Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-05-28


man and be married. She had confid-
ed her intention to a bosom friend of
hers, Bessie Angel, and desired that
she be present at the ceremony. She
claimed that there should be witnesses,
so | asked my friend Arnold Brown to
be Of the party. These two were to
meet us at the parsonage.
Lillian was trembling when she en-.
tered the car. On the way she said
nothing to me, and when | spoke to
her she replied by monosyIlabIes.
realized that she was not in a condi.
hon Of sufficient equanimity to take
the most important step in a woman's
hfe
There is yet time," l said, ito re-
treat from this STEP
NO." she replied family. II am
going through with it,
was half minded to stop the mat.
ter where it was, but when we are
half minded we are as liable to decide
wrong as right. | drove on to the par
sonage and pulled up before the door.
Go fn," she said, "and see if they
are all there; then come back for me-"
Hadn't you better go in with me?" I
asked.
mo; 1 won't be married without
Bess.''
Always persuaded to what l did not
approve of, went to the front door,
rang the bell and was admitted
found Arnold Brown waiting for me.
but no Bessie Angel. Stepping to the
telephone, l called up her home and
asked for her. She came to the tele-
phone, and I asked her why she was
not at the parsonage. She replied that
sne had not been certain from what
Lillian had said to her when they had
last met whether the wedding would
come of or not. To this l expressed
| surprise. After dialogue, very unsat-
isfactory to me, 1t was agreed that she
should hold the wire while went out
to Lillian, and IL returned with re-
quest from her friend to come to the
parsonage she would come at once.
Setting down the receiver, I ran out to
| the car.
1t was where l had left 1t, but no
Lillian.
My heart went down like lead.
looked In every direction, though not
| expecting to see her. Flight was a fit-
ting climax to the vacillation she had
shown. I stood on the steps, wonder
| ing what to do.
When we are In hole we naturally
turn to something or some one to pull
us out thought of Agnes Atherton.
| My own judgment had been led so far
astray by Lillian that could not at
once get it in working order. I didn't
know what to do about Arnold Brown.
l shrank from telling him l had been
left in the lurch by one was about to
make my life partner. Returning to
him, 1 said:
Arnold, there is a hitch; wait here
till straighten 1t out"
He saw that / was furried and told
me to go slow; he would wait for me
there till the crack of doom. Hurrying
out, drove to Agnes home, and fortu-
nately found her there.
/ told her the whole story.
had thrown myself on a sofa, and
she sat down beside me, taking my
| ndnQ In nerS S00th1ngly.
ut seems to me-" she said, "that
there Is nothing for you to do but tell
the truth to your friend, Mr.. Brown,
and that will end the matter"
II dare say you're right, but would
rather do six months term in state
| prison than confess to him that have
been such fool''-
1 or ND
ments there was silence between us, at
the end of which Agnes asked:
| HAS Mr.. Brown ever seem
| LILLIAN? No."
"pll tell you what I'll do for you.
| You seem all cut up, and would like
to help you out. My law of action Is
| the intent. will go with you to the
| parsonage, marry you, and we will
have the marriage annulled at our
| leisure"
Never in so short space Of time
was a revelation made to any human
being. Here was a woman, worthy of
the devotion of the best man living,
| whom l had turned down for the
weakest. 1t all came upon me with
sledgehammer force. Clasping Agnes
In my arms, said:
"It will never be annulled with my
consent"
Fastening to a phone, called up the
parsonage, got Arnold and said:
"The tangfe is unraveled. I and the
bride will be with you presently"
In less than half an hour Agnes and
were In the parsonage. introduced
her to Brown; then the clergyman was
called from his study and performed
the wedding ceremony, neither he nor
the single witness suspecting that In a
twinkling there had been a change in
the bride.
After the ceremony there were still
several hours before the end Of the
day, and drove my wife into the
country. What passed between US
could not be condensed within few
words. 1 would not care to give it If