State street.

The door of the little store is locked. The bride's hand has rattled
the latch.

A silver star can be seen in the store. It is an officer in charge of
the premises. He hurries to the door.

"Are you Mrs. Lockwin?"

"I am. Let him in, too." The officer has willed to exclude the
bridegroom.

"Hadn't he better wait outside?"

"Let him in!"

"Here is a packet addressed to you." The officer hands to the bride a
thick letter. "Take this chair, madam."

The bride sits down, her back toward the lights in the window. The
bridegroom stands close behind her.

"Be firm, Esther. I'll put him in the penitentiary. I'll put him in
the penitentiary!"

The bride opens the packet. Many folded documents fall to her lap.
She is quick to spread out the chief letter.

The bridegroom pulls the silk handkerchief off his white shirt-front