with a
becalming awe. "Pardon me, but I did not know that there was any
conspiracy. Is there a doctor present? If there's not, send for one
to attend the young lady."

Some one ran out. McElwin stood boiling with fury. Sawyer thrust forth
his hand. Lyman knocked it up. "I will not step back for you," he
said. "I have committed no outrage and I am not here to be insulted
and pounced upon. Mr. McElwin, you ought to have sense enough to look
calmly upon this unfortunate joke." He turned, attracted by a wail
from Mrs. McElwin. Again he addressed the banker, now not so furious
as awkwardly embarrassed. "They were playing and the young lady was to
go through the marriage ceremony with the first man to enter the room,
a common farce hereabouts, as you know; and I was the first man to
enter. Don't blame me for a playful custom, or the action of a
populist legislature."

"That may be all true, sir, but how could you presume, even in fun, to
stand up with her? How is she?" he demanded, turning toward a woman
who had just come from a room whither they had taken the "bride."

"Oh, she is all right. She was more scared than hurt."

He gave her a look of contempt, as if he had been hit with a sarcasm;
and then he addressed himself to Lyman. "I ask, sir, how you could
presume to stand up with her?"

"Well, I was told that I had to."

"And you were willing enough, no doubt."

"I didn't hang back very much; they didn't have to tear my clothes."

"But I wish they had torn your flesh, as you have torn mine. Who ever
knew of so disgraceful and ridiculous a situation? It beats anything I
ever heard of."

"But it can be made all right," said old man Staggs. "Nobody's hurt."

"We can get a divorce," Zeb Sawyer suggested.

"Yes," said Lyman, "but our friends, the populists, have enacted
rather peculiar divorce laws. And without some vital cause, the
application must be signed by both parties. It's in the nature of a
petition."

"Well, that can be arranged," McElwin declared, with a sigh. "Annie,
is Eva better?"

"Yes, sir."

"Thank you. And you must pardon me for talking to you as I did just
now, for I was never so upset in my life. Cousin Jasper, I wish you
would have my carriage ordered. Annie, tell Mrs. McElwin that we will
go home at once. Mr. Lyman, let me see you a moment in private."

Lyman followed him out upon the veranda. He had not analyzed his own
feelings, but he was conscious of a strange victory.

"Mr. Lym