The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1903-03-06
regret caused by her second forced

regret caused by her second forced
retirement was not unalloyed.
1t was the chance remark of a passen-
ger passing him in the moonlight
'Only two more days aboard, that
brought Powell to a sudden realization
of what the fates had been weaving.
He sat up straight and stared out
across the ocean.
1--WE been forgetting everything"
he muttered. 81 ought to have told
them, of course; bur 'pon my word,
didn't think of it. Well, if there's any
harm done''-he drew his breath sharp
ly-"it's only to myself"
There was a brushing of skirts past
him.
81 can't persuade her to move," said
girls voice, plaintively, as its own
er sank into her steamer chair. II
really believe she is worse now than
she was at first. To think of her hav-
ing come abroad for the sea air, and
being forced to stay in that stuffy
little purgatory all the way across!
And it's been such lovely weather,
tool"
"Perfect," Powell acquiesced, gianc-
ing up at the brilliant sky. "a con-
trast to when 1 crossed IN the other
direction a month ago-on my we'd
ding trip"
His companion looked up.
"Your wedding trip!" she repeated,
with slightly puzzled smile. what
has happened to the bride?'
81 don't know" said Powell, savage
ly, 'or care!"
The girl laughed.
'How ghastly!" she murmured.
"Oh, I'm in earnest" said Powell,
jerkily. Didn't you read in the pa
pers about that old millionaire who
left half of his money to the son of
one friend and half to the daughter OF
another, on condition that they'd
marry each other, and not let any of his
accumulations get into the hands OF
people he didn't know? Well, I'm
the man in the story. We'd never set
eyes on each other, but we both want
ed the money, so we complied with the
proviso."
"You-married her?" asked the girl,
paling a little.
''Six months ago. in New York. 1t
must have looked queer affair to out
siders One doleful morning my law
yer and drove to the magistrates Of
flee, and as we came in one door, an
other lawyer, with an old gentleman
and lady and three girls, all in short
skirts and shirt waists and brown
wells, entered by another. We all
bowed, and then the magistrate called
our names, and I and one Of the girls
it might have been any of them, for
all l knew-went up to desk, and an
swered a few questions, and wrote our
names. The lawyers gave us each
deed of separation to go in force at the
door. Then we all bowed again, and
the family party got into carriage
and drove off, and II had two
months furlough, you know-for the
honeymoon-came abroad to get out
of the talk"
His listeners color had faded en-
tirely.
"Her name was Margaret Kennedy,
wasn't it?" she asked, slowly. Il went
to school with her. She"
"Oh, you needn't hesitate" said
Powell, with a short laugh. i've had
several fetching descriptions OF her.
She's Jew at a bargain, | know by
experience. And her voice, and-er
looks, impressed me even through
the veil"
''She wasn't pretty, certainly, or
very popular; but she was well born,
or course, and thoroughly well bred'
she was speaking with an evident ef-
fort now.
"Oh, there is the steward" she said,
rising. CT must see if he hasn't
something can coax auntie to eat.
Powell gazed after her, his face rath-
er colorless, too.