The Sagebrusher: A Story of the West

by Emerson Hough

  CHAPTER XXI

  WITH THIS RING

  It was the Sabbath, and the summer sun was casting its southering lighteven with the eaves of Sim Gage's half-ruined house. It was high noon.

  High noon for a wedding. But this was a wedding of no pomp orsplendor. No bell summoned any hither. There was no organ peal, normaids with flowers and serious faces to wait upon the bride; noprocessional; no aisles fenced off with bride's ribbon; no audience tocrane. In the little room stood only a surpliced priest of the Churchof England. The witnesses were Nels Jensen and Karen, his wife, backof whom was Wid Gardner, near to him Doctor Barnes. Those made allpresent, now at high noon. And Sim Gage, trembling very much, stood atthe side of a bed where Mary Warren lay propped up in the blankets tospeak her wedding words.

  "Dearly beloved, we are gathered together," began the holy man; and sothe ceremony went on in the lofty words which some inspired man haswritten for the most solemn of all ceremonies.

  "Dearly beloved . . . Dearly beloved!

  "Who giveth this woman in marriage?" went on the deep voice of theminister at last, himself strangely moved. Indeed, it had only beenafter a long consultation with Doctor Barnes that he had been willingto go on with this ceremony. "Who giveth this woman in marriage?"

  Sim Gage had no idea of the marriage ceremony of the Church of Englandor of any other church. As for Doctor Barnes, the matter had been tooserious for him to plan details. But now, seeing the exigency, hestepped forward quickly and offered himself as the next friend of MaryWarren, orphaned and friendless.

  The ceremony went on until it came to that portion having to do withthe ring--for this was Church of England, and full ceremony was used.

  "With what token?" began the voice of the man of God. Sim Gage's eyeswere raised in sudden question. Neither he nor Doctor Barnes, quasibest man, had ever given thought to this matter of the ring. But againDoctor Barnes was able to serve. Quickly he slipped off the seal ringfrom his own finger and passed it to Sim Gage. The gentle hand of thechurchly official showed him how to place it upon the finger of MaryWarren, who raised her own hand in his.

  So finally it was over, and those solemn ofttimes mocking words weresaid: "Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder!" And thenthe surpliced minister of the church prayed God to witness and to blessthis wedding of this man and this woman; that prayer which sometimes isa mockery before God.

  There was at least one woman to weep, and Karen Jensen wept. She leftthe place and ran out the door into the open sunlight, followed soon byher husband and Wid Gardner.

  Sim stood for a moment undecided. He did not stoop even now to greethis wife with that salutation usual at this moment. The group at thebedside broke apart. The bride, white as a ghost, dropped back on herblankets. It was a godsend that at this instant Tim, the little dog,broke in the door, barking and overjoyed, welcoming the company, andmaking a diversion, which saved the moment.

  Sim bent and picked up the little animal.

  "He's glad," said he. With a vague and gentle pat of the blankets inthe general direction of Mary Gage, his wife, he turned, head bent, andtip-toed out into the sunlight.

  Karen Jensen interrupted any conversation, having dried her tears."Come on back in five or ten minutes," she said. "I'll have thewedding breakfast ready. I've baked a cake."

  When they had eaten of the cake, which they all agreed was marvelous,the minister gladly repacked his vestments in his traveling bagpreparatory to his journey back with Doctor Barnes. He turned, after agentle handshake, saying: "Good-by, Mrs. Gage." Sim Gage, bridegroom,suddenly flushed dark under his brick-red skin at hearing these words.

  Karen Jensen finished her labors attendant upon the wedding breakfast,and made ready for her own departure. Wid Gardner likewise foundreason for a visit to his own homestead. Mary Gage was left alone, andah! how white a bride she was.

  Sim Gage stood outside his own door, looking at the departing figuresof Nels and Karen Jensen crossing the meadow toward their home; turningto catch sight of Wid, though the latter was no longer visible. Indesperation he looked upon a sky, a landscape, which for the first timein all his life seemed to him ominous. For the first time in his lifeSim Gage, sagebrusher, man of the outlands, felt himself alone.