The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-06-22

| eat some breakfast, he rang the
bell. One of his lately hired serv.
ants, a footman, answered 1t.
GO you to the church; see Il
Mr.. Wood (the clergyman and
the clerk are there; return and tel
me-"
The church was but just beyond
the gates; the footman soon re-
turned.
"Mr. Wood is in the vestry, sir
putting on his surplice."
And the carrfage?"
THE horses are Harvesting"
I'VE shall not want 1t to go to
church; but II must be there the
moment We return; all the boxes
and luggage arranged and strapped
on, and the coachman in his seat"
Yes, SIR"
Jane, are you ready?"
l rose. There were no grooms-
men. no bridesmaids. no relatives
to wait for or marshal; none but
Mr.. Rochester and |. Mrs. Fairfax
stood in the hall as we passed.
would fain have spoken to her, but
l was hurried along by a stride I
could hardly follow.
At the churchyard wicket he dis
covered | was quite out of breath.
Am | cruel In my love?" he said.
Delay an instant; lean on me.
Jane"
And now can recall the picture
of the gray old house of God ris-
ing calm before me, of rock
wheeling around the steeple, of a
rudy morning sky beyond. re-
member something, too, of the
green grave-mounds; and I have
not forgotten, either, two figures
of strangers straying amongst the
low hillocks. BY Mr.. Rochester
they were not observed.
We entered the quiet temple;
the priest waited in his white sur
plice at the altar, the clerk beside
him. Our place was taken at the
communion rails. Hearing a cau-
tious step behind me. I glanced
over my shoulder; one of the
strangers gentleman, evidently
was advancing up the chancel.
The service began. The explana-
ton Of the intent of matrimony
was gone thru; and then the
clergyman came a step further
forward, and bending slightly to-
ward Mr.. Rochester. went on:
81 require and charge you both
Gas We will answer at the dreadful
day of judgment, when the secrets
of all hearts shall be disclosed)
that If either of you know any i'm
pediment why we may not lawfully
be Joined together in matrimony,
We do now confess 1t; for be yel
well assured that so many as are
coupled together otherwise than
Gods word doth allow, are not
Joined together by God, neither is
their matrimony lawful"
He paused, as the custom is.
When Is the pause after that SEN
tence ever broken by reply? Not, |
perhaps. once in a hundred years. |
And the clergyman, who had not
lifted his eyes from his book, was
proceeding-when a distinct and
near voice said:
"The marriage cannot go on; I
declare the existence of an impede
ment."
The clergyman looked up at the
speaker. What Is the nature of |
the impediment?" he asked.
The speaker continued, uttering !
each word steadily, but not loud
ly.
"Mr. Rochester has a wife now
living"
My nerves vibrated to those |
words, but I was col |
lected, and in no danger of swoon-
ing. l looked at Mr.. Rochester;
I made him look at me. Without !
he only twined my waist |
with his arm and riveted me to
his side.
"Who are your" he asked of
the intruder.
my name is Briggs-a solicit
tor OF -- street, London"
81 would remind you of your
lady's existence, sir; which the
law recognizes, II you do not"
Favor me with an account of |
her-with her name, her parent
age, her place of abode"
Certainly" Mr.. Briggs calmly
took a paper from his pocket, and |
read out in sort OF official, nasal |
voice:
II affirm and can prove that on |
the goth of October, A. ID. -.
"a date OF Is years back Edward |
Fairfax Rochester, OF Thornfield |
Hall, In the county of -, and |
of Ferndean Manor, in shire.
England, was married to my Sis |
ter, Bertha Antoinetta Mason.
daughter of Jonas Mason, mer-
chant. and Of Antoinetta, his wife,
Creole, -, at church. |
Spanish Town, Jamaica. The rec
ord Of the marriage will be found
In the register of that church.!
copy of 1t is now in my pos
session.
(Signed) Richard Mason"
"That-if a genuine document
may prove l have been married.
but 1t does not prove that my
wife is still living"
She was living three months
ago. returned the lawyer.
How do you know"
Il have witness to the fact:
Mr.. Mason, have the goodness to |
step forward"
Mr.. Rochester, on hearing the |
name. set his teeth. The second
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