“If they don’t know any impediment, I do,” cried she; “one that will hinder them from being joined in matrimony. I mean these two!” she added, pointing to Swinton and Julia!
“On what ground do you interfere?” gasped the clergyman, as soon as he had recovered from the shock of surprise. “Speak, woman!”
“On the ground that this man is married already. He is my husband, and would have been my murderer, but for—Here, men!” she commanded, dropping the explanatory tone as she turned to the two plain-clothes policemen who attended her, “take this gentleman in charge, and see that you keep him in safe custody. This is your warrant.”
The two representatives of the executive did not stay to examine the piece of stamped paper. They were already acquainted with its character; and before the bigamous bridegroom could speak a word of protest, their horny hands were laid upon his shoulder, ready, at resistance, to clutch him by the collar!
He made none—not even a show of it. He looked like a man suddenly thunderstruck—trembling from head to foot; and, trembling, he was conducted out of the church! It is not in the power of the pen to describe the scene he had so unwillingly forsaken. The tableau, of which he had formed part, was broken up by his involuntary departure. It became transformed into a crowd—a confusion of talking men and shrieking women.
Julia Girdwood was not among them. At the first interruption of the ceremony, by that excited intruder, she had comprehended all. Some instinct seemed to warn her of her woe; and guided by it, she glided out of the church, and took solitary shelter in a carriage that was to have borne her home a bride, with a husband by her side!
A new tableau, with characters all changed, was soon after formed in front of the altar.
It was not disturbed, till after Captain Maynard had placed the ring on Blanche Vernon’s finger, saluted her as his wedded wife, and listened to the prayer that sanctified their union!
Then there was a hand-shaking all round, a kissing on the part of pretty bridesmaids, a rustling of silk dresses as they filed out of the church, a getting into grand carriages, and then off to the aunt’s residence in Kensington Gore!
That same evening a gentleman travelled to Tunbridge Wells, with a lady by his side, on whose finger glittered a plain gold ring newly placed there. It was not lonely for them, having a whole carriage to themselves. They were the most contented couple in the train!