The Washington herald., 1911-12-31
CHAPTER I.
Outside of Eden.

Emerson caught one glimpse of hel
white face as she passed him, walking
slowly up the aisle, and even in the
agony Of his. own soul he vaguely won
dered why she should be so pale.
For an instant their eyes met. and she
had passed on, but in that moment the
work Of weeks past was completed.
He had Weakened at last, and Weakened
too late!
He wondered II his own face was
Ehastlv. and at the thought that his &C
quaintances might read there the story
OF his suffering. he clenched his fists
until he could feel the nails bite into
the palms through the gloves. He
thanked God that Bell beautiful in her
bridesmaids gown, had not noticed him
as she followed in GATHERINGS wake.
Would he have strength enough to
stand through the ceremony and appear
properly 1uhilant when the time for con-
gratulatiOns came? He threw a half
frightened glance about him. Every
where was some one he knew, some one
who knew him.
All of them had heard his name and
GATHERINGS mentioned in the same breath
for years past, and they would be looking
for signs of distress as eagerly as a
EchooIboy watching the futile wriggles of
an impaled beetle. He shuddered and
momentarily closed his eyes.
The voice that breathed DER Eden,
That earliest wedding day
He opened his eyes and raised them
slowly toward the altar.
The primal marriage blessing.
II hath not passed away.
lie drew in his breath with a sharp
cIsp A young girl standing beside him
looked at him curiously, and he bit his
lip. He knew that she had heard even
above the music, and he was frightened
to think that he had so little self-con-
troll. He wished that she would move
away or mat he could do so decently.
He never knew before how much he de-
tested the scent of lilies of the valley,
and sI,. wore q small cluster pinned to
her bodice, just below her left shoulder.
From that day to lie end of his life he
fed from the scent of lilies of the valley.
His eyes were on the group at the
altar, but he was looking at the scene as
at something unreal. He hardly heard
the little ruStles and whispers about him,
"a the women Grained their necks to see.
He could not sec GATHERINGS face, but
he frequently caught the line of Darwin $
splendid profile and fine, strong head
a bovc the broad. bIaCk-coated shoulders.
Now heP father was stepping forward
He put GATHERINGS hand in Darwins.
BE present. Mighty Father to give
away this BRIDE leaped forth from the
organ in eXultant appeal. Emerson press
Cd his lips together and forced himself
10 hold his eyes on the group at the
altar. His lips felt dry, but he dared
not moisten them. and he could feel
that his forehead was damp. He was
afraid to touch his handkerchief. That
girl beside him might suspect. Thank
God, 1t would soon he over now. But
there was one turn of the rack that he
had forgotten.
Darwin drew Catherine gently into his
arms and kissed her upturned lips Again
Emerson caught a sharp breath, and the
girl looked up. He did not see-he was
only conscious that she had noticed. BY
q terrible effort he kept his eyes open,
hut the sight was wiped from them. The
church was hIled with d gray-white
mist
The crash of the opening bars OF Men
d"lssOhn, like a dash of cold water,
brought him slowly once more TO COM
plete consciousness of his surroundings.
Tho great nave was alive with flashing
color and ordinations, greetings, laugh
ter, whispers and the rustic of a hundred
skirts. On every side he heard:
Wasn't il a lovely wedding"
Didn't Catherine look too sweet"
How distinguished Mr.. Darwin looks
with his gray hair
Hello. old man Darwins a lucky
bird, eh?"
4 business associate slapped Emerson
heartily on the shoulder.
Hello, Emerson" he exclaimed. with
a jovial smile. BY George, I don't see
how even a hair-splitting lawyer like
Darwin could make a choice between that
girl and your sister,
Emerson smiled back at him and muir
mered something meant to be a laughing
r"ioinder as his friend passed on. He
returned bows and greetings with his
usual grave courtesy, and he wondered
1t himself as he did IT.
Could It be possible that his face show
I'd nothing Of the tumult in his soul?
Could it be possible that there was moth
ing unusual about his behavior?
He might have made himself easy.
His was not the type Of face that may
oasily he read. He stood half head
above most Of the men in the church,
and more than one pair of feminine eyes
looked with admiration at the wide-set,
calm, gray eyes, the long, slender nose,
with the slight hook at the end: the
straight, well-formed mouth, and the
long, salient line of the jaw For there
WAS beauty there-the beauty OF unbend-
ing strength.
So thought his sister as she hurried
through the throng toward him.
Billy" she exclaimed, touching his
arm. What on earth are you standing
around here for? Don't you knoW-that
we're waiting for your
Emerson started and stared at his sis
ter in sudden alarm.
"Why-why, I-don't know, Sis" he
stammered. 'I-I-have Just learned
that / can't go with your
Just learned! Can't go with us!' she