Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-08-13

81 think l know what the trouble H.,
he told her. II don't quite know what
to do. We can't get to town this way"
He struck the mud guard with his
sleeve impatiently.
A man leading a COW came up behind
them.
ANY garage around here7" Crawford
asked him.
"Just up the hill, in the village, bout
a quarter of a mile" the man replied.
"They turned the old church over into
one" he went on, with a laugh.
"'Tain't done yet, but they are doing
business"
"a church?' Crawford questioned.
"You can't miss It," the man assured
him. "They amt got the steeple ofn
1t yet"
Carefully Crawford sent his a for
ward, climbing the long hill with diff
Guilty. At one end of the elm shaded
street a white church stood.
Crawford plsY the horn, and two
alert young m9f came out.
They looked at the car critically.
Better drive her in under cover"
one of them advised when Crawford
explained. We've got everything here
to work with, even If the pulpit isn't
down yet. Seems funny, don't it,
doing business In a church,"
"Great ideal" Crawford commented
"It ought to be a guarantee of your
honesty" he added, smiling.
nha Io11ohaI haorfflu fnThaf,a
right" he said. well, we aim to be,
church or no church. Will the lady
get oqtIg
Crawford gave a hand to his COM
panion as she stepped from the car and
walked with her to n of the old pews
piled away at the side.
In a little time he returned to the pew.
at isn't much" he told her. "They
say they'll have 1t done in an hour or
SO. Are you cold?"
The woman had pulled her greatcoat
more closely about her and was SILVER
ing.
mo-" she answered slowly. Don't
leave me-" she begged.
Crawford dropped down beside her,
and his eyes, curiously examining the
interior of the building, were attracted
to the doorway.
A little group of three persons stood
there hesitatingly peering in. A boy OF
twenty and a girl young and flushed
were just across the threshold, and be-
hind them was q tall old man In a long
black coat and a white tie.
The mechanic at work on the car
looked up and went inquiringly to
them. The old man pointed to the
front of the church, and they talked in
tones so lew that Crawford and Mrs.
Fairbanks could not hear them.
After a little the elder Of the two
garage men came to Crawford.
"Funny thing" he said, but there's
a young couple want to get married
here. 1t seems the first time they ever
saw each other was in this church, and
they had a notion they'd like to get
married in 1t before 1t was all torn up.
l told them you was in a hurry, but I'd
ask If you'd mind waiting"
Mrs. Fairbanks made a gesture of
consent.
"We'l wait, certainly" she said.
Twill they be willing for us to stay
during the ceremony
"Oh, yes, indeed" the man replied
Just move up a little, so you can
hear"
Slowly the little wedding party pass
ed across the barren floor space block
ed by the huge automobile, the old
clergyman leading the way.
He took his stand before the pulpit
and laid his soft black hat on a key
near by. In the dim light his white
hair fell in long locks about his lined
old face and upon the black bound
book he held.
In the painted pew, battered and
SCARED by its ruthless removal, Mrs.
Fairbanks, watching, whispered to
Crawford:
isn't it-oh-I don't know-strange,
sOme wayT"
The man sat silent, his eyes on the
floor.
In the solemn stiffness the words of
ihC nhiiC lAAhAclCA Ill 0Ao
tinctly out into the old church.
81, Alice. take thee, Harry
The girls voice could not be heard
by those who listened, but the boys
deep tones were audible.
"For better, for worse
Mrs. Fairbanks began to tremble.
For richer, for poorer
The face of the woman in the pew
grew white, and her eyes never left
the minister's face.
Until death us do part"
Come she said to Crawford hoarse-
ly. "Outside-anywhere!'
They sat down on a big gray rock
in the dark grass near the rear of the
church.
After a time she spoke.
at was that old mans face,' she
said. 81 can't get over it, nor his voice.
It was $3.50 solemn.
at wasn't much like the cathedral