Thrice Wedded, but Only Once a Wife — page 173: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 THRICE WEDDED. gee ‘Wilt thou take her whom you hold by the hand y be your true and lawfully wedded wife, to Gee honor, and cherish while life doth last?” “1 will!” Then, with a tear moistening his sunken eye, the holy man turned to the cold, white statue leaning on Ralph’s arm. ‘Will you take him who stands by your side to be your true and lawful husband, to love, honor, and obey until death doth part your” The hush of death was on the air, an awful stillness reigned, while the clergyman waited for the Se re- sponse. It came not; the white lips moved not —the pale eyelids did not even quiver, and the bosom scarcely fluttered! Ralph Moulton might have been wedded to a marble statue, for all the reply that could be gained irom that calm, cold creature at his side. He scowled angrily; he grasped the hand he held with such cruel force that at any other time she would have fainted with the pain. All to no purpose, however, for not a muscle moved, not a sound or motion escaped her, that could be construed into a token of either assent or refusal. Again the voice of the priest rang out; this time full and Clear, almost with a note of warning in its tones ‘Does any one here present know any reason why the - banns of matrimony should not be sealed between these twoe If so, in the name of Heaven I command you, speak.” It was an awful moment! The clergyman raised his clear eyes with an air of almost inspired authority, and scanned every face before him. But not a glance answered his, every orb drooped before his earnest, thrilling gaze, and every face wore a look of con- scious ouilt. Hach and every one realized the aaorilegiousness of the act, and those who would have answered that solemn ap-_ peal dared not; and in that breathless, voiceless silence the fatal, mocking words were spoken, the holy man. himself shuddering as he uttered them. “‘T pronounce you husband and wife; and what God has aA aoues together let not man put asunder!” A startling, piercing, horrible aurick instantly followed, 3 (Ke) oo 900KS e (0) ; aaah Bas ¢ rad é P