Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1916-01-28

there. Taking her by the hand, he
attempted to draw her to stand before
the other man, whom I surmised to
be a clergyman. But she resisted.
In the clergyman recognized per-
son who had long been familiar to me.
and knew he was not a 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 l suspected that these
men were trying to practice decep-
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. If
you are going to marry this man let
us 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
fuence 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 a 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 at
finding a man where she had supposed
i there was no one or she believed she
had been headed off in her fight
know not, but she gave shrek.
"Fear nothing" l said to her. Il
am a friend, a protector
! This treasured her. and she chung
to me.
j The would be groom came up and.
; looking at me, angrily asked, 'Who are
you, and what are you doing here?'
| who l am" l replied, docs not
matter, and what l am doing here is
) self evident. Just at present I am
i keeping this girl from an imposition.
i l Don't know who you are, but l do
know that the man who is playing
parson is a livery stable keeper from
: whom have occasionally hired a
! horse"
| Before 1 had finished the iveryman
! disappeared through door back of
the pulpit. The other stood, evidently
uncertain what to do. The girl. who
had received from me information
which astonished her, turned upon the
man from whom she had escaped like
Il fury. He took the dressing she gave
! him with bowed head. She finished in
tears:
IF have done wrong it has been
through love of you"
Don't you believe that story" ]
said to the girl. "a man who loves a
woman does not try to draw her into
mock marriage"
| l saw by the mans appearance, his
| manner and his dress that he was
what we call high bred, and it was
plain that he had no intention of mar
rying the girl. But saw no advan-
| tage in discussing the matter further.
sWin you come With me?" asked
her.
"Or me?" said the other, with a
pleading look. .-----.
There was evidence Of the mans
power over her. for she hesitated a
moment, then put her arm through
mine, and led her away. Leaving
the man in the church, we stepped out
into the night.
There were the same stars in the
heavens that had seen but few
minutes before. but l looked up at
them with different feeling. Then
there was mingled with the awe L felt
lin their solemn grandeur sense Of
my human insigni1cance. uselessness.
Now there was in me the conscious
ness that had saved a fellow being
from wreck. $780,: . z
There was another. feeling. L could
not get rid Of an impression that the
spirit OF the woman / had seen pass
from life to eternity might have bad
something to do with my having pass
ed the church in time to save q soul.
though I had failed in saving life.
"Where shall take your asked
the girl. ~s''
Tome"
Instead Of going in the direction l
would go she turned and walked the
other way. As we proceeded she gave
me her story in brief. She had been
to the city studying. art. There she
had met the man from whom had
saved her. He had courted her, but
she had suspected him. To get rid of
his influence she had started for home.
He had taken the same train and play
ed his game SO well that he persuaded
her to go back with him as his wife.
The rest I knew.
We were walking over the same road
had traversed in going to see my
lDatient. Then I had had companion.