“My daughter, Odalite Force, was never married to Angus Anglesea. On the twentieth of December, 18—, at All Faith Church, in Maryland, she went through a portion of the marriage ritual with him; but that ceremony was never completed. Before the final declaration was delivered, before the benediction was pronounced, the further proceedings were interrupted by the entrance of a lady who claimed to be the wife of Angus Anglesea, the would-be bridegroom——”
“An impostor! An adventuress!” exclaimed Col. Anglesea.
“And who proved herself to be the wife of Angus Anglesea, to the satisfaction of all present, by producing her marriage certificate.”
“Forgery! forgery!” exclaimed the colonel.
“I took charge of the certificate at the time and have it with me. Will your honor examine it?”
And Abel Force drew from his breast pocket a folded paper which he handed to the judge.
“A clever forgery, your honor!” said Anglesea, while the judge unfolded and read the document.
“This,” said the judge, slowly reading the paper, “appears to be the certificate of the marriage of Angus Anglesea, of Anglewood, Lancashire, England, colonel in the Honorable East India Service, with Ann Maria Wright, widow, of Wild Cats’ Gulch, California. It is signed by Paul Minitree as officiating clergyman, and by several other persons as witnesses. What is the meaning of this, Col. Anglesea?”
“It is a forgery, your honor!” impudently replied the colonel.
The judge turned and looked at Abel Force.