Page:By Sanction of Law.pdf/368

 the little country church. Back behind the cedars and juniper trees nestled the church with its parish house off to one side. They turned in at the gate. A light shone from the study. They rode straight to the door and Bennet dismounted. Lida remained on her mount. Bennet rapped at the door and soon there was a motion of activity seen from the reflection at the study window, followed by an opening of the door while Father Buntin, his gray hair showing under the edges of his study cap and his kindly benign eyes showing through his reading glasses peered into the darkness.

"Who's there?" he asked shading his eyes with a hand.

"It is I, Father. I've come to be married."

Father Buntin smiled broadly and genially as he said, "You can't marry here. You're alone."

Bennet laughed. "Oh, no, Father, I'm not alone."

"I usually marry couples not single men," Father Buntin continued, enjoying his joke.

"Oh, but I have the girl."

"Oh, but I don't see her," he mocked. "However, come in, come in!" Here he threw the door wide. Before Bennet could turn, Lida leaped from her horse and stood beside him. "Here am I, Father—the other part of the contract."

"Ah, daughter. It is well. I was just about to believe either the young man was having his joke with me or else he was under the influence of Luna."

"I'm under the influence of a far greater goddess, Father," Bennet offered looking at Lida who stood beside