Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1916-02-11

to do Something, which judged was
to consent to a marriage then and
there. Taking her by the manu-, be
attempted to draw her to stand before
the other man, whom | surmised TO
be clergyman. But she resisted.
In the clergyman recognized per-
son who had long been familiar to me.
and | knew he was not clergyman.
] could not understand the situation.
In the olden time mock marriages were
used TO entrap innocent girls, but In
these days we seldom hear of them.
Nevertheless | suspected that these
men were trying to practice q deep
ton ON this woman.
She turned away from them and
started down the aisle. The man who
was persuading her caught her and
drew her back. pouring pleading words
into her ear. This time he tried
little force. urging her up before the
supposed clergyman, whom heard say
harshly:
II am tired of this vacillation. II
you are going to marry this man let
as proceed with the ceremony; If not
let us CO."
At the same time the would be, groom
changed his manner from persuasion
to something resembling severity, and
| could see that they were trying to In
huence the girl to do that which she
felt she ought not to do. In this way
she was induced to stand before the
clergyman. and he began the marriage
service. But he had spoken only few
words when she broke away from
them and ran like deer down the
aisle. The groom ran after her, but
she had got the start of him, and the
distance was short. She ran into my
arms. Whether it was the shock Mt
finding a man where she had supposed
there was no one or she believed she
had been headed of in her fight
know not, but she gave shrek.
Fear nothing" said 10 her. ~
am IL friend. protector"
This treasured her. and she chung
to me.
The would be groom came up and
looking at me. angriiy asked, "Who are
you, and what are you doing hereT"
''Who ! am" replied, docs moi
matter, and what am doing mere Is
self evident. Just at present l am
keeping this girl from an imposition
l don't know who you, are. but dc
know that the man who is playing
parson is livery stable keeper from
whom I have occasionally hired Q
horse"
Before l had finished the HverymaT
disappeared through a door back OF
the pulpit. The other stood, evidentI!
uncertain what to do. The girl, who
had received from me information
which astonished her, turned upon thu
man from whom she had escaped like
fury. He took the dressing she gave
him with bowed head. She finished II
tears:
IF have done wrong it has beer
through love of you"
| Don't you believe that story"
said to the girl. "a man who loves I
woman does not try to draw her int
a mock marriage"
saw by the mans appearance, hi
manner and his dress that he wa
what we call high bred. and 1t wa
plain that he had no intention OF mar
rying the girl. But I saw no advan
tage in discussing the matter further.
"Will you come with me?" l askeC
her.
"or me?" said the other. with |
pleading look.
There was evidence of the man
power over her. for she hesitated
moment. then put her arm through
mine, and led her away. Leaving
the man In the church. we stepped on
into the night.
There were the same stars in tn
heavens that had seen but few
minutes before. but l looked up a
them with a different feeling. Thel
there was mingled with the awe I fel
In their solemn grandeur sense o
my human insignificance. uselessness
Now there was in me the conscious
ness that | had saved a fellow beinl
from wreck.
There was another feeling. cOul
not get rid Of an impression that til
spirit Of the woman l had seen pas
from life to eternity might have ha'
something to do with my having pass
ed the church in time to save a SOU
though had failed in saving a life.
Where shall l take youTpI 'aske'
the girl.
Home"
Instead of going in the direction
would go she turned and walked tn
other way. AS we proceeded she CAV
me her story in brief She had beeI
to the city studying art There sh
had met the man from whom hat
saved her. He had courted her, bu
she had suspected him. To get rid o
his influence she had started for home
He had taken the same train and play
ed his game so well that he persuade,
her to go back with him as his wife
The rest knew.
We were walking over the same rOa
I had traversed in going to see m
patient Then had had companion
man suffering from anxiety. Nov
my companion was a girl who ha
barely escaped a great evil. Some
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