Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-23
SAVED
By 7. nfwTTT BOWMAN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

out The moon was at the full. fllumi-
mating everything 10 sight-nameiy.
the undulating plain. scattered dwell
ings and the meeting house more than
200 years old. Suddenly Insley opened
his eyes wider than they had been
opened during bis sleepiessaess. A
light passed across one OF the WIN
dows Of the church. He went to the
door. opened It aud stood looking out
All was still. Not house was lighted
save by. the moon. Not living crea-
ture was In sight.
The light appeared again. This time
It was stationary for few seconds.
then seemed to have been extinguished.
Insley hurried into his clothes and
ran as fast as his legs would carry
him to the church. AS ne proceeded he
thought that be had better see than be
seen. He knew the church well and
felt confident that he could enter by
basement window. A tall tree cast a
shadow on bis approach. Finding the
window. he crawled In stealthily. and.
guided by sufficient light from without
to enable him 20 see his way. be as
cended a staircase leading up into the
ycstibule. Opening a door only so far
as would epable him TO peep into the
body Of the church. he saw strange
sight.
Two men were standing by a win
nI Pm
faces. The one was young and OF city
meln-that is, so far as insley could
see by moonlight alone. The other
was dressed In the garb Of clergy
man. The men were talking. but he
could rot hear what they said. Now
and again the younger man would
take out his watch and look at the
time impatientiy.
Then Iasley heard a knock at the
church door, The men heard It too.
and the younger hurried TO the front
of the church. The watcher. that he
might not be seen. descended the
stairs. but not so far that be could
not know what passed In the vesti-
bule. The young man opened the
church door and admitted a woman.
There was no light for him to see by.
but be could hear.
Sweetheart" said the man. what
has kept your
81 heard father tossing about in bed
and dared not venture"
well, come. 1t win soon be over.
and then You'll feel better. You are
all unstrung."
sOh, ] can't"
These were the last words Insiey
heard, for the man drew the girl into
the body of the church and toward the
other end. Insley entered and passed
In shadow part wey down au aisle en-
tering one Of the high pews. The two
men and the woman were In shadow.
but presently Insley saw one Of the
men and the woman standing In a
food of moonlight. with their backs
toward him. while the mau In clerical
Carb fnced him and them The clergy
man held In his hand lamp or eau
Gle covered so that Its light could only
shine on the page of book be held In
his hand.
lnsiey knew that a marriage service
was about to be performed. Whether
It was a case for interference or one
TO suffer to proceed be knew not. But
be had passed the romantic age when
one sympathizes with those who would
wed in opposition TO their parents
wishes and was not minded to permit
the marriage without being informed
of the circumstances attending IL One
thing made him suspicious. The pas
tor Of fhe church was a large mau.
while this one was Of medium height
and slender. Besides. the pastor was
NOT A person to wed couples IN bis
church at midnight and II be did would
not require n light upon his book oy
which to read the marriage service.
True enough. a marriage service was
begun. Ins.ey could hear every word
When the clergyman asked II any one
had augbt to say why the two should
not be Joined together In wediock ms
ley said soiemnly:
II forbid"
At the same time ne uFoTPeu "o~e
into the pew. lie did not see the COM
motion his words produced. but ne
beard q woman's cry Then there
were indistinguisha5ie sounds and
mus5ej voice:
wed better get out Some ones
got on to IT, You'll be jagged for
this"
so win yo1--
IusIey heard stcps-mcu's steps-hur-
ryine pest him 10 the aisle and passing
cot OF the fronr door As soon as al
was sim he vent down to where DC
tad seen the br1dai party standing
His foot pressed something lying ~
the dark on the 6oor. Sro>D'ng down
be fen . vonan's form Raising her.
rT>MU.IWML