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^FtObr.. VOI,. V. H * W - R SEA bS ) ffifffii'K Io Algernon ( harle* Nwiu. l»*irn<*. BY I'Al'L IIAMII.TON HAYKE. N TVl nC l Pr r". d Mar,0 '^ urcd his potent son* marvellous ATLANTA, «A., FEBRUAB^ 7, 1S80. Through fadeless meadows main. midnight frown. JIm England hearkened to so sweet a strain- Soeweet as thine, and ah 1 so subtly strong, The rbvTh' IOV f U mm,n “ X or wreak, on wrong The rhyth matte rage of measureless disdain Ilallies with joy, „ r swells in fiery pain What rayished souls the entrancing notes prolong A< th more mKd fjrt '“ h Pale histories blush once #C * ! ^ lm0nd ’ 9smiIeI dr >uk love from Mary's Quail at the foul Medici's ° r h,1 cries 10 b,a< * J!arl ho omew’s anguished *'ZT f " r T* ° f CaVvdon ' v ‘ de ‘.v blown Ocr the grim death-growl of the ensanguined B Thy Xe b> ' 1 T- ( ’ rtinecd w ’*haug'ust desire. Thy Mnse^ars loftiest, when her breath / In stainless Liberty's etherial dawn. And Songs of Sun rise" her warm li pssuspire . Hfi-h in auroral radiance, high and higher -he buoys thee uj,. till, earth's gross' gone Thy proud flame-girdled spirit gages on The unv, tied Fount of Freedom vapors »crystal fire. nhen nur°st hMtdr,li " ed lU ‘ t ‘ P drau Sbts divinely oS- bistres, and pale haunts of Morn, On lightning thoughts thy choral thunders burst Apollo's self, new -born. i sung from his Olympian spher Of rapturous song Might thus hare All hearts are.thrilled; ‘all Nations hushed fi, heari —The. literary WwUl. Sada the Doctor; Tlie 'Avo'.-^r of tlio Wrong! d. By I.ientermnt Felix. CHAPTER XXVi. The doctor arrived in Evansville about daylight, and was welcomed at the station by Mr. Jack Sprigg, in his characteristic style. “Wall, Ido say, Dr. Abel, potihonor, I’m <lemtK‘,l glad to see you. Polly Ann will jump out her skin to see you: though Polly Maria's got the measles, by jupiter. an’ Washington Bonaparte is taken 'em. Polly Ann w as talking about sending for a doctor, an shell be awful, mighty tickled ter see you.’’ Everything looked as usual at the Star Hotel. The same Mrs. Sprigg, in her sloven ly attire, reading a yellow covered book, the two young Spriggs quarreling and playing in the ashes despite the crop of niensh -pim ples on Washington Bonaparte’s classic fea tures. The same bundle of dirty flannel enclosing the plump Polly Maria, in all the glory of measels, molasses candy and flies. Jack Sprigg expatiated upon the merits of the “Prime Sturt" that he sold at, six cents pi r glass, then launched off into politics, and brought upat length, by a question from the doctor— “How are things progressing in Evans ville.” “Wall, old Mrs. Brown, who took keer of von when you were sick here in ther winter, she's dead, poor thing. She would live by herself, an every one said she’d step out some o’ these nights, an' no one near her. Well, it was just so. She hadn't chick nor child in ther world. She had a boy once, they say, but he died along ago of the delirium tre- inenjus; it cum mighty nigh on killing ther old woman.’* “And yet you sell the poison by the glass, or the gallon, to make just such drunken sons, and sitcli broken hearted mothers,” said the doctor. “Wall, suppose I do. If I didn't somebody else wouldja might its well have the profit myself as any body. Wall, as to ther other news, the great talk now is ’bout the cornin’ wedding’.” “Wedding?” “Yes; havu't vou heard about it; that friend of yours, Doctor Bottsford. an'Mrs. Sands are to be hitched this very night.” “To-night! Is Mr. Bottsford herein town'” “Yes, ho puts up at (he other hotel.” “Mr. Sprigg, are you sure this marriage is to take placei” “Wall, 1 am mighty sure of it; old Parson Fish gave out ther notice yesterday in ther church, and a general invite la-sides.” “Is Joe here in town, too?” “No; ha—ha. Joe outwitted you, Mr. Abel, didn't he ? I never thought Sada Sands would hitch to that ar’ feller; an" then yer the shoulders' so I couldn't lift worth a played ther possum on him, didn t yer? Ha, an q |it into this bed here, and didn't I ha. I ’spect Mr. Joe would like to lay his j p U t it on again till arter supper. Wall, the j hands on you for a minute.” “Is Madame Batile here?” “She come into town yesterday. But, say, doctor, where is that gal, eli?” The doctor made no direct reply and Mr Terms in Advance; 7, 1 SO. 238- CHAPTER XXVII. At swr ;r’r"'v nh,ie - . v,,m| . niiiiti.n i„ Sr4- **"•*•* A tolling bell on a bridal day a, A hearse, a coffin, and a form of clay " 3 r- Directly in front of Abel sat a couple 'one of " hqin he recognized as Mrs. Sands'chain i bermaid, the other was the p lover a Th ' - ’ ‘THE CHAP WAS'.VT HURT—HE JUMPED UP AM) SHOO A KXS FIST AT MRS. SANDS.” you, but its a great secret.. It might bethe rui nation of mean’ Polly Ann if it was to get out, “but here goes,”—he went on after a pause in which he seemed to deliberate, as he chewed his tobacco and spit a large mouthful of juice into the ashy fir -place— “you see, one day last week 1 went out to try my luck at shooting a bird or two. Bad enough the luck was. I had two black birds and a robin, I believe, as 1 came out 1 f the woods into the road not far from Maple drove. Before I got into the road I heard a hoi se a coinin’ from towards town, and pres ently I see Mrs. Sands sweep into s'ght ’round the bend of the road. Handsome she looked, too, 1 tell you, in her black riilin’ dress and black cap and the long plume fly ing out behind as she came a galloppin’. Her cheeks was red as roses and her eyes was just shinin' and 1 thought I saw something white clutched in her hand that held tl.e whip. was a little chap squatted in the road, a huntin’ for a knife be had dropped. I had seen him there a second before and asked him what he was doing, but 1 forgot all about him when I saw Mrs. Sands, till she an’ that you’d been getting a letter, and you | in the happiness or’ the latter, as to peril her hadn’t showed it to me; so 1 didn’t notice the hack on it, but opened it, and read it; yes, read a little of it afore I found out the mistake,” and sed she, “Jack, it’s a mighty strange letter. I want you to read it.” “Me read Mrs. Sands’ letter,” I sed, a little kind o’ put out. “I don’t suppose its just the tiling,” says Polly, “but then thurs somethin’ mighty strange ’bout it, and I want you to read it. “Here it is, Doctor; 1 haven’t returned it to Mrs. Sands, an' wliat’s more 1 don’t intend to. I think, by jupiter, its the key that may unlock some mighty black secrets. But tliar’s the bell, an’ I must go, Doctor Don’t you show the letter ter any body, but you read it, and see what you think’bout it.” The Doctor took the letter and went up to and noblest woman on’ earth'never, until own life in the endeavor to aid her ? Made- j then, could we lie else than enemies. I said line Sands had hated Conrad Sands years be- ' it then: I repeat it now. If you have come fore—hated him as she had once loved him. j for that purpose, proceed: if not, you will. of Madame Batile. or rather, Mrs. Wilber, was course, see the necessity of prolonging this the one who laid his wife in the grave, and ; interview no further ” S ?' a ", of , th( : . tillage. The maid was CI meT In,i whls per. She said, “Joe Ct \ n l? /-day, about 3 .-’clock.” 4° >>e here at the wedding?” a£ro } 'r' , se ‘-‘ ho " as married a little while pnvperty.” tendill S to his wife’s bis wife was rich*” SRttfWttSftfiRg s'oVloY'X “ s r h V 0,dd ' That w as about halfanh’our.” Mr ' than “Well, what else'” of course not. \t .y- 1 - w hen Dr. Bmustera Mrs. Sands came into the pari. heavv I just behind the f he f / ms and listened, because, \-ou see was.” CUr, ° Slty to know " bat the trouble ‘‘And what was its’’ “Mrs. Sands wanted to have the weddiW put off. ,,r else give the thing up entire)/ H f. ' f r “‘ d > an<l dreadful bad. hut Dr I ittsfoid vvouldn t consent to it. ‘Charles’’ me-IT V pr ' ,lni .„* me - then, to always love ■■AnJ .m| f . neVer believe ill of me.’” 1 ’ s cousin Belle. v. <re”s- maid. Mrs. Sands was 1 eg- { traveling dress. She I okWt v-vy pale aiul agitated, and her eyes had a strange, lo.i and ind liride t hecomii i,-lie and room, sat down by the window and I remembered it afterwards. There I looked at the document-. The envelope was a common white one, and Lhe superscription in a rather poor hand, evidently a woman’s. struck Conrad down iu the flower of life. The doctor felt that between these two per sons there was a mysterious link. He read the letter over again, but could gain nothing new from it. The letter began, “My dear One.” Thus a child, a sister, a friend, might have been addressed. And Joe was the son of this Dirk Harris whom Mrs. Bands feared; yet the fair Madeline loved Joe despite his faults and had | blinded by passion; he could not he just taken him from the poorhouse when a child, j to Abel: the woman he loved so entirely was And this woman, wrapped around with dark- ' above all elfe in his eyes, and the doctor saw eiiing mystery, who was perhaps an aecom-! at the same time, that he might as well at- plice in Madame Butile’s crimes, was about { tempt to turn the tides of tie* ocean to become the wife < f Charles Bottsford, and shake t 'buries Bottsford He folded his arms and stood before the I doctor, cold, stern and inexorable. For a moment indignation struggled with reason j in the doctor’s breast. Then he remembered | they bad been sworn friends, that he had been Augusta's husband; that he father of the children Algernon loved almost as if they had been l.is own. An,1 more , t ls Hybridal pair. He remembered'that the man h,-tor,-him was ^ , 1J|ir whUi> witb ‘ tbe fl . wild gleam in them. Charles Bottsford walked with a happy, triumphant step. The bridal party took their places at the altar. At that moment Dr. Abe! was joined by Mr. S -r, the sheriff’s deputy. “All right,” he said sig nificantly. The doctor nodded assent. Ma dame Batile and Joe took their places in a front pew reserved for them by the sexton, and the services began—the clergyman in his white surplice at the altar,the clerk beside him. Slowly and solemnly was the explanation of the intent of matrimony gone through with; a glad, proud, conquering smile was upon the the I bridegroom’s countenance, while the bride •“ is pale and agitated, yet beautiful. The clergyman went on, advancing a step He was an old man. ■ostsof manv winters the stepmother of Augusta's children. Al- geni ai and Charles had parted with anger on the part, of one and sorrow on that of the closely written, the spelling bad and the sen- was what he was right on him, and l heard him holler _ and saw her rein back her horse, on his j fences ungrammatical. This haunches. The chap wasn't hurt: he just deciphered : jumped up and shook his fist at Mrs. Sands ! “Compton, My Dear One : I received your and give her some sass. She ordered him to letter yesterday. What a silly goose you are hush up and said he had no business in the ; too tender hearted by half. If you hadn’t road: she was a good mind to cut him with | me to work for you what ,lo you think you her riding whip for giving her sm-h a scare. | would do? its well enuff, though, for you, and then off she went like the wind again, j to keep your hands out of these things, and the boy trudged off mumblin’ and Thar's no use in both of us louring our souls shakiu’his head.” | by selling them to ttie ,1—1. Mine’s sold fast Algernon glanced at the post mark : It read j other, yet Al i i felt only the loudest interest “Compton.” The Doctor had no longer any scruples about reading it. The sheet was Well I see nothing strange in all this. “Jest wait, Doc’; I’m coming to the strange part. When I gathered up my game bag and came out in the road, there, jest where she'd like to rode fiver the bov, lay somethin’ white, i though (was her handkerchief at first, but when, 1 looked agin, it was a letter. I picked it up and read, j ‘Mrs. Mudaline Sands’ on the hack, and saw it hail been opened. She’d just got in from the office and read it as she was riding i eitv how. You have been so simple to have j down stairs. Jb faith in Madaline Sands. “Charley,” said he, steadying his voice, “will you listen to me if I attempt to prove to you that Madaline Sands deserves the odium ill his oil friend, now his enemy. Could he 1 l cast upon her name? \\ ill you listen to me see Charles take such a woman for his wife ? j one moment calmly and impartially? U ill Take tlrs beautiful serpent to till the place of | you hear what I have to say, and then reject his dovei.ke wife ? He resolved that he would my evidence if you will?” not | And this is your purpose in coining to me, “No, Charley, you must be saved; for her j sir? ’ sake who is an angel now and perhaps close j “l have come to you as your friend; it is to me as I sit here. She begged me to care I for you to say if I shall fulfill tlie duties of a for her children; I will not let this come up- friend.” on them if l can avert it.” I “If you mean by this to claim the right to Dr. Abel did not wait for his courage to I breathe one word against the woman whose Hag: he put the letter in his pocket, and after ! name is too pure for your lips to utter, then milking some little change in his attire, went | I would see your heart torn from your bosom and deep and solemn were his tones ashesaid : ! “ I require and charge ye both, that if eith- | er of you know any impediment why ye mar not lawfully lie joined together in matrimo ny ye do now confess it; for be well assured that as many as are coupled together other wise than as Cod's Word doth allow, are not joined together by Cod, neither is their mat- riinony lawful.” He paused, as was the custom, but he did not lift his eyes from the book, for not once in his whole life had he witnessed this sen tence broken bv a reply. The doctor glanced at the bride; a marble pallor overspread her features, and she leaned visibly upon Un arm of the bridesmaid for support. A shad ow-like form glided up the broad isle: she saw it; a low cry escaped her lips as she sank trembling to the floor—not in a swoon, but because her limbs refused to support her. “I KuKlilI) the Hans!” spoke a deep, hoarse voice, as the intruder stood before the waiting Dick Harris prowlin’ 'lumt your path long: tlmr would have been no danger having had him put out of your way years ago, if jott would have believed it. Well, Dick Harris took tea with me yesterday in the evening; he.ll never take tea with me again. The man you have feared for years, I in it, to hurt Polly Ann or me Madaline, is deatl. Conrad Sands died as he j Algernon assured him that lie would not. died: you know how that was. I put him ( “Doctor, Bottsford jistwent by, Mr. Abel.' (Dick) into the chaise and drove last night to ! said Mr. Sprigg. Which way did he go'?” Wall, ther” same way he’s gone for ther drowned. Now, Madaline, your way is clear: last numb-a* of months, ther road that leads marry the man you love, and be happy it !totl>v widow's. He was on horseback can- J ‘ ' .. ..... 1 . .... ..* . .... ■ , o. Te H ye ,. e-si ; ------ i ; , , i pair. He was a man rather above the mi llet Mr. Spriggs at the foot ; listen to your base, untouuded | ( ‘, ium uu . alllv with coarse, dark. repulsive features. The light fell full upon that face; it was the face of the one who had of the stairs, as he went down. He stood I inventions. You hate Madaline because sin aside for the doctor to pass. . refused your love; you envy me—you would “Wall, Doc, yer’ve read that are letter ?” I poison the happiness of both of us ami sully “Yes, Mr. Sprigg.” j her fair name, if you could.” “Mighty strange mess. Doc: powerful! He paused for breath in his fierce tirade; queer, hut you won’t use yer noledge yer got I it may be, too, there was something in the long, and she dropped it out of her whip tlie mill dam and set the body adrift. If be hand when the chap give her that scare. I j is found every one will suppose lie was thought at first of taking the letter to her at once, but i was powerful tuckered out, and , _ Maple (drove was most a mile off and it was i you can. I have done all 1 can for you. In , terin along at break neck rate - he hasn't spent with the 1 passionately, mite put ‘ tools doctor’s stern, sad face that arrested him. “ Hold!” exclaimed the doctor. “Listen to me: once again, I ask you, shall we lie friends? Will you remember the days when you and t were college boys together, and meet and part as friends, or us enemies? Decide as you will, think of the matter calmly. Shall wt. henceforth be friends or foes?” ■ 1 scorn your friendship,” said Charley gettin’late and time I was at home. So I put I regard to Sada Sands (or Sada Harris 1 wliat, all ther iins the letter in my coat: I’ll take it to her to- I should say, for she’s fast enough married to widow for llmr las. , morrow, thinks 1: that's time enough: she’s j Dick’s son), she hasn't bin heard from. Joe ; in yer eye. Wall, men will be fools, when a i will come a time when you wi 1 see your read it any way. 1 went home, an’ the next i has given her up, and he will take possesion i purt.y woman is in the scrape.” blind folly: when you w ill know w hat 1 have thing I had ter do was to take some w hisky of the property after the necessary legal j Not caring to be seen at Maple Grove, desired to warn you of. Remember then, barrels down inter the cellar. So l jist tuck j forms are gone through with. Now, Maila- j Algernon determined toawait Bottsford’s re- j that you might have been saved, had you hs off my coat, fur yur see, it bound me round j line, write me when the marriage will be, I turn to town, and then see him during the | tened to one who will never ” ’ ’ “ ” — “ ' not idle. It was friend.” ease to be your cent, and I’ll be with you. Now be on your guard Burn this letter as soon as you read it. 1 | put it on again till arter supper. Wall, the | would not have wrote so particular, but 1 j next day I went past Maple Grove, so i jist , knowd you’d be kinder anxious anyhow, j thought I’d call an’give Mrs. Samis her let-! “A. V\ ii.non.” ter, hut as I got to the door an’knocked, 1 i “AVilbor,” the name of Conrad Sunils’ mill' j felt in my pocket, and if you believe it. not j deress, and she alluded in the letter herself msarned letter could I find. Wall, 1 - to the crime. Mrs. Willior and Madame day. However, Abel, was nearly four o'clock when Charly Bottsford passed the Star Hotel i tt his way to his board ing place. Fifteen minutes later Dr. Aliel stood knocking "at the door of his former friend. “Come in,” said the well-known voice, Al gernon entered the elegant little room and Charles Bottsford arose from his easy chair Sprigg, after looking at him a while iu a j ma ,ie a S(ir t of excuse to the housekeeper that | Batile, Algernon felt sure were one and the I to meet the intruder. As his eyes fell upon contemplative silence, while he chewed his came to the door. When Mrs. Sands heard same. This much the letter proved to the [ the doctor, his face paled, his lips twitched, quid, said suddenly, and in a mysterious | m y voice she kum out from the parlor. I doctor’s entire satisfaction. What else ? | he stared without speaking. The words Abel voice. “Titer’s somethin’queer about this j mornin’, Mr. Spriggs,” said she. j That a man, Dick Harris by name, had been I had framed were forgotten, and he stood here business.” “Good mornin’ Mrs. Sands,” said 1. “Air. lately poisoned by the w riter, and thrown silent, also gazing into the face of his old into the stream by her after his death; that friend. At last he recovered himself and ' . , , ... , - .... _ .. this Dick Harris was Joe’s father, and also j took a step toward Charley. “Wall, this about Madame Iiatile and Mrs. j jog ] was riilin’ home; Did you Undone?” that this same Harris bail been somehow in “Have you no word of welcome, for your Sands. Nary one of ’t in's saints by a long I -y OWi what was 1 ter do ? Ef i said yes, | Mrs. Sands’ way. The letter said: “The man old friend, Charles ?” he asked, extending his shot, and Madame Batile isn’t that ar’ wo- ! ml - (tint I had lost, it, sin- would think I lied vou feared for years, Madeline, is dead.” j hand. man’s name, by Jupiter.” ;’ixiut it, and wanted to keep the letter; or ' \V ho was this Dick Harris? The doctor’s) He had come from the purest of motives "Why do you say so?” ! e ] se that i was kind of keerless! So I j thoughts fixed at once upon the man who crashing his pride to do so. He had come to “Wall, yer see, sin- makes belief to be thought I would tell a bit of a white lie I had met him driving with furious speed to the si've his friend from a marriage with a vile French, an’ she aint any more French than I ’ b( , ut “ j t , and so 1 said ‘no.’ She looked [ station, his car companion, who claimed the woman, and from the disgrace and shame niy Polly Ann Ls. I’ll tell yer how I know; nl jg b ty skeered and told me if I heard of j trunk marked “B, Snyder,' also tlie occupant that would follow. He would not be put there was a regular Frenchman here ther j all y oue t), a t had found it, she’d like to have j of the sleigh, with Joe, disguised as a worn-1 from his purpose. other day; Madame Batile was going by, so mo see that it was sint to her. 1 kind o’felt an; and yet further back as the man whom, “Charley, old comrade, let us be friends.” I went out an’ axed her to cum in a minute. ( fryjity-jjke all the while, but 1 promised her 1 the doctor met by the road.rido inquiring Charles Bottsford’s faro grew dark and She didn’t think what for, an’ when I told would. Wall, I wint home, an’ 1 axed Polly j concerning Mrs. Sands and her husband, I stern. He turned from the doctor without her I wanted her to interpret a little French 3 nll e f s ),e’d seen a letter lyin’ ’round.”” ; This person the doctor felt impressed was j touching the proffered hand, and said, in ferine don’t yer think she couldn't do it! . -(j neo f Mrs. Sands’ letters.” said she, sort I Dick Harris, the man Mrs Sands had “feared | hard tonesf The man talked to her an'she couldn'teven 0 - spun ky-lik e , “Yes.” “1 found one in the for years.” What could such as she have to “Only on onecouditiou will I allow you to answer him in French ; and it seems mighty ' r()a( j night,” said 1. Then Polly Ann ) fear from ji man like this—an outlaw and ‘What business do you mean, ’ inquired j .Spriggs,” said she, “I met you yesterday; Algernon* , if , n i 1 had Ix-en to the post i lli 'i- and losta letter, funny ter me why she should pretend ter Lie i bu „g ber head a minute, then sed she, “I’ll somethin’ she aint; don’t it ?’ I t,,ji you> j ac fe Spriggs, I saw that ar letter in “It is suspicious, replied Abel. your pocket lust night, and I took it out. I "Wall, thar’s somethin else, I d like to tell thought what was your business was mine, villain ? What connection could there he be tween them ? Again what relation did Mad ame Batile and Mrs. Sands (tear to each oth er ? Why did the former take such interest call me friend, Doctor. “And, that condition ?” “You can surely guess. When we parted, I told you that unless you recalled the asser tion you then uttered In regard to the purest Algernon turned sadly from the infatuated man. He felt that the time had come when the spirit of forbearance was no virtue. Charles Bottsford hail brought destruction down upon his head: he would follow the path that led him to ruin; he had refused to hear one word of warning. The marriage of Doct or Charles Bottsford and Mrs. Madaline Sands, had been an nounced to take place at seven o’clock in the evening, in the “Old Brown-Stone Church. The town was all astir. Curiosity stood on tip-toe, and everybody was expected to lie there to witness the ceremony. Bottsford was fond of public display, and was in favor of public weddings. Algernon knew this was in accordance with his desires rather than hers. They were to be married and leave Evansville on the night express on a bridal tour to the Falls of Niagara, .Madame Batile and Joe accompanying them. Abel was standing in the bar-room of the Star Hotel, when Mr. Sprigg interrupted his meditations. “Mrs. Sands’ big trunks were just now left at ther station, Doc.” “Ah?” “Yes, and ther peoples are beginning to gather at ther meetin’ house—are you goin ?’ “An affirmative reply was given, as the bell rang for supper. We’ll have ter go purty soon ter git a seat,” said Mr. Sprigg, as he led the way to the dining-room. been so mysteriously connected with the in mates of Maple Grove Hall—the doctor's car companion—he who claimed the trunk at Compton, marked “B. Snider. ' Therlerg} - man looked at the stranger and stood mute with surprise. Charles Bottsford raised tin- pale and trembling form of his intended bride from the floor, and spoke to her in tender, re assuring tones. The assembly sat as if par ‘ } alv/.cd; the most utter stillness pervaded th. 1 building, and every eye and ear were strained in intense expectation’. The stranger advanced nearer to the altar, and leaned on the com muni.in rails. Th.- bridegroom spoke, aii.l his voice was hoarse with passion: “Who are you, and by what right do you intrude here at such a time and interrupt this sacred ceremony ?” The stranger smiled derisively a most evil smile. Mrs. Sands clung to her bridesmaid with her head bowed, every limb trembling. “Who are you?” thundered Bottsford, “tell me, or by Heaven, I’ll — “Softly, sir!” said the stranger, mockingly. “I will favor you with my name; it is not a a verv elegant one, yet, it was an honest one once; it is 'Dirk Harris.’” "Oh, pray go away !” cried the bride, starting forward and clasping her hands, with an appealing gesture. “I will see you: 1 will make all right. Go now ! < >h. go !” The man laughed. Doctor Bottsford, with flashing eyes, snatched Madaline back. “Begone ! you vagabond,” he cried. “Pro ceed !'' he said, turning to the clergyman. The minister seemed at a loss. “Sir.” turning to the stranger, “you have forbid the bans; is tln-re any just impediment, any just reason why this marriage ceremo ny should not proceed ?” “1 think there is, my reverend sir.” “And what is it; perhaps it maj' be done away with.” “I hardly think so,” said the man. with a smile. “It simply consists in the existence of a precious marriage. The bride, who stands before you, has, at the present time, a hus band living.” “You are mistaken, sir,” said the clergy man, calmly; “Mr. Leyman Sands died some time ago; the bride is a widow.” “The l ride is not a widow,” thundered the man, bringing his hard hand down with a Continued on -<1 page.| -'SO?