The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1912-11-22

were any cause known why these two
should not be made one. might not 7
single movement of his body III tha
moment. groan Of pain. sob. cry
of agony In a supreme act OF his will
cause the white figure TO reel and fall
mt his feet? 1t was possible But II
would be too cheap. II would be a
worthless victory. victory of the flesh
without the spirit. and he refused to
take the body without the soul
| With frown he turned to Bivens:
ITS no use talking. Cal. I've made
up my mind ! won't do It,"
We'll. II you won't you won't" the
! little man said with n sigh .'At least
| you'll come 10 the church For Gods
sake. let me get glimpse OF one friend
Iy face! I'll be scared to death You
know. I'm not used TO this"
Stuart smiled:
"All right. III be there"
Rut when the fateful morning came
Stuart was stunned by the feeling Of
Incredible despair which crept into his
heart The day was chill and damp
Duli grayish. half black clouds rolled
over the city from the sea-clouds that
hnng low and wet over the cold pave
ments without breaking into rain.
He knew that Nan was aS supersti
tious as the old black nanny Of the
south who had nursed her Aunt Sal.
lie had come to New York for the wed
ding OF her baby" Stuart thought of
the old saying. Happy is the bride the
sun shines on" As the hour of noon
approached despair slowly settled over
his heart
How could he reconcile himself TO
the horrible reality? A marriage sOr
did cold. vulgar to such u man-this
little tobacco stained. bead eyed wea.
sell
He rose. breathing hard and brushed
come unbidden in spite OF his iron
will
His heart fairly shrieked its cry of
despair He moved mechanically to-
ward the church and walked from his
reverie to find himself damned in
had be realized the utter vulgarity of
a public wedding He forced his way
into the side door and stood waiting
the arrival of the bride and groom
When Bivens came the sight OF him
reused the slumbering devil in Stuart
The excitement of his triumph had
evidently steadied the little mans
nerves Never had his shrimplike fig
ure 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
have committed murder with joy. The
agony of defeat was on him. He felt
in that moment his kinship with all the
rebels and disinherited Of the earth.
At last the bride came and the sur
pliced choir moved slowly and solemn
y down the aisles through sea Of
eager faces as the great organ pealed
forth the first bars of the wedding
march from "Lohengrin."
Nan was leaning on the arm of II
stranger he had never seen before. ar
uncle from the west. She was pale
deathIy pale, and walked with hest
tating movement as though weak from
| illness. Suddenly his heart went Out
to her in flood of pity and tenderness
He tried to make her feel this. but she
passed without glance. She had moi
seen him.
Stuart listened to the ceremony with
vague impersonal interest as If II
were something going on in another
world A single question was burning
itself into his brain-the price OF u
woman! Have we all our price?' he
asked. searching deep into his own
soul Something pathetic In the white
face OF the bride had touched the deep
est sources of his being.
"Haye /. too. my price. oh. boastfui
souI?" he cried Would l sell my
honor for a million? No. For ten.
fifty, hundred millions? No--not In
the market place. no-but would sell
by compromise of principle in the
secret conclave of my party-at sale
the world could never know-would !
sell for the presidency of the republicf
Or would I sell now to win this won
an? Would +? IF so. should hold
her blameless. Have all men and all
women price If we but name it,
Answer! Answer And then from
the depths Of his being came the burn
ing words:
"No! l swear it. MOI"
He looked up with start. wonder
ing vaguely ii the crowd had heard
this cry.
No: they were intent on the drama
at the altar. The minister was say
ing:
"What God hath joined together let
not man put asunder."
"'Godr Surely he didn't say God
Stuart brooded "Does God. the au
gust. mysterious, awful creator of the
universe. work like this? Did not the
God OF heaven and earth give this wo-
man to him beneath the sunny skies
Of the south while their souls sang for
Joy"
They were moving again down the