t day I walked out with him, and we were in a few minutes joined
by a friend of his, whom he introduced as Major Argat. After proceeding
about one hundred yards farther we arrived at a chapel, the doors of
which were open, and the verger looking out, evidently expecting
somebody.

"`My dear angel,' said the Colonel, `I have the licence in my pocket; I
have requested the clergyman to attend, he is now in the chapel, and all
is ready. My friend will be a witness, and there are others in
attendance. You have said that you love me, trust yourself to me.
Prove now that you are sincere, and consent at once that our hands as
well as our hearts be united.'

"Oh! how I trembled. I could not speak. The words died away upon my
lips. I looked at him imploringly. He led me gently, for my resistance
was more in manner than in effect, and I found myself within the chapel,
the verger bowing as he preceded us, and the clergyman waiting at the
altar. To retreat appeared impossible; indeed I hardly felt as if I
wished it, but my feelings were so excited that I burst into tears.
What the clergyman may have thought of my conduct, and my being dressed
so little like a bride, I know not, but the Colonel handed the licence
to his friend, who took it to the clergyman while I was recovering
myself. At last we went up to the altar, my head swam, and I hardly
knew what was said, but I repeated the responses, and I was--a wife.
When the ceremony was over, and I was attempting to rise from my knees,
I fell, and was carried by the Colonel into the vestry, where I remained
on a chair trembling with fear. After a time, the colonel asked me if I
was well enough to sign my name to the marriage register, and he put the
pen in my hand. I could not see where to sign, my eyes were swimming
with tears. The clergyman guided my hand to the place, and I wrote
Adele Chabot. The knowledge what the effect of this signature might
possibly have upon my husband quite overcame me, and I sank my head down
upon my hands upon the table.

"`I will send for a glass of water, sir,' said the clergyman leaving the
vestry to call the verger, or clerk, `the lady is fainting.'

"After he went out, I heard the Colonel and his friend speaking in low
tones apart. Probably they thought that I was not in a condition to pay
attention to them,--but I had too much at stake.

"`Yes,' replied the Colonel, `she has signed, as you say, but she hardly
knows what she is abou