Wandless's."
"Well, well!" exclaimed Mrs. Owen, advancing into the room and throwing
open her coat. "You said you meant to get back to the city in time to
catch that limited for New York, and you haven't got much margin,
Daniel, I can tell you that!"
* * * * *
It seemed to the people who heard of it afterward a most romantic
marriage, that of Sylvia and Dan Harwood; but whatever view we may take
of this, it was certainly of all weddings the simplest. They stood there
before the mantel above which still hung the broken half of a ship's
wheel. Mrs. Owen, very tall and gaunt, was at one side, and Dr. Wandless
at the other; and old Mary, abashed and bewildered, looked on with
dilated eyes and crossed herself at intervals.
John Ware drew a service book from his pocket, and his fingers trembled
as he began. For none in the room, not even for Sylvia, had this hour
deeper meaning than for the gray soldier. He read slowly, as though this
were a new thing in the world, that a man and a woman had chosen to walk
together to the end of their days. And once his voice broke. He who, in
a hill country far away, had baptized this woman into the fold of Christ
the Shepherd, wavered for an instant as he said:--
"Elizabeth, wilt thou have this man--"
Sylvia lifted her head. She had not expected this, nor had Dan; but Dr.
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