The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-11-04
"INHIS NAME. =
BY ANNIE {. ooNNELl.
INERE on it, Eli! We're on our
wv weddin' journey. Amt it most


Judith Crockett settled her skirts and
folded together her wrinkled hands
with long sigh of peace.
The train was getting under way
again.
ELS weathered old face beamed and
nodded at her.
Its so, Judith-it's livin'', breathin'
truth! Look out the winder at them
fences. See 'em shootin' past. We're
goin'! feels if l wanted to sing. the
doxology."
Like little children they leaned toward
the window and watched the moving
picture outside. Ellis hand found its
way to Judith's and openly patted its
black silk mitt.
We're on our weddin' journey, moth
CT, jest as true as we're alive. Our hon
eymoon's jest ris'."
The words drifted back to the trio of
breezy, sweet-faced girls behind. The
whole car seemed to be full of girls.
Girls across the aisle, girls in front, girls
behind, and all of them twittering and
laughing in subdued little gales, after
the world-over fashion of girls.
Did you hear, Joyce Darrah =?
They're on their wedding trip!" whis-
pered Elvah Crane in delight. 1.-THE
dear little old lady's bride!"
Truly, do you s'pose," whispered
back Joyce. "she's so old-she must be
most a hundred. Look at her dear lit
tie corkscrew curls behind her ears!"
Girls, girls, quick!" murmured Mir
lam Nye, nudging them in turn, II do
believe he's going to kiss her!"
But the kiss, if it had started, never
reached it's destination. Judith Crock
EFT saw it coming, and held up her finger
to warn it off. LAND, Eli, don't!" she
cried. fright where folks'll see you!
What'll they think?"'
WELL" the old man declared, reck-
lessly, II amt sure care what folks'll
think! It amt every day go on my
weddin' journey, an can't see when
would be suitabler time to do what
kissin' I've got on hand to do.''
He laughed delightedly, in little I'M
dulatory chuckles. Joyce said she could
see the wrinkles in his eyes through the
back of his head!
II think he's lovely" she answered
softly, "and so is the little old bride.
They make the dearest little love-story,
right here before our eyes! It's bet
ter than story book; my, yes!"
so it isl Miriam said, "but don't
suppose we ought to listen, do you?"
WHO'S listening, Miriam Nye? I
haven't any trap doors to my ears, and
they mustn't talk up so loud if they
don't want me to hear"
Il can't help hearing, either" Miriam
answered thoughtfully. Il guess I'll
sing little to drown EN-" She began
to hum monotonous, low tune, with
resolute determination not to hear.
But Eli Crockett and Judith, his wife,
were quite willing all the world should
hear. What secrets had they? They
talked on in their shrill, old voices,
sharpened with keen, tremulous de-
light. When the outside world had been
exclaimed over and wondered at ex-
haustively, they turned to the inside.
Judith Crockett looked over her shout
der and got a pleasant glimpse of the
vista of girls faces behind her.
MY. amt there a heap of 'em!" she
exclaimed. "An' oh, Eli, look quick!
There's one jest exactly behind that
looks like little Emmeline that died.
I've got to speak to that one, Eli-Ive
got to. couldn't no more help it than
nothin' at all"
She leaned back and beckoned to
Marian Nye.
''Deary,'' she called, do you mind
comm an settin' beside me jest for
few minutes? want to speak to YOU"
Miriam's tune stopped short. She
glanced at the other girls in amused
wonder, and then up into the sweet
wrinkled face. She saw the eagerness
in it. and answered it instantly.
yes, indeed" she said, land the gen
tleman can have my seat here" They
made the exchange, and Eli sat down
opposite Joyce and Elvah, with a nod of
gentle friendliness. He leaned forward
to them, pointing backward with his
thumb at Judith.
''Imme]ine died, you see," he said
confidentially, ''an' she wanted to talk
to the young lady because she looked
like Emmeline. She always wants to
talk to folks that put her in mind of
Emmy. l don't suppose the young
lady'li mind, now, do you? I couldn't
bear to set up against mother on our
weddin' journey. I thought we'd ought
to llumor her"
Behind him "mother's" earnest voice
wis running on.
We've been married Al years-Ei
an me. 1t was 20 years ago Emmy died.
You look so much like her, deary, that's
why couldn't help calm you. You've
got Emmy's eyes an her little round
chin. Emmy had such beautiful
chin!'
Her own chin quivered little, but
still she smiled at Miriam.
You don't mind me calm YOU.
deary, do you?" she asked. II told Eli
I couldn't help it, noway at all, the min
ute I set eyes on you.'
NO, indeed, I'm glad to come. I'm
glad to lock like-Emmy." Miriam's
sweet voice and the dead name rever-
emily. 8
There was little pause, and to break
it she said:
''!s Eli your new husbands nameo
You said-that is, couldn't help hear
ing. truly-that this was your wedding
trip"
Then Judith Crockett threw back her
head and laughed with such hearty en-
joyment that Miriam joined in from
very sympathy. Eli and the girls be-