The Argosy — page 334: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Romantic Wedding. 315 daily the marriage service, as set forth in the book of Common Prayer. This encouraged her to resistance, inasmuch as she believed she was lawfully wed. She even kept up her spirits by song, and her favourite ditty was the song of Lovelace to Althea. ‘‘ Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage; Minds innocent and quiet take That for a hermitage. If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free, Angels alone, that soar above, Enjoy such liberty.”’ She did not pause to reflect whether her mind was “innocent and quiet,” but the verse consoled her. On the seventh morning from that of her woodland bridal, she was © looking out of her window in, it must be confessed, melancholy mood. From her apartment she could see a vast expanse of country, for her uncle’s house stood high. Many timesa day, if not quite all day long, she had gazed on a certain turnpike road that wound through wood and mead down below, and had repeated aloud, as if to some invisible friend, the words of Blue Beard’s imprisoned wife: “Sister Ann, Sister Ann, do you see anybody coming?” But nobody had appeared save her cousin Aubrey. He managed to be always insight ; but she took no heed of his signals and vagaries. On this seventh morning, however, she perceived a troop of twenty horsemen galloping furiously. In front was one who led by the bridle a milk-white steed, which was riderless. “Tt is! It must be!” she cried, breathlessly, gazing until the cavalcade was out of sight. Then she was conscious of a strange commotion in and without the house. She did not know that her uncle kept all his servants ready armed, or that he and Aubrey were also armed... But the twenty horse- men suddenly reappeared, tearing up the drive. She perceived that the white horse bore a lady’s saddle, and that he who led the men was Sir Tudor Ap Griffith. Instantly she waved a white scarf towards him, and he kissed his hand in return. “What will be next ?” she ejaculated. What happened next she could not see; but it was highly melo- dramatic. ‘The twenty horsemen were met at the threshold of the Squire’s door by twelve armed retainers. But Sir Tudor was worth them all. Jumping from his horse, he seized on the malicious uncle, presented a pistol at his throat, and exclaimed, ‘‘ My bride, or your life!” Such conduct, and the sight of the nineteen followers, cowed the domestics, and caused Aubrey torunaway. Ermentrude was right. He was but a milksop indeed! Moreover, her uncle was compelled to deliver up the key. Betto unexpectedly appeared and led the gallant spouse to his imprisoned bride. ‘The nurse, it had been, COM @ DOOKS.CO