Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-27

f' N'"e'' "ei al" Taylor Wi
she cung to the bed.
When he told you we were married, It
was lie" she murmured at last. "Iin
promised to marry me, and have begged
him to every day Of the two years we have
been together Something has always in
terfered. Once we were going to get mar.
red in a church In Akron But on the day
before the wedding he didn't have enough
to pay the minister and 1t fell through.
And that is the way it has been every
time"
Little by little then she told the entire
story that has been related.
Now ! am dying" she told Sergeant
Power "Bu: ! love him and he loves me,
There is one thing I am trying to rescue
from my shipwreck. That is my honor.
II I could die an honest woman would
die happy.
what was right and didn't do It. But that
WAS because | loved him. Perhaps | can
do the right thing, after ALL
There is the marriage license. I've
carried it inside my blouse for nearly two
years. Ask him f-tell him--just ask him
If he'll use that license now"
The detective smoothed her hair and
left the room. Later that afternoon he
returned TO the hospital with Taylor
shackled to his wrist. Outside Viola's
Ward ne stopped ana unlocked the hand
cuffs.
You are going to walk in there like
man." he said. "And to her you're going
to act like a man. You understand
Taylor nodded and walked into the
room. Sergeant Power closed the door
and remained outside.
Soon the Rev. Father William Plunkett
OF st. Jamcs's Roman Catholic Church
was summoned by the detective Together
they tapped on the door and entered the
room. Taylor was knecling by the bed
side, his arms around the girl. Both were
sobbing. The girl cried out with Joy when
she saw the priest She talked eXcitedly
rs he slipped on his surplice and stole and
said she wished to be baptized in Taylor's
faith and married.
Were going to be married." she re.
peated over and over "Wc're going to be
married."
Sergeant Power stepped back with the
doctors and nurses who had collected near
the door. moment later he came up
again and with difficulty removed the we'd
ding ring that had not left his finger for
twenty-five years. Silently he handed it
to the priest.
Father Plunkett kissed the crucnx he
wore about his neck and anointed Viola
Carpenters forehead.
Again Taylor knelt by the bed The girl
placed her hand in his. The silence in the
room was broken by the voice of the
priest.
DO you take each other for husband
and wife, TO have and to hold in richness
IN poverty. in sickness and In health
and then his voice broke n little as lie
added:
until death do you part?"
The cir! sobbed that she did. The priest
pronounced the two man and wife, and
then went on, giving the sacrament O.
extreme JUNCTION. Presently he was done
and bestowing last blessing tip-toed with
the rest from the room, closing the door
In an hour Sergeant Power raped again
and entered. They were as he saw them
last-praying. Her left hand was closed
10 keep the ring from falling off, it was
so large.
Power motioned and Taylor kissed her
again and started out. Halfway out she
called him back.
Remember" she said, remember, Bob
it was an accident"
Her hand was still closed on the ring
when she died few moments later.
Sho told n nurse it was probably we'll
that she must die-that she had her honor
back.
That is what her aged grandfather said
too the next day when he came to claim
her body.
She was buried with the dead hand still
clasping tight the wedding ring
Taylor was released-by the law.
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