The ceremony soon ended.  As the clerk shut his book and we turned to depart, I could not realize that this abrupt, informal marriage was a reality.  As I passed down the aisle, a white, fluttering, impalpable, and yet clearly-defined form arose from one of the empty seats, and unobstructed by carved wood or heavy upholstery, passed out through frame and plaster!  The slight figure, the golden hair, I remembered too well—­it was that of the ghost of Bristed Hall!

I clenched Richard’s arm so that he muttered an oath, and said sharply, “My God, Agnes, what are you doing?”

“Did you not see that figure?  It passed straight through the wall,” I whispered in affright.

“Move on—­none of your d—­d nonsense, Agnes,” said Richard, scowling; then hastily adding, “Excuse me, love, you confuse me.  My happiness makes me forget myself.”

My mind surged with conflicting emotions.  I felt a secret joy in the knowledge that I was united to the man I loved.  This romantic, half run-away match pleased the romance of my nature, and yet I was unable to resist the feeling that I had done wrong.  A strange foreboding of evil intruded upon my joy.

Richard that evening was gay almost to wildness.  “O Agnes!  Agnes! we have outwitted them, the fools!  They thought they had conquered me, but you are mine, and I have won!”

He talked so disconnectedly, I thought he had taken too much wine.  Indeed, to this he owned.

“I could drink flask after flask of it, I am so happy!” he exclaimed.

We were happy that night and drove home in the cool of the morning.

It was arranged that our marriage should for the present be kept private, as Richard thought if it were known it might disorganize my school.

CHAPTER XIV.

We had been wedded but two weeks when one morning Richard asked me to show him my deed of the property.

“How strange,” said he, as he looked it over.  “Do you know, Agnes, before I wedded you I might have married many a woman of wealth, but I would not unite myself with a lady who would not honor me by giving me sole control of all her possessions.”

“Well, Richard,” answered I, laughing, “you can control mine if you like.  It matters little to me who holds the deed, so long as my dominion over the young ladies is not invaded.”

“That is what I expected of your, loving nature, Agnes, and yet I suppose you would hesitate to convey your property to me.”

“No; why should I?” I exclaimed.  “I will go with you to an attorney this moment, if you desire it.”

“Well, come, we shall see; get your bonnet,” said he gaily.

I tied on my bonnet, and accompanied him down the street into a little dingy office in a narrow thoroughfare.

At the door, laying his hand upon my shoulder, he said jokingly: 

“Agnes, go back, I was only trying you; I wanted to see if you meant what you said.”