Show I WILL XOTJ A certain dean of Chester was called upon to perform the wedding ceremonial for a pair of happy lovers i lov-ers The position of both parties was of the highest rank and the guests who were bidden to the church were the most fashionable and exalted The day arrived and with It the hour The edifice was packed and all was in readiness The dean expectant awaited the coming of the bride and the groom with his best man was In the vestry ves-try The hour passed on and still the bride did not arrive After along a-long delay she drove up to the church door and with htr bride maids swept up the large middle aisle toward the altar In the meantime the groom advanced to meet her and receiving her half way escorted her to the dean After the opening words of exhortation the dean turned to the man and asked him the usual set questions whether he would I have the woman for his wedded wife etc to which hean werE HI will The questions being in turn asked of the woman to the astonishment I I aston-ishment of all she aidr looking the groom In the face crI will not The next instahtshe said In a low voice i rt Mr Dean no one can more regret the words I have just uttered than myself and if you will dismiss the congregation and takemeinto your vestry room I will apologz and at the same time fully and satisfactorily satisfactor-ily explain what may seem to all my strange conduct The dean seeing she was iu earnest in a few worde dismissed the bewildered congregation congrega-tion and directed the bridegroom to await him The congregation con-gregation having departed and the lady and dean being together she said reI cannot tell you how badly I feel I had loved my fiance truly and devotedly and had looked forward to a life of pErfect per-fect happiness and joy This morning morn-ing as you know J 1 was late at my marriage ceremony but it was not through any fault of mine I arrived as soon as I could Instead of receiving re-ceiving looks of love and words full of happiness from my future husband hus-band he paralyzed by beating heart by saying when he met me halfway half-way up the aisle G d you I It you expect to begin life this way by keeping me waiting for you you will find out after you are my wife l My decision was instantly made I have been told that sooner than suffer unhappiness though my actions ac-tions it were better to renounce at the altar a union that would br ng misery and grief thereafter Haa x turned back he would have followed me there would have been a scene and he might have persuaded me to return and marry him It also might have looked like temp r and I had fully time during your few words of prayer to make up my mind I know that I have disappointed disap-pointed friends my family but no one more than myself Do not ask me to reconsider his late action Inform In-form my wouldhave been husband of my determination and let me go The dean seeing that she was resolved re-solved could not but approve and gently led her through the church back to her anxious parents not asa as-a smiling wife but as a woman whose present is shattered and whose future Is blighted London Telegraph |