As soon as the ceremony was performed, Father Jules seated himself, and taking from his pocket a strip of paper, wrote thereon the following:
“September 20th, 18—
“I, Victor Jules, a regularly ordained minister of the church of the Holy Evangelist, hereby certify that on this day, I joined in the holy bonds of wedlock, Richard Sherwood and Clara Holmes.
Victor Jules.”
This certificate the missionary gave to Sherwood, who read it, smiled, folded it up and put it carefully away in an inner pocket.
Victor Jules soon took his departure from the lodge, and when they were alone, Sherwood turned to Clara, and said:
“My dear little wife, you have been honest in fulfilling your agreement, now I shall fulfill mine and set you at liberty.”
Clara’s eyes brightened, and her heart beat more hopeful to think that she was going to be released. She felt certain that when she was beyond Sherwood’s power, he would have no claim upon her as a husband; for, in her inmost heart she knew the ceremony was all a farce, and she had very grave doubts as to Victor Jules being a missionary. But, why it was that Sherwood had taken this course for revenge upon Town. Farnesworth, was a mystery to her. He surely had sense enough to know that the marriage was not binding upon them. But, alas! Clara did not—could not read the secret intentions of the villain’s heart.
“And am I to return to the post alone?” she asked.
“No; I will escort you as far as Talbott Taft’s cabin,” he returned; “that is as close to the post as will be safe for my neck.”