The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-16

bed vainly trying to sleep, At last be
arose. went to the window and looked
out The moon was at the full, illnmi-
mating everything 10 sight namely,
the undulating plain. scattered dwell.
ings and the meeting house more than
200 years old Suddenly lnsley opened
bis eyes wider than they had been
opened during his sleepessness. A
light passed across one OF the win.
dows Of the church He went to the
door. opened It and stood looking out.
All was stu. 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 a few seconds,
then seemed 10 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 Ne had better see than be
seen. He knew the church we'll and
felt confident that be could enter by a
basement window. A tall tree cast
shadow on bis approach. Finding the
window, be crawled in stealthily. and.
guided by sufficient light from without
TO enable him to see hts way, he as
cended staircase leading up into the
vcstibule. Opening door only so far
as would enable him to peep into the
body Of the church. he saw 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 lnsley 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 bis watch and look at the
time impatently.
Then Insley heard a knock at the
church door. The men heard 1t. too.
and the younger hurried TO the front
OF the church. The watcher. TINT he
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 be could hear.
Sweetheart" said the man. what
has kept your
II heard father tossing about in bed
and dared not venture"
"WeIl. come. 1t win soon be over.
and then you'll feel better. You are
ali unstrung."
"Oh. 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. Insley entered and passed
In shadow part way down an aisle en-
fering one Of the high pews The two
men and the woman were IN shadow.
but presently fusley saw one of the
men and the woman standing 10
food Of moonlight. with their backs
toward him. while the man In clerical
garb faced him aud them. The clergy
man held In bis hand lamp or can
die covered so that its light could only
shine on the page Of book be held in
his hand
Insley knew that a marriage service
was about to be performed Whether
1t was a case for interference or one
to suffer to proceed be 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
che 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 WINS OF medium height |
and slender. Besides, the pastor was
not a person TO wed couples In bis
church Mt midnight and II be did would
not require a light upon bis book by
which to read the marriage service.
True enough. marriage service was
begun. Insley 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
ley said soemnly:
u forbid
At the same time be dropped down
into the pew He did not see the com
motion his words produced. but be
heard a woman's cry. Then there
were indlstinguishabe sounds and a
muf1led voice:
aWe'd better get out. Some ones
got on to 1t. You'll be jagged for
this
80 will you
Insley heard teps-men's steps-hur-
rying past him in the aisle and passing |
out Of the front door As soon as all
was still be went down to where he
had seen the bridal party standing
His foot pressed something lying in
the dark On the floor. STOPPING down,
ne felt woman's form. Raising her,
be carried her to where the moonlight
shown upon her face.
Great heavens. she was his own
daughter!
she came to herself. and by the light T
she saw him gazing down upon her I
with a mingled expression Of surprise /
and pain
eFather~
.BessieF'
us ii a dreamT'
mo. dear heart, not d dream. but a