arm to his companion and led her out
of the rectory and into the church.
It was evident from all signs that the interior had just been swept out.
And an old man and a young woman, whom Craven Kyte and his companion
rightly guessed to be the sexton and the sexton's daughter, were busily
engaged in dusting the pews.
Craven Kyte and Mary Grey sat down upon a front seat before the altar to
wait until the rector should make his appearance.
Mr. Borden did not keep them long in suspense. He soon entered, dressed
in his surplice, and took his place within the chancel.
The candidates for matrimony advanced and stood before him.
He beckoned the sexton and the sexton's daughter to draw near and stand
as witnesses.
And they came up, dusting-brushes in hand, and stood staring while the
ceremony was performed.
After the preliminary exhortation and prayers the important questions
were put:
"Will you, Alden, take Mary to be your wedded wife, to live together
after God's ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony?" and so forth,
and so forth, and so forth.
To which Craven Kyte, turning pale at his own unwilling duplicity in
answering to a false name, replied:
"I will."
"Will you, Mary, take Alden to be your wedded husband?" and so forth,
and so forth.
To which Mary Grey answered firmly:
"I will."
And the ring was placed upon her finger. And her marriage vows were
solemnly repeated, the last prayer said, and the benediction pronounced.
It was all over.
"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder."
The newly-married pair were about to turn from the altar, when the
rector said:
"Come with me into the vestry for a moment."
And they followed him into the vestry, attended by the two witnesses.
The rector made an entry into a large book, and then called upon the
bridegroom and the bride to sign their names.
Again Craven Kyte turned pale as death as he registered the false name
under which he had been married.
But his companion wrote her name in firm and steady characters.
Then the sexton and his daughter signed as witnesses.
The rector filled out a blank form, which he also signed and caused to
be signed by the two witnesses.
This he put into an envelope and handed to the bride.
Then he bowed to both, as a signal that all the forms had been complied
with, and they were at liberty to depart.
"What was that paper the minister gave you, my dearest love?" whispered
C
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