By Berwen Banks

"Let us do everything in order," said Ellis. "Take your wife down to

the vestry."

Cardo drew her hand through his arm, and at the word "wife," pressed it

gently to his side, looking smilingly down at the blushing face beside

him. When they reached the vestry, whose outer wall in the old tower

was lying crumbling on the grass outside, while the two young men

chatted freely with the bride and bridegroom, they were joined by

Gwynne Ellis, carrying an old and time-worn book under his arm.

Cardo gasped, "I never thought of the register; it is kept in the new

church! Is it absolutely necessary, Ellis? What shall we do? What

have you there?"

"Why, the old register, of course! I furraged it out last night from

that old iron chest inside the altar rails. There is another there,

going back to the last century, I should think. I must have a look at

them; they will be interesting."

"Ellis, you are a friend in need," said Cardo. "I had never thought of

this part of the ceremony."

"No, be thankful you had a cool and collected head to guide you. See,

here is a blank space at the bottom of one of these musty pages. It

won't be at all en règle to insert your marriage here; but I dare not

bring the new register out of the other church; moreover, there may be

another wedding soon, and then yours would be discovered."

"What a genius you are!" said Cardo, while Gwynne Ellis wrote out in

bold, black characters, under the faded old writing on the rest of the

page, the certificate of Cardo and Valmai'a marriage.

"There, you have tied a knot with your tongue that you can't untie with

your teeth! Here is your marriage certificate, Mrs. Wynne. I need not

tell you to keep it safely."

Suddenly there was a rustling sound above them, which startled them

all, and Cardo grasped Valmai hastily, to the great amusement of the

young men.

It was the white owl, who had solemnly watched the proceedings in the

vestry, and now thought it time to take her flight through the broken

wall. "There Cardo," said Valmai, "I said the white owl would be at

our wedding, and the sea breeze, and the Berwen; I heard them both

while you were writing your name."

"Well now," said Gwynne Ellis, "Wilson, Chester, and I will leave you

both, as I know what a short time you will have together."

And with many congratulations and good wishes, the three young men left

the old church, leaving Cardo and Valmai to their last words before

parting.

There was a ricketty, worm-eaten bench in the vestry, and here they sat

down together. Cardo trying to keep up a cheerful demeanour, as he saw

her face sadden and her eyes fill with tears.