Chapter 9
In the morning Luthor and his people enjoyed a good breakfast,
then headed for the church. Luthor asked to see the pastor and
Mr. Kowalski. In a few moments both men joined them. When the
senior Kowalski saw Kitty he looked concerned.
"Katrina," he remarked, "what are you doing
here?"
Luthor answered. "Hoping that we could persuade you to join
the festivities here. You see, Kitty and I wish to be married.
She thought joining in her cousin's celebrations would increase
the joy of the occasion. We would appreciate it if after the
young couple say their vows, if we could join you and say
ours!"
The man looked quite bewildered for a few moments, then a wide
smile filled his face. "Sherina and Katrina were always
close," he answered. "I am sure she would be
delighted!"
"As you can see," Luthor continued, "we're already
properly dressed, but the ladies need a place to change. The
bride does not want he to see her in her dress until the
ceremony."
The old man stepped back into the church and screamed
"Mother! Come here!" In a few moments a stout, rosy
cheeked woman in a beautiful white dress entered. "Look
who's here!" the man commented. "Her fiance has asked
if they might be wed after our young couple say their vows. I
have told them they are welcome. Would you take the ladies to
join the others?"
"God be praised!" the stout woman cried, rushing
forward and taking Kitty in her arms and kissing her on both
cheeks. "I will most certainly take my Kitten to join the
others! Who is the groom?" she asked.
"I am!" Luthor answered. "Will you permit a doting
aunt to bestow her blessings?" she asked.
"Most certainly!" Luthor agreed.
The woman embraced him strongly and kissed him on both cheeks.
Then she took Kitty's hands and led her away. Luthor's henchmen
grinned, but a look from him silenced any laughter. A few moments
later the music began, and the first ceremony took place. Then
the old man raised his hands. "We've got a surprise!"
he cried. "Katrina and her groom have arrived and asked to
join in these festivities, to be wed here! I have granted their
request! Mr. Luthor?"
Luthor and his men came out and took the groom's position as the
startled bride and groom stepped aside. The organist began to
play the bridal march again, and Kitty appeared at the back of
the chapel and made her way down to the center aisle. Ahs rose
from the women as they saw her wedding gown. When she got to the
altar she took her place beside Luthor.
"We're gathered here," the minister began "before
God and this company to join this man and woman in holy
matrimony. If there is anyone who knows why this union should not
take place let him speak now, or forever hold his peace!"
There was complete silence, not even a murmur, then the pastor
continued. "Do you, Lex Nathaniel Luthor, take this woman,
Katrina Anna Kowalski, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do!" Luthor answered.
"Then you may put forth on her finger a ring, symbolizing
that this bond has been made and this oath given. That you will
love, honor, and cherish her all the days that she is on this
Earth!"
Vic handed Luthor the ring and he slipped it on Kitty's finger.
"With this ring," Luthor commented, "I do thee
wed!" "Katrina," the minister continued, "do
you take Lex as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do!" she answered.
"Then put forth on his finger," the minister continued,
"a ring, signifying the oath that you now make, that you
will love, honor, and obey him all the days that he is on this
Earth."
Lois handed Kitty the ring and she put it on Luthor's finger. Her
hand trembled and Luthor took it in his. "With this
ring," Kitty managed, "I do thee wed!"
The minister smiled. "Then with the authority of God,"
he continued, "and the blessings of the state of New York I
now pronounce you man and wife! Let no man try to dissolve `this
union on the penalty of the loss of his immortal soul! You may
kiss the bride!"
Luthor lifted Kitty's veil and kissed her very tenderly.
"Wow!" Kitty muttered, "Why does that feel so much
better now, why does it feel so much more important?"
Luthor smiled and everyone in the church rose, cheering and
applauding. Lois looked kind of sad and Luthor leaned over and
whispered to her "It's only because you must be kept
safe!" he comforted. "I, of anyone, understand his
reasons.
Lois smiled up at him. She was beginning to understand this man,
far more than she had ever understood him before. She had fears
that he knew her secrets, but these fears would never bother her
again. She knew he could never use them to any advantage.
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