The Press., 1915-10-13

himself, the couple before him. the
 two other men on the side of the
 groom. the two women on the side of
 the bride.
 The marquis walked softly forward,
 hoping to get nearer view of the
 faces. but before he reached point of
 vantage their backs were to him. The
 nriest faced him, and he saw at once
 that he was not the pastor of the
 church. To the marquis astonishment
 he recognized in priests garb
 worthless fellow of the neighborhood.
 who had served several terms in prison
 as a malefactor.
 Assured that some piece of villainy
 was being perpetrated. De Roquette
 seized an enormous sword resting on the tomb of one of his ancestors and. pushing forward till he stood directly
 behind the wedding party. cried out:
 "I forbid the bans!"
 The false priest looked up from a
 book he held in his hand. and the oth- CTS turned quickly.
 Then did the marquis meet with a great surprise The attendants were men and women of the court. The
 groom was the prof1igate duke. while the bride was the lady of whom the marquis had been dreaming. She had entered with apparent reluctance and now looked up like frightened bird. The duke. with the assurance that often characterizes vice. knit his brows and said threaten1ngly:
 "Who are you. mOnsieur?
 "Gaston, Marquis de Roquette. pro- prietor of the estate on which this church stands. No ceremony is per mitted here except it is conducted by Father Arouet the pastor. Surely none will be permitted by one not in orders and the veriest scamp in the province"'
 Paralyzed by these words. the group. all except the bride. stood as if dis covered in crime. Then she. break. ing away from them. flew to De Ro- quette and. catching at him for pro- lection. stood regarding the others in terror. Raising the ponderous sword. the length of which was nearly equal to his own height. he stood ready to bring it down upon whomsoever might interfere with him or her. The duke. dra wing the rapier at his side, advanc- ed, paused. then said to the girl:
 "Emilie. will you not return to me?" She made no other answer than to cover behind her protector. "This is no place. marquis" said the
 duke. flor dispute among men. Let us 20 out among the graves. The sex ton will not have far to carry you in the morning."
 ''l will certainly give your grace an opportunity to cross swords with me- replied the marquis. but not at the present moment. unless you force ne to do so. My first duty is to protect this lady. and l see no one here with whom 1 may safely leave her." One of the attendant men sprang for
 ward and seized the duke by the arm
 He was followed by the other man then by the women All pleaded with
 him to desiSt.
 This will make u scandal" they ar
 gued. that will put you again fin the
 Bastille and send the rest of us to our country estates where we will have nothing to do but pine for Paris. We
 were foolish to abet you in this wild
 scheme And the Countess Emile Do you suppose the powerful family tC
 which she belongs will not avenge this insult if it becomes known? Give UT
 your 1IaI scheme It is doubtless for tunate that it has been interrupted and if it can be kept secret none of Us @F Vsf in it.
 The duke stood burning to proceed but all declared that it was of them that he should think and not of him. self, though an exile to the country would be less irksome than the Bastille Finally he sheathed his sword and. fit CT one more appeal to the countess to come to him. he was hurried out of tht church by his friends, leaving the mar
 quis and the girl he lad saved from q mock n'nrringe alone together. Here stops the chronicle of one of the vilest episodes of the time of the re gency of Philippe of France. but one which in that day was known only tc
 few Later Castor Marquis de Ro quette and Emile Countess de Van diere were marre;l in the very church where the mock marriage had been in terrupted. And it is q matter of rec ord that neithe: of them ever again ap peared at court. Surrounded by their chilt!ren adored by their tenants. they lived a life of simplicity and purity. But when at the end of the eight eenth century the people of France rose to throw off the yoke of profit. yate nobility the innocent were made to suffer with the guilty. The mar luis and marquise's grandchildren paid penalty that they did not deserve ldie Dream.
 "poor dad! Sister told him that the girls of her class are going to grad 1ato in dollar pOwOS'