may not lawfully be joined
together, let him now speak.'"

In the pause that now followed Elva looked imploringly toward Le.

But Le kept silence, looking as grim as the Sphinx. Apparently he saw no
just cause to interfere; nor, apparently, did any one else.

The ceremony went on to the question put to bridegroom and bride, and
which was answered by the former with a firm, distinct--

"I will."

And the latter with a steady, quiet--

"I will."

"'Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?'" demanded the
minister.

Mr. Force stepped forward, took the hand of his daughter and placed it
within that of the bridegroom, almost shuddering with a vague presentiment
of evil, when he felt, even through her kid glove, how deadly cold and
heavy that little hand was!

And the rites went on, and on, and on, and nothing happened to arrest
them--no thunderbolt from heaven descended from the wintry sky to scatter
the bridal party--no earthquake caused the ground to yawn and swallow
them.

The rites went on, and on, and on, to their bitter end, where the voice of
the officiating minister, assuming awful solemnity, concludes the ceremony
with these warning words:

"'Those whom God hath joined together let not man put asunder.'"

"Yes!" shouted a voice, at which every one started, and the bridegroom
grew pale. "Yes! That may be all very well as far as it goes! 'Whom God
has joined together, let not man put asunder' by no manner of means
whatever! But them as the devil has joined together a woman may put
asunder, and she will, too, in double-quick time!"

This shocking interruption came from a short, stout, dark, but very
handsome, and very well-dressed person, who, in great excitement, was
elbowing and pushing her way up the center aisle toward the chancel at
which the startled and affrighted bridal party stood.

CHAPTER XXI

A ROUTED WEDDING PARTY

Words cannot depict the scene that ensued.

Blank amazement marked every face save one--that of the bridegroom, which
was dark with wrath and hate.

For a minute no one moved or spoke.

Then two gentlemen found voice at once.

"Who are you, madam? And why do you come here in this unseemly manner to
interrupt this service?" gravely inquired the officiating minister,
addressing the stranger.

"What is the meaning of this outrageous conduct, Col. Anglesea? Who is
this woman?" sternly demanded the bride's father of the bridegroom.

Every man, woman and c