Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-02
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riage Sordid, cold, vulgar to such
man-this little tobacco stained, bead
eyed weasel.
And she had talked to him abou
her career. AS if she didn't know
that the career of any woman was i'm
measurably grander than that of an!
man-if she fulfil her destiny tha
links her to God in the creation of {
child-a being whose simple word may
mould a million wills and change tht
fate of centuries-and yet she had de-
liberately strangled her soul ant
chosen this little pig, who rooted IL
the dirt for gold, to be the father O.
her children.
He rose, breathing hard and brushed
a tear from his eye-a tear that haC
come unbidden in spite Of his iron will
He wished he had not made the
foolish promise to Bivens. He knew
now that he had never re ~ believed
he would have to keep it. And yet tht
day had come and the hour had struck
and no miracle had been wrought.
He walked with leaden steps through
Tenth street to Broadway, stopped anC
gaZed for a moment on the graceful
spire of the church before whose altar
Nan would soon stand and perjurt
herself for money. How could she
He had long felt that in every true
mans religion was a supreme BELLE
in himself-in a woman's, faith IL
some one else. He knew that she be-
lieved in him, not in the man to whom
she was surrendering herself. And
yet she wished to consummate this
act of blasphemy-in the House 81
God before His high altar.
why? Why? Why?"
His heart fairly shrieked it's cry Of
despair. He moved mechanically to-
ward the church and walked from his
reverie to find himself jammed in g
solid mass of humanity. Never De-
fore had he realized the utter vulgarity
of a public wedding. Why should any
one wish a crowd of curious fools tc
witness even the happiest wedding
Its meaning is surely frank enough
without shouting it from the house
tops. Should not it's joys and mys.
terry be something too shy and sweet
and holy for a vulgar crowd o1
strangers to gaze on? And stripped Of
the sanctity of love, this ceremony be-
comes merely a calling Of a mob tc
witness the sale Of woman's body
There could be no illusions about the
fact and it was hideous.
He forced his way into the side dool
and stood waiting the arrival Of the
bride and groom. When Bivens came
the sight of him reused the slumber-
ing devil in Stuart. The excitement OF
his triumph had evidently steadied the
little mans nerves. His yellow teeth
were shining in a broad grin, and from
his piercing eyes there flashed the con-
scious success of the adventurer. His
fine clothes and well-groomed body
gave him dignity. Never had his
shrimp-like figure looked so slippery
and plausible.
He extended his slender hand and
touched Stuart's in passing. To save
his life the lawyer could not repress 6
shudder. In that moment he could
have committed murder with JOY. The
agony of defeat was on him.
He knew he could beat this man IL
every fair fight with his bare hands ol
with equal weapons. And yet there
he was carrying off with grin before
his very eyes the woman he loved. HI
felt in that moment his kinship will
all the rebels and disinherited of tht
earth.
At last the bride came and the sur
pliced choir moved slowly and sol
emnly down the aisle through a sea
of eager faces as the great organ peal
ed forth the first bars of the wedding
march from "Lohengrin."
Nan was leaning on the arm of {
stranger he had never seen before-al
uncle from the west. She was pale
deathly pale and walked with a hes
itating movement as though veal
from illness. Suddenly his heart wen
out to her in flood of pity and ten
derness. He tried 10 make her fee
this, but she passed without a glance
She had not seen him. The process
sion moved slowly back to the altar
and a solemn hush fell on the throng
Stuart listened to the ceremon.
with a vague impersonal interest, a
if it were something going on in an
other world.
A single question was burning it
self into his brain-the price of a wo
man!
Have we all our price," he asked
searching deep into his own sou
Something pathetic in the white fac
of the bride had touched the deepes
sources of his being.
Have |. too, my price, oh, boastfu
soul?" he cried. Would | sell m
honor for a million? No. For ten, fif
". a hundred millions? No-nOt Il
the market place, no-Dut would SCI
by a compromise of principle in tn
secret conclave of my party-at sal
the world could never know-would
sell for the Presidency of the Repub
lie? or would l sell now to win thi
woman? Would 1? Would l? If sc
| should hold her blameless. Have a
men and all women price If we bu
name it? Answer! Answer" An
then from the depths of his being cam
the burning words:
No. BY God, swear it. No."
He looked up with a start, wonder
ing vaguely if the crowd had hear
this cry from something inside whic
he knew in that moment was bigge
than the world without.
No. they were intent on the dram
at the altar The minister was say
| ing:
with this ring l thee we'd" h
couldn't see, but he knew the ring wa
being placed on the third finger of tn
left hand-chosen by tradition becaus
vein of blood was supposed to ru