But the bridegroom, who in his fright had been presenting rather a sorry figure, recovered his self-possession, and tried to pull her back.
"For the Lord's sake, go on with the ceremony! She's promised to me, and no phony play like that can stop it."
"The boy's right. Come on, Doctor Storrs," put in Cap'n Bluster, the starboard side of the wing-and-wing whiskers almost pulled out in his agitation. But his friend waved him aside—
"You've done enough harm already, Hiram, to last a lifetime—. As for you, my lad, you ought to know when you're aground."
Then he turned to the elder Huntington—
"The whole thing's a profanation, John. I'm sorry for your sake, but you'd better get that young hopeful out of the way quick. This is the church, but, outside, I won't answer for him."
So the unwilling groom was hustled through the vestry door—and Sally was in truth called back from the brink.
And now the floodgates had broken loose in the pews. There were congratulations and commiserations, according to the relationship, and "Oh's" and "Ah's," and a regular feasting on sentiment and thrills. And there was a sudden onslaught on the altar, and a crowding to see the strange messenger and its tattered bearer, who in time grew to be a real ragged messenger sent from Heaven in answer to Sally's faith and prayers.
As for Butts, poor Butts, he never saw his scoop in print, for, as he dashed out to interview the jilted bridegroom,
