"
A great blot now came after the "Harrington," and wiping it up
with the unresisting Richard's coat sleeve, Nina continued:
"--DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY--"
She was not sure whether "swear" or "declare" would be the more
proper word, and she questioned Richard, who decided upon "swear"
as the stronger of the two, and she went on:
"--SWEAR THAT THE MARRIAGE OF--
"As true as you live you can't SEE?" she asked, looking curiously
into the sightless eyes.
"No; I can't see," was the response, and satisfied that she was
safe, Nina made him write,
"--ARTHUR ST. CLAIRE AND NINA BERNARD, PERFORMED AT MY HOUSE, IN
MY PRESENCE, AND BY ME--"
Nina didn't know what, but remembering a phrase she had often
heard used, and thinking it might be just what was needed, she
said,
"Does 'NULL AND VOID' mean 'SCRATCHED OUT?'"
"Yes," he answered, smiling in spite of himself, and Nina added
with immense capitals,
"--NULL AND VOID," to what she had already written.
"I reckon it will be better to have your name," she said, and the
cramped fingers were compelled to add: "RICHARD HARRINGTON,
COLLINGWOOD, November 25th 18--"
"There!" and Nina glanced with an unusual amount of satisfaction
at the wonderful hieroglyphics which covered nearly an entire page
of foolscap, so large were the letters and so far apart the words.
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