The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-12-01
SAVED
By T. DEWITT BOWMAN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

arose. went to the window and look ell
out The moon was at the full. ilumi.
mating everything in sight-na mely.
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 his sleeplessness A
light passed across one Of the WIN
dows of the church. He went to the
door. opened 1t 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 he proceeded he
thought that he had better see than be
seen. He knew the church well and
felt confident that he could enter by a
basement window. A tall tree cast Il
shadow on his approach. Finding the
| window, be crawled in stealthily. and.
guided by sufficient light from without
to enable him to see his way. he as
cended staircase leading up into the
vestibule. Opening door only so far
as would enable him to peep into the
body Of the church. he saw a strange
sight.
Two men were standing by win
dow, the moon shining full in their
faces The one was young and of city
mein-that is. so far as Insley could
see by moonlight alone. The other
was dressed in the garb of a clergy
man. The men were talking. but he
could not hear what they said. Now
and again the younger man would
take out his watch and look at the
time impatiently
Then lnsiey heard knock at the
church door The men heard it. too,
and the younger hurried to the front
OF the church. The watcher. that lie
might not be seen, descended the
stairs, but not SO far that he could
not know what passed In the vesti-
bule. The young man opened the
church door and admitted woman.
There was no light for him to see by,
but he could hear.
"Sweetheart." said the man, what
has kept your
n heard father tossing about in bed
and dared not venture"
"Well, come. 1t viii soon be over.
| and then you'll feel better. You are
oil unstrung."
"Oh. l can't"
These were the last words Insley
heard. for the man drew the girl into
the body Of the church and toward the
other end. Tnsley entered and passed
IN shadow part way down an aisle en-
tering one of the high pews. The two
men and the woman we're In shadow.
but presently Insley saw one Of the
food Of moonlight, with their backs
toward him. while the man In clerical
garb faced him and them. The clergy
man held i'm his hand a lamp or can
die covered so that its light could only
shine on the page Of book he held in
bis hand. -.. ....
Insley knew that marriage service
was about to be performed. Whether
It was case for interference or one
30 suffer to proceed he knew not. But
he 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 It. One
thing made him suspicious. The pas
tor Of the church was a large man.
while this one was Of medium height
and slender. Resides. the pastor was
not a person to wed couples in his
church at midnight and II he did would
not require a light upon bis book by
which to read the marriage service.
True enough, a marriage service was
begun. lnsley could hear every word
When the clergyman asked II any one
had aught to say why the two should
not be Joined together in wedlock ms
10y said solemnly:
II forbid"
At the same time he droppsa down
into the pew He did not see the COM
motion his words produced, but he
heard a voman's cry. Then there
were indistinguishabl sounds and a
muffled voice:
"We'd better get out. Some ones
Got on to II. You'll be jagged for
this"
$50 will yoi1."
1nsIey heard steps-men's steps-hur
9ing past him in the aisle and passing
out Of the front door. AS soon as all
vas still he went down to where he
lad seen the bridal party standing.
His foot pressed something lying in
the dark on the floor. STOPPING down.
~ felt woman's form. Raising her,
- carried her to where the moonlight
shown upon her face.
Great heavens. she was his own
daughter.
She came to herself. and by tho light
she saw him gazing down upon her
with mingled expression of surprise
and pain.
"Father"