n to the man by her side. It had all at once come
oyer her that she could not do it. Nevertheless she was a sensible and
rational woman as well as a sweet and lovely one. Whatever might be the
origin of this sudden repugnance, she knew it had none in reason. She
was fulfilling a promise which she had maturely considered, and neither
in justice to herself nor the man to whom she had given it could she
let a purely hysterical attack like this prevent its consummation. She
called reason and common sense to her aid, and resolutely struggled to
banish the distressing fancies that assailed her. The moisture stood out
upon her forehead with the severity of the conflict, which momentarily
increased. At last the minister ended his prayer, of which she had not
heard a word. The bridal pair were bidden to take each other by the
hand. As the bridegroom's fingers closed around hers, she could not
avoid a shudder as at a loathsome contact. It was only by a supreme
effort of self-control that she restrained from snatching her hand away
with a scream. She did not hear what the minister went on to say. Every
faculty was concentrated on the struggle, which had now become one of
desperation, to repress an outbreak of the storm that was raging within.
For, despite the shuddering protest of every instinct and the wild
repulsion with which every nerve tingled, she was determined to go
through the ceremony. But though the will in its citadel still held out,
she knew that it could not be for long. Each wave of emotion that it
withstood was higher, stronger, than the last. She felt that it was
going, going. She prayed that the minister might be quick, while yet
she retained a little self-command, and give her an opportunity to utter
some binding vow which should make good her solemn engagement, and avert
the scandal of the outbreak on the verge of which she was trembling. "Do
you," said the minister to Mr. Whitcomb, "take this woman whom you
hold by the hand to be your wife, to honor, protect, and love while
you live?" "I do," replied the bridegroom promptly. "Do you," said the
minister, looking at Mary, "take the man whom you hold by the hand to
be your husband, to love and honor while you live?" Mary tried to say
"Yes," but at the effort there surged up against it an opposition
that was almost tangible in its overpowering force. No longer merely
operating upon her sensibilities, the inexplicable influence that
was conquering her now seized on h