The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-26
the sterling silver. with his own caro-

properly displayed.
Nightly bewildered. he had not time
to puzzle over the explanation OF the
matter, for . whisper ran about that
the fatal moment had arrived and no
found himself huddlsd up against the
wall with the other guests and waiting
In hushed expectancy. while Mary
Anns's sister began to drawl . wed
ding march on the organ and every
body kept still and brsathed hard.
After an age. and strung out about
three rods apart. the wedding party
appeared and took places before the
gray.haired clergyman In Tie corner.
The btdesroom's turn came. and he
made IN awkward, siding entrance
through . narrow door.
"Hah!" exclaimed 0rimsby. then
coughed confusedly and blushed.
The bridegroom was the highway
man Of the wooded curve In the road.
why on earth!" thought Grimsby.
and What on earth?" and WHO on
EARTH"
Then he lapsed into semtuncon'
sciousness as the wedding march came
TO the end and the clergyman cleared
his throat.
The preliminary parts Of the cere-
mony were soon gone through.
Martin" said the minister, turning
to the bridegroom, wilt thou have this
woman to be thy welded wife. to live
together after Gods ordinance in the
holy estate Of matrimony: Wilt thou
love her, comfort her. honor and keep
her. in sickness and in health: and for.
saking all other. keep thee only unto
her. so long as We both shall live?"
Il wilt" responded the bridegroom.
distinctly. but he didn't look like It.
Mary Anne" resumed the clergy.
man, turning to the bride. wilt thou
have this man to be thy welded hus.
band. to live together after Gods
ordinance in the holy estate Of matri.
mony? Wilt thou love. honor. and
keep him. In sickness and In health:
and, forsaking all other. keep thee only
unto him. so long as ye both shall
live?"
Il wilt not" said Mary Anne. and
the emphasis was on the not.
There was sensation. but It wasn't
as much OF sensation as It would
have been II the assembly had not
been composed wholly Of Mary Anne's
lifelong friends and acquaintances. It
was not CONSERVATION. but restrained
hilarity. which made the guests
breathe deeply and sway to and fro.
The clergyman paused. closed the
book over his thumb. pushed his spec.
tacles back on his forehead and looked
reprOvingly at the refractory bride.
The bridegroom did not seem either
surprised nor annoyed.
Mary Anne" began the clergyman
sternly, did ! understand you to say
that you wouldn't"
you did," affirmed Mary Anne EN-.
phatically. with flashing eyes. glowing
cheeks. and defiant mien.
But she will Just the same" declar.
ed the bridegroom with confidence.
Il will not" reiterated Mary Anne.
Nov. Mary Anne. my dear young
woman" expostulated the clergyman.
What does this mean? How does Il
come that when We have al assembled
here to witness your marriage to Mar.
tin. that you fatty refuse him? You
must explain yourself or III 70 right
ahead and pronounce you man and
wife anyway"
It'll explain. Mr.. Outright" declared
Mary Anne proudly. I'll explain glad.
~. I have been the victim Of an i'm.
position. When Martin asked me to
marry him told him that I had only
one objection, and that was that he
wasn't hero. man to stir the hearts
OF those with good red blood In their
veins. Martin said he was q hero.
only he'd never had a chance to show
any OF It around here. where things
was always SO quiet. But he promised
me solemnly that II Id have him, he
would do something real heroical be-
fore the solemn hour and article Of the
wedding.
Now. Mr.. Outright. that solemn
hour and article has come. I gave Mar.
tin up to the very last minute. He has
failed to do the deed and I won't mar.
~ him. SO there. He has deceived me.
He has failed to keep the promise that
he made"
Mary Anne turned and pointed at
her betrothed husband dramatically.
and in excellent imitation OF a trag.
edy queen she Kissed the one word:
Coward"
Il amt. neither" said Martin EN-.
phatically, scratching the place where
his stiR collar sawed his neck most
land hain't failed to keep my prom.
Use. and l can prove II by Mr.. Grims.
by. over there in the corner"
He swung half way about and caught
Grimshy's eyes. then swung back and
faced the clergyman.
"Mr. Grimsby will testify that no
later than this very day done a brave
and heroical deed and he seen me. I
don't like TO brag and so won't saw
what It was and won't ask Mr.. Gr,ms.
by to say. All ask is that he will
solemnly before this here assembled