"It don't make no difference whether I do or not, fur's I can see,"he said, gloomily."It's too late to start home now.I don't know what time 'tis, but we must have been ridin' three or four hours--seems eight or ten year to me--and we ought to be pretty near to Bayport.If we should turn back now we wouldn't get home till long after daylight, and everybody would be up and wantin' to know the whys and wherefores.If we told 'em we'd been ridin' around together all night, and didn't give any reasons for it, there'd be talk enough to last till Judgment.No, we've just got to get married now.That's all there is to it."Hannah groaned as the truth of this statement dawned upon her.
Caleb gathered the reins in his hands preparatory to driving on, when a new thought came to him.
"Say, Hannah," he observed, "I suppose you left that note for Kenelm, didn't you?"Miss Parker uttered a faint shriek.
"Oh, my soul!" she cried."I didn't! I didn't! I wrote it, but Iwas so upset when I found I couldn't get the doorkey and get out that way that I left the note in my bureau drawer.""Tut, tut! Huh! Well, he may find it there; let's hope he does.""But he won't! He WON'T! He never finds anything, even if it's in plain sight.He won't know what's become of me--""And he'll most likely have the whole town out lookin' for you.Iguess now you see there's nothin' to do but for us to get married--don't you?"
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" wailed Miss Parker, and burst into tears.
Caleb groaned."Git dap!" he shouted to the horse."No use cryin', Hannah.Might's well grin and bear it.The joyful bridal party'll now proceed."But the horse refused to proceed, and his driver, peering forward, dimly saw a black barrier in front of him.He lit the lantern once more and, getting out of the carryall, discovered that the road apparently ended at a rail fence that barred further progress.
"Queer," he said."We must be pretty nigh civilization.Got to Bayport, most likely, Hannah; there seems to be a buildin' ahead of us there.I'm goin' to take the lantern and explore.You set still till I come back."But this Miss Parker refused to do.She declared that she would not wait alone in those woods for anybody or anything.If her companion was going to explore so was she.So Mr.Hammond assisted her to alight, and after he had taken down the bars, the pair went on through a grove to where a large building loomed against the sky.
"A church," said Caleb."One of the Bayport churches, I cal'late.
Wonder which 'tis?"
"There's always a sign on the front of a church," said Hannah.
"Let's go around front and see."
There were no trees in front of the church, and when they came out by the front platform, Miss Parker exclaimed, "Well, I never! Iwouldn't believe I'd remember so clear.This church seems just as familiar as if I was here yesterday.Why, what's the matter?"Mr.Hammond was standing on the platform, holding his lantern up before a gilt-lettered placard by the church door.
"Hannah," he gurgled, "this night's been too much for me.My foolishness has struck out of my brains into my eyes.I can't read straight.Look here."Hannah clambered up beside her agitated companion, and read from the placard these words:
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
REV.JONATHAN LANGWORTHY, PASTOR
