She kept her word. In spite of Miss Oleander's dislike, she was first bride-maid when the eventful day arrived.
But fairer than the bride, fairest of the rosy bevy of bride-maids, shone blue-eyed Mollie Dane. A party of speechless admirers stood behind, chief among them Hugh Ingelow.
The bridal party were drawn up before the surpliced clergyman, and "Who giveth this woman?" had been asked and answered, and the service was proceeding in due order when there was a sudden commotion at the door.
Some one rushed impetuously in, and a voice that rang through the lofty edifice shouted:
"Stop! I forbid the marriage!"
Carl Walraven whirled round aghast. The bride shrieked; the bride-maids echoed the bride in every note of the gamut—all save Mollie; and she, like the bridegroom, had recognized the intruder.
For, tall and gaunt as one of Macbeth's witches, there stood the woman Miriam!