Do you want to hear, or don't you?
I assure you it is a tremendous revelation, and it concerns you, too!"
"What is it, then? I am anxious to hear?"
"Oh! you do begin to show a little interest; and now, to punish you, I
have a great mind not to tell you; however, I will take pity upon your
suspense; but first, you must promise never, never, n-e-v-e-r to mention
it again--will you promise?"
"Yes."
"Well, then, listen. Stop! get a good place to faint first, and then
listen. Are you ready? One, two, three, fire. The Rev. Thurston
Willcoxen is a married man!"
"What!"
"Mr. Thurston Willcoxen has been married for eight years past."
"Pshaw!"
"Mr. Willcoxen was married eight years ago this spring at a little
Methodist chapel near the navy yard of this city, and by an old
Methodist preacher, of the name of John Berry."
"You are certainly mad!"
"I am not mad, most noble 'doubter,' but speak the words of truth and
soberness. Mr. Willcoxen was married privately, when and where I said,
to a beautiful, fair-haired lady, whose name heard in the ritual was
Marian. And my husband, Olly Murray, was the secret witness of that
private marriage."
A wild scream, that seemed to split the heart from whence it arose,
broke from the lips of Miriam; springing forward, she grasped the wrist
of Alice, and with her wild eyes starting, straining from their sockets,
gazed into he face, crying:
"Tell me! tell me! that you have jested! tell me that you have lied?
Speak! speak!"
"I told you the Lord's blessed truth, and Oily knows it.
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