The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-14

isAs bussss came 10 them but faint
", sne next found herself. without be
Ing very clear az to how she cam
there. TIE Best man vas sftdng in
front Of her holding one OF her hands
In protecting. big brotheriy fashion,
while she yainIy tried to keep back the
tears that seemed to be rising as quiet
" and relentiessly as a food. II was
no use. Higher and higher they came.
shs winked hard and shut her teeth
firmly. Then she snatched her hand
away and covered her face.
my poor little girl" murmured the
BEST man softly.
Weddings are always sad, don't you
thinkT she gasped out, dabbing at ber
eyes with her handkerchief and giving
0 little hystericaI laugh. "stiIl. don't
usually behave like this. You see, when
you. best friend marries- that is
everything Is different and"-- She gave
up trying to explain the situation in de-
spair and ended with an incoherent,
but It's all very ridiculous, and I don't
know why should say ali this to
you
She was the picture Of helpless, girl
ish misery, and the best mans heart
ached for her. Momentarily his sympa.
thy took the edge OF his own loneIi.
ness. He WINGED at the thought OF her
having to suffer alone the maddening
sense OF loss that tormented him.
Perhaps it's because misery loves
company" he said gently. Perhaps
you feel that this wedding hasn't been
altogether like other weddings to me
either he went on, with a matter OF
fact mfr, as IL 1t were the most natural
thing In the world that they should
be confiding In each other.
She was watching him with dawn
Ing understanding In her eyes, and he
met her gaze with a whimsical smile,
as II he were offering her the open
book Of bis soul to read IL she would.
do you mean that you, too
There was no need to complete the
question, for 1t was answered before 1t
was spoken. Involuntarily her hands
went out to him In quick, warm SYM
pathy, and though her only comment
was breathless "ohr IT was eloquent
with feeling.
Little by little her composure came
back to her.
1T was 30 good Of you to tell me-"
she said gratefully. Il think | feel as
Robinson Crusoe did when he discoy.
cred the man Friday.
"Not that I'm glad that you're un-
happy, too" she added quickly; "only
II doesn't seem 80 lonely now that i
know that there is some one who un-
derstands. After all, that's what makes
life worth living. isn't itT' she finished, |
looking up at him with what seemed to
him the sweetest look he had ever seen
In girls face.
: When at the end Of six months the
bride and groom returned from their
abroad the best man and
the maid Of honor were among the first |
Of their dinner guests.
"see here; 1t seems to me that you
two have been making hay In our alb |
sence." laughed the bride, noting with a |
woman's quick instinct the deep, strong
understanding that seemed to exist be-
tween the two. whereupon her listen
srs exchanged somewhat humorous,
albeit confused, glance, but refused to
explain.
The following June they were mar
led Just before the Lohengrin march
he organist played Consolation" at
which such Of the guests as recognized
he selection elevated their eyebrowS
md wondered. But the bride and groom
lone were in the secret. 1t was a case
Il In memoriam.