The Root of Evil

s wedding day Stuart had

to ask that he act as his best man. He refused so curtly that Bivens was de

hated church funerals and weddin

nse

me always symbolize Death. The pallor of the bride's face perhaps adds to my delusion-bu

smile

your time comes, old man?

ake my girl with me. We'll elope and be ma

his words, spoken in jest, might be a prophecy of what could really ha

ken as much of your friendship as you would give and been grateful for it.

he power of his personality, the hypnotic force of his yearning passion and will, stop the ceremony? In the moment of deathlike silence which should follow the minister's words asking if there were any cause known why these

victory, a victory of the flesh without the spiri

n he turned

Cal, I've made up my

ast you'll come to the church. For God's sake let me get a glimpse of on

rt s

t, I'll b

friend near the door when I start, or I'll nev

can depen

oung lawyer threw himself back

If we could all see behind the scenes woul

y the sacrifice of character. He had not offered to yield his ideal, accept her views, and change his life purpose. The act would have been dishonourable only to his own sense of right. He would have done exactly what Bivens asked. He had never questioned this decision to the day of her wedd

o had nursed her. Aunt Sallie had come to New York for the wedding of her "b

the day; marry in Lent

Friday for losses, and Saturday no luck at all." It was Monday, and Nan must have k

bride the su

t brooding by his window, watching the swaying branches of the trees in the Square-and though he knew at best that he was a

erful life they were to live together, whose pictured scenes stretched out now before him-of home, of love, of motherhood and fatherhood hallowed by adoration, the pain, the glor

fulfil her destiny that links her to God in the creation of a child-a being whose simple word may mould a million wills and change the fate of cen

tear from his eye-a tear that had co

hat he had never really believed he would have to keep it. And yet the

perjure herself for money. How could she! He had long felt that in every true man's religion was a supreme belief in himself-in a woman's, faith in some one else. He knew th

Why?

. Why should any one wish a crowd of curious fools to witness even the happiest wedding? Its meaning is surely frank enough without shouting it from the housetops. Should not its joys and mystery be something too shy and sweet and ho

The excitement of his triumph had evidently steadied the little man's nerves. His yellow teeth were shining in a broad grin, and from his piercing eyes there flashed

e his life the lawyer could not repress a shudder. In that moment he

pons. And yet there he was carrying off with a grin before his very eyes the woman he lo

emnly down the aisles through a sea of eager faces as the great org

ing movement as though weak from illness. Suddenly his heart went out to her in a flood of pity and tenderness. He tried to make her feel thi

vague impersonal interest, as if it w

rning itself into his br

his own soul. Something pathetic in the white face of

compromise of principle in the secret conclave of my party-at a sale the world could never know-would I sell for the Presidency of the Republic? Or would I sell now to win this woman?

od, I swe

owd had heard this cry from something inside which he

the drama at the altar.

ced on the third finger of the left hand-chosen by tradition because a vein of bl

he was

ed together-let not

awful creator of the universe, work like this? Did not the God of heaven and earth giv

ept the crowd inside and they became a mob of vulgar, chattering, gossiping fools swarming over the church as if

of the rain in his face was refreshing and the breath of the storm was good. H

ment and anger were gone, and only a gre