t let us change the subject. The whole town is talking
about it, so let us talk of something else. Are you going to church
tonight?"

"Yes, with you, if you don't object."

"Oh, I couldn't object, but--but don't you think it might cause
remark, after what has happened?"

"There you go, leading back to it. Sawyer walked home with her; did
that cause remark?"

"Yes, in a way; and I believe she will wait for the divorce before she
goes with him again."

"Then she will be free of his company for some time to come. Well," he
added, "I won't go to church. I'll go up stairs and read myself to
sleep."

CHAPTER XI.

IN THE LANTERN LIGHT.

An account of the marriage, written by an effusive correspondent, was
published in a newspaper at the State Capital; and a few days later
the same journal contained an editorial bearing upon the subject,
taking the populistic party to task for its lamentable want of sense
in legislation. The State press took the matter up, and then the
"paragrapher" had his season of merry-making. "We have always heard it
declared," said one, "that marriage is a plunge in the dark, but a
preacher over at Old Ebenezer proves that it is all a joke." And this
from another one: "'What do you think of young Parson Bostic?' was
asked of Banker McElwin. 'I didn't think he was loaded,' the financier
replied." It was said that a great batch of this drivel was cut out,
credited and sent to McElwin, and Lyman accused Warren, but he denied
it, though not with convincing grace.

One evening a picnic was given on the lawn of a prominent citizen. It
had been heralded as a moonlight event, but the moon was sullen and
the light was shed from paper lanterns hung in the trees. There was to
be no dancing and no forfeit games, for McElwin was still raw, and the
master of the gathering on the lawn would not dare to throw sand on
the spots where the rich man's prideful skin had been raked off. The
entertainment was to consist of talk among the older ones, chatter
among the slips of girls and striplings of men, with music for all.

"You will have to go to write it up," Warren said to Lyman.

"It won't be necessary to go," Lyman replied. "We can hold a
pleasanter memory of such events if we don't really see them. I can
write of it from a distance."

"Yes, but that isn't enterprise, and we want to prove to these people
that we are enterprising. They must see you on the ground."

"All right."

"You will go, th