Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-17
THE SIXPENCE F.:
BY Eyerard Jack Appleton. 7
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downright, 1901, by Authors syndieate.l

II L
bridal table, at the head of which
beamed Lieutenant Haekett, with the
pretty girl who, an hour before, had
4 become Mrs. Haekett. Lieutenant
Enson was fond of his friend and
companion. Lieutenant Hackett, yet
he was not happy even on this auspl-
eious occasion. In fact, he was dis
tinctly unhappy, although the viva
eious Young woman who sat beside
him chatted and laughed with enter
/ tanning grace. To all of her remarks
he made cheerful answers foreedly.
The trouble with Lieutenant Enson
was that the scene before him, in
which the bride and groom formed
the center Of the picture. with gayiy
decorated table. cut flowers and
naval emblems done in roses, as well
as numerous brightly adorned can
dies for the background, brought
more poignantly to his mind the fact
that the girl whom he had once
hoped to make Mrs. Enson was not
there. Worse still, Lieutenant Enson
did not know where she was. such
condition OF affairs would disconcert
the average man, and Lieutenant En-
son considered himself not above the
! average individual.
! A week before the warship on
! which he and HaelSett served had
! touched at a home port, after a three
years cruise in foreign waters.
Lieutenant Enson had FASTENED to
the little city of Maybrook, only to
find that Mrs. Lyle and her daugh-
ter Lysbeth had moved away a year
before. A feverish search for them
J resulted in failure. The quiet,
motherly widow and the dainty
daughter whose image Ned Enson
had carried in his heart for years
had disappeared as if earthquakes
were common in America. Hay be-
liefs that Mrs. Lytle had lost all her
fortune were held by the few whom
! Lieutenant Enson felt at liberty tc
question; but where or how, these
well-meaning, but unsatisfactory in
formers could not say.
So il was with a heavy heart in
deed that week later he Responded
to Hackett's telegram, and kept hi
promise to act as best man in thi
l distant city of the west.
"Mr. Ensoni" exclaimed the girl be
Z side him, in a laughingly proyoke'
tone, "are you ever going to answe
my question:"
II beg your pardon, Miss Perry,
= said Enson, eontritely, coming Z
himself with a start, Il did not hea
IS you. My apology shall be as abJee
= as / can make it. You were say
- ing"
THAT the best man was eithe
fighting some of his glorious sea bai
/ ties over again, or that his neares
"a neighbor at present has lost her abb
II ity to interest"
" "And l assure you that neither
the case" declared Enson. Il q
plead guilty to missing your last r
mark, but the preceding ones l wi
repeat verbatim for you, if you wi
4 allow met"
Most assuredly mott shou
blush with modification to hear II
I'M words Of wisdom repeated by so Il
oes listener The girl across Il
rug table is undoubtedly the cause
your abstraction. She's fascinatiI
. Just to look at, I know. But what
Mr.. Hackett going to do? l hope
isn't a speech!"
, 4 "Don't be alarmed; he is on
,osi handing his sword TO the bride TO c
ork the cake. 1t is a time-honored CT
rop tom" explained Enson.
ter As he spoke. the bride, with 81
L l'S @ ish pride and many bushes, aided
enc many suggestions from those net
N est her, cut the great bridal ca
siar into many slices, and the silent Sc
] tot ing-man passed it around the tab
yer A burst of joyous laughter r,
s aiSe above the general hum Of talk as q
cred Of the wedding-party discovered
s'on thimble in her slice Of cake, WI
- the earnest young man beside
! a whispered: Il hope you are not
% ing TO let that influence your ansy
ssas TO me. are you. Ellen?" Before
. ..sssi could reply another bridesmaid
sfsss found the ring. and the cake was
~ ing offered TO Enson. He took a /
syFs tion and broke il mechanically.
ice ooh. YOU have the sixpenee,n q
Miss Perry. "See, Mr.. Enson. wei
spiI is to be yours"
"When il comes, trust you viii
So assist me TO spend part Of It"
~ q the lieutenant, smiling, as he drop
sACs the coin into his pocket. "Ah. }
goo comes the toast 10 the bride"
! h * the glasses clinked.
~ Ii was not until the last han
Of rice had been thrown. and
house had begun 10 be less {
pactly filled with guests. that Fl
q thought y the sixpence again. 7
- he took il ont 81 his pocket
looked at il idly for moment,