hild in the congregation arose, stretched their
necks and leaned forward to hear and see what was going on.

"The woman is a lunatic escaped from some madhouse, I suppose. She had
best be arrested. Where are your constables?" growled the bridegroom,
drawing the arm of his bride within his own and attempting to leave the
altar.

"Stop that man!" cried the strange woman. "If you care for that girl's
honor and good name, stop that man!" she vehemently repeated, placing
herself directly in the path of the enraged bridegroom and his
half-stupefied bride.

"Begone, woman! You are mad! Will some one take this maniac in custody?"
fiercely demanded Anglesea, roughly pushing the stranger aside, and
dragging Odalite after him, and trying to force his way down the narrow
aisle, which was now fast filling up with the eager, wondering people from
the pews.

"One moment, if you please, sir. Let me relieve you of my daughter, until
this interruption shall be explained," said Mr. Force, taking the hand of
his child, to draw her away.

But the bridegroom's arm tightened around his prey, as he haughtily
replied:

"Pardon me, sir! You have no authority over Mrs. Anglesea. She is my wife,
and under my protection. Let me pass."

"Not if I know it--you don't pass here! Not with that innocent girl on
your arm, you don't! Your wife, is she? I see that, and go one better! And
that's me! A man can't have two wives, can he, Mr. Parson? This ain't
Utah, nor yet Salt Lake City, be it?"

"I think, Col. Anglesea," slowly began the rector----but the bridegroom
cut him short:

"Your interference is not required here, reverend sir. Your ministry is
completed. The marriage ceremony is finished. I hold my wife on my arm."

"Then this is a Mormon settlement, and a man can marry as many wives as he
pleases, eh, gentlemen?" inquired the strange woman, looking around.

"Good friends! Pray let us pass!" the colonel expostulated, trying to
elbow his way through the excited crowd that filled up the aisle, and
seemed to wait with suspended breath the issue of the scene.

Two voices answered at once:

"No, sir. I think not. Mr. Force has asked for his daughter until this
matter can be investigated," said Thomas Grandiere.

"Will you release the lady, at her father's demand, and save us the
discredit of using violence in this sacred place?" inquired William Elk.

"Oh, my Lord, there'll be a fight!" exclaimed a voice from the crowd.

"Will some on