Earle gave it to him, saying:
“This is simply a copy of something in Bishop Grafton’s diary. I made it myself from the original.”
Sumner Dalton unfolded that paper with a feeling of great uneasiness, and began to read how the sexton had confessed the trouble on his mind to the rector—how the old man had himself gone to the chapel, and, concealing himself, had seen a young man come into the robing-room, disguise himself, and then proceed to assume the sacred vestures.
He read how the rector had interposed, ascertained the names of the young couple, driven the accomplice ignominiously from the field, filled out and signed the marriage certificate, and then himself proceeded to the chapel and married the unsuspecting pair.
A terrible oath leaped from Sumner Dalton’s lips, and the paper dropped from his nerveless hand, as he finished reading this startling revelation.
“It is a lie!” he cried, his face ashen, and a great fear in his eyes.
“It is no lie,” Earle returned, sternly. “I went myself to see the place where I supposed my gentle mother had been so cruelly deceived. I sought the sexton, and he told me concerning his part in the transaction, and then directed me to Bishop Grafton’s daughter for further information, he being dead. She was only too glad to aid me—told me of her father’s diary, and what she had read of this there. She then brought it to me, and kindly allowed me to make this copy. The signature upon the marriage certificate corresponds exactly with his own in the journal, and Miss Grafton is perfectly willing that any one interested or concerned in this matter should see the original. There is a little more,” Earle added, taking up another paper, “which I think will convince you beyond a doubt of the truth of what you have already read.”
He then read himself aloud how the good man’s heart had been troubled on account of the young and tender maiden, and, fearing that some great trouble might come to her, he had resolved to make that last entry in his diary;
“Married—In St. John’s Chapel, Winchelsea, August 11th, 18—, by the Reverend Joshua Grafton, bishop, and rector of St. John’s parish, George Sumner, of Rye, to Miss Marion Vance, also of Rye. I take my oath that this is a true statement.
“September 10th, 18—. Joshua Grafton, Rector.”