoga produced new
frock from somewhere. But Betty. all.
Betty An old court gown OF cloth OF
gold and yellowed satin was her bridal
robe. over ii all ran delicately
wrought roses in faded pinks- The
marvellous web of Honiton draped her
sweet face and rippled to the hem of
her dress The neck OF the dress was
low. and Betty's white shoulders were
q sparkle OF diamond pendants falling
from a high diamond collar Tyoga had
placed around her throat. and her
plump arms were half covered with
nowery bracelets. When they reached
the chapel lie Malheureux himself pu-
q diamond girdle around the brides
none too slender waist.
MY gift to the BRIDE" he explained.
Johnny's head was the brightest
spot in the chapel. From the musty
odor within and the drip of water on
the grown walls. the chapel.
which had been reached through weird
ways. was evidently q subterranean
room The altar was OF ivory. the SER
altar cloths of exquisite workmanship.
The ebony pews were miracles Of the
carvers' art. and the ever-present lecp
ard skin rugs were on the floor. The
priest, bent double with years. and
with hair and skin as gray as the pelt
of a field mouse. mumbled through the
long Latin ritual. at a slow. nerve
racking pace. The candles fiickered
and the scent of the jasmine and lotus
with which Benoni had wreathed the
altar, and filed the great vases that
nanked the sanctuary. grew unbear-
able.
The wedding supper was laid In the
little sitting room. There were many
flowers, and the viands. oddly assorted
to occidental eyes. rested royalty on
platters and dishes of pure gold No
body ate much, though Meta, Tyoga
and Benoni served assiduously lie
Malheureux touched nothing at all.
Betty, after several urgings, forbore
to press him. She had noticed that he
never drank before anyone, and had
long since grown accustomed to the
down dropping veil, the closely shroud-
ed figure. the well-concealed feet and
hands. When the last course was
served lie Malheureux arose
Let me not be the skeleton at the
feast" he temporized but Time does
not pause for us. The woman YOU
know as Cerisse Wayne, in reality
Cerisse Wayne Hackleye, was my full.
FLOODED sister. The letters that were
found in her safety deposit box in Sar
Francisco bore reference to the dia
.<
I cannot now make known to you
their location for years was known
only to me. My father in some way
discovered their ituation-beneath ant
beyond the castle to which Miss Ian
cey. now Mrs Morris. was taken wher
she first arrived In Africa, and from
which she has so recently departed.
You must know that though he =.
American born and bred, that for thir
ty years my father has lived in thi.
section. as absolute king over severa
thousands of the most desperate rae;
OF blacks that inhabit this continent
He subdued them years ago through
fear OF what they considered his mag
&c. Tyoga, there. was the wife of tn,
rightful king. Meta, her foster daugh
ter. and Benoni. as you have guessed
her son. For love of my poor mother
they not only served her but raw,
tended the family most faithfully eve
since Father has sent the blacks u,
there TO pre-empt those mines. ant
charged to bring back with them .
Roodly load Unknown to him his sub
tects have long been rebelling afns
him. But the half of them ent L
TiougaIey. The other half RENAME,
hidden here, and at any time ma.
storm the castle. Many of the hous
servants are with the mutineers. an
that enhances the danger canno
blame them for revolving. Ny fathe
has been a cruel and despotic master
Their woes have been many. Tyog
can usually check them. 1t was dur
ing her absence in America that the
broke bonds. That Is why she lei
Tiougaley so long alone with but Met
I'd r