The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-11-02
CHAPTER ".

What had he done? Was It some
great unnamed, unheard of crime he
had uncunsciously committed: Could
any one understand or excuse such
asinine stupidity? Could he ever hold
up his head again, though he fled to
the most distant part of the globe?
was there nothing the could save the
situation? Now, before they left the
church, could he not declare the truth.
ana set things right, undo the words
that had been spoken in the presence
Of all these witnesses, and send out to
find the real bridegroom? Surely
neither law nor gospel could endorse
a bond made in the ignorance of either
participant. 1t would, Of course, be a
terrible thing for the bride, but better
now than later. Besides, he was
pledged by that hand clasp to answer
the appeal in her eyes and protect her.
This, then, was what it had meant,
But his commission! What Of that?
"A matter OF life and death!" All! but
this was more than life or DEATH!
While these rapid thoughts were
dlction was being pronounced, and with
the last word the organ pealed forth it's
triumphant lay. The audience stirred ex
triumphant lay. The audience stirred ex-
citedly, anticipating the final view of
the wedding procession.
piiue luIlleu TO take ner oquet
from the maid of honor, and the move
ment broke the spell under which Cor
don had been held.
He turned to the young man by his
side and spoke hurriedly in a low tone.
An awful mistake has beer made"
ne said, and the riga drowned every
thing but the word "mistake." 81 don;t
know what to do" he went on. Bnt
young Jefferson hastened to reasurre
him ~joyously:
Not a bit of 1t, old chap. Nobody
noticed that hitch about the ring. It
was only a second. Everything went Off
Slick. You haven't anything more to
40 now but take my sister u Look
alive, there! She looks as If she might
be going to faint! She hasn't been a
bit well all day! Steady her. quick
cant you? She'll stick it out till She
gets to the air. but hurry. for goodness
sake!"A
Gordon turned in alarm. Already the
Trail white bride had a claim on him.
His first duty was to get her out Of
lnls crowd. Perhaps, after all, she had
discovered that he was not the right
man, and that was the meaning Of her
tears and appeal. Yet she had held her
own and allowed things to go through
70 the finish, and perhaps he had no
right to eveal to the assembled multi
tudes what she evidently wanted kept
quiet. He must wait till he could ask
her. He must do as this other man said
This brother Of hers-who was of
course the best man. Oh, fool, and
Ebilnd! Why a he not understood at
the beginning and got himself out Of
MS NIX before 1t was too late? And
what should he do when he reached the
door? How could he ever explain? His
commission! He dared not breathe a
word OF that? What explanation could
ne possibly offer for his-his-yes-
ms criminal conduct? Why, no such
thing was ever heard Of in the history
81 manktnd as that which had hap
pened to him. From start to finish it
Was-it-was--He could not think Of
words to express what it was.
He was by this time meanderin4
3erKlly Gown the aisle, attempting to
keep time to the music and look tha
part that she evidently expected him
20 but his eyes were upon her
face, which was whittier now and if
possible. lovlier. than before.
oh, Just see how devoted he ISL
murmnred the eldest of the two dear
old sisters, and he caught the sense ~
her words as he passed, and wondered
down the aisle with the terrible eyes
or scorn upon him, he seemed to feel
tho presence OF Miss Julia Bentley
leading onward toward the church
door; but he would not AXE his eyes
from that sweet sad face OF the white
bride on his own arm to look. He somae
how knew that il he could hold out
until he reached that door witho,It
licking up. her power over him would
be exercised forever.
Out into the vacant vestibule, under
1.-The tented canopy. alone together for
ne moment. he felt her gentle weight
grow heavy on his arm, and knew her
1ootSteps were tagging. Instinctively.
lest others should gather around them.
he almost lifted her ana bore her down