midnight
We thought perhaps -- '' But Hagadorn broke in with his story and told him all as it had come to pass . That day they watched beside the maiden , who lay with tapers at her head and at her feet , and in the little church the bride who might have been at her wedding said prayers for her friend . They buried Marie Beaujeu in her bridesmaid white , and Hagadorn was before the altar with her , as he had intended from the first ! Then at midnight the lovers who were to wed whispered their vows in the gloom of the cold church , and walked together through the snow to lay their bridal wreaths upon a grave . Three nights later , Hagadorn skated back again to his home . They wanted him to go by sunlight , but he had his way , and went when Venus made her bright path on the ice . The truth was , he had hoped for the companionship of the white skater .