Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-24
DAILY SHORT STORIES

was too rational for lover. ] won.
dered II he were not bent on marriage
TO escape loneliness or to help him to
bury melancholy memory. deter
mined to apply u test.
You have been considering nae vac.
Hating" said. snow you seem 20 be
undecided yourself. And J am no,
quite sure but you are right. Suppose
after we are married you should meet
your former bride. Suppose she should
admit that I'm condition new TO her,
very young girl, she had tried your
patience severely: that she had mis-.
taken you; that she deplored the break
between you and her and would give
years of her life to undo what she had
done. You would then look upon your
marriage with mo ms n chain of slav-
ery."
He said nothing for some time.
When he did his words thrilled me:
"Candor compels me to admit that
would"
/ leaned back on the cushion as
though much disappointed. am not
sure, but practiced the deception OF
a sigh. His mood was indicated by
the speed he was driving the machine.
/ was tempted To tear Off my veil and
throw my arms about his neck. But
| dared not. Az his bride had been
girl. Now ! was approaching mid.
die age. Another denouement TO this
singular freak OF fate occurred 10 me.
would go with him TO the church.
then reveal myself.
We'll" / said, 'it is time that we
stop this backing and filling. shall
show you that i have more steadinesv
than you suppose. Come; turn about.
Let us go to the rectory"
Without word he turned his ma.
chine, and we were soon speeding I'm
the opposite direction Neither spoke
for some time. I wondered of what
he was thinking, Perhaps that lone.
| illness which comes over single man
after he has passed the heyday OF
| youth would now be ended Or was
he thinking OF his bride OF Hfteen
| years before? When we drew up at
the rectory. before alighting he said:
There is yet time TO reconsider this
most important step I'm your life. II
| you have not perfect confidence I'm mo
| beg of you to withdraw before Il IS
| too late"
III there Is vacillation now 1t is IN
| you. not I'm me-"
lie got out OF the auto, but not with
the springy step of groom. ! knew
ne was swayed by two opposite cur
| rents Whatever were his feelings. he
would not recede from the position he
| had taken.
We were received by the rector. who
bad been expecting us for some time.
| He placed us before n mantel, took I'D
his prayer book and waited FOR me 10
take off my veil. Slowly / unwound n
ana when removing the last fold turn.
| ed and looked Mt the groom
lie had not seen me since / was
eighteen Now / was thirty-threc. but
he knew me Mt once-that IL. lie knew
me as soon as he could recover from
his establishment. And the fact that
his bride was the same as he had
stood by years before rendered that ns-
constituent rather confusion OF ideas
than natural impression lie stood
looking at me, daZed.
"Gwenw he exclaimed at last
With tho two men looking at me. the
one waiting TO know what the scene
meant. the other how came to be
there In place OF the woman be expect.
cd, 1t was incumbent on mo TO make
an explanation. did so TO the rector.
telling him briefly the circumstances.
When / had finished | turned to my
groom, wondering what expression I
would find there. ! saw at once that
he was eager 10 know what would be
The outcome of this contretcmps. Did
Il mean punishment. revenge. or would
It lead to reconciliation replied
TO the question asked by bis eyes with
ny lips ! gave him smile. with
profound sigh Of relief he turned To the
clergyman and said:
Proceed"
The rector seemed puzzled Evf
IDENTIFY the situation clustered bin; but
being in holy orders. with II church.
mans antagOnism toward marrying
divorced people and churchman's
pleasure IN rcuniting those who have
Deth separated. ne was not long il re.
covering his equanimity. Ilr looked
Mt rue for my assent. But Inc looked
IN vain. ! gave no assent Neither
did ! express dissent. lie looked 10
the groom for instructions and doubt
lcHs received them. for without fur
Their delay he began the ceremony.
Neither man was quite sure what
would be Tire outcome until Tho ques
ton was asked nae. "Wm YOU take
this man 20 be your welded husbaudT
hesitatcd for moment. then said
firmly. II viii"
Both men gave sigh Of relief.
And 50 It was that. while I was sep
nrated FOR fifteen years fom the mar
] loved ana who loved me. by sense
less tit. was reunited so him by o
marvellous coincidence. Had not the
woman he was 20 have made his sec
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