Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-12-26
HALLIDAY'S
BRIDE
BY Loasss Msrrit7sid
copyrish., ,eoe, By n. Il u. cunninsihe,a

" Oonneil nalleu the NDuS ut twenty
sixth street. 1t would take him to the
door of the bank and give him time to
read the letter over again.
He did not know now long ne had
stood on the corner. her letter crushed
in one hand, his eyes staring at the
passing vehicles and people. The let
ter had been delayed. She had mailed
1t over two weeks before in Brittany,
and less than week ago he had read
of her marriage to Halliday-merely a
brief four or five lines In the cable d +.
patches concerning noted Americans
abroad. But she had written him that
letter week before the marriage.
The bus stopped in front Of him to
let passenger alight. Half uncon-
sciously he accepted the invitation Of
its open swinging door and slipped in
to the corner seat as 1t swung on
leisurely up the avenue. There were
three other occupants of the bus all
women. He did not look at them. Just
at that particular moment he did not
feel kindly toward the sex.
Smoothing out the double sheet Of
pale gray note paper, he reread the let
ter from Penelope Graham.
You dear old boy, aren't you ashamed
to be so selfish? We sail on the Goth. Is
not that early enough? You have be-
grudged me every day of this last chance
of mine to take a fling at the world as a
lone old maid. In every letter you beg
me to take the next boat back. And,
really, Jack. / know 1t will make you
ree' worse. but we are having splendid
time! Uncle Rex and the girls met us
in Paris and will go up to Holland with
Aunt Nan as soon as Bess and I start
for homo. II has been a glorious trip,
and when think that next year II Will
be you and drifting together through
all these dear little old world corners
seeing the things we both love, why, do
you know. I haye even kept notebook
that will serve our guide, 30 al not
to miss one single place or picture that
! want you to SEQ! Next year. Jack!
thought Uncle Rex says I don't act n
bit like young person about to be mar
ried In three weeks. but II doeen't seem
like d coming shock at adjust part Of
.. life these days.
Bess and are to sail on tho 10Th viii
you meet usr know you will. OF course.
but I can hardly wait to catch the first
glimpse OF you. Oh. dear boy. sometimes
am half afraid Of my own Joy and the
perfect peace OF It! L>ove Is tempestuous.
Bess says. and uncertain and full Of
wavers and quavers and troubles and
bubbles. and am only happy. But Bess
has never been In love, 80 she cannot
know. Three weeks! Mamma thinks
white chrysanthemums will make tho
prettiest decoration for tho chapel and
ferns instead Of palms
O'Donnell read no further. Some
thing blinded his sight; something
seemed to grip his throat and choke
him. She had written that letter to
him and then married Halliday a
week later.
The bus halted and one of the women
stepped by him. He held the door open
mechanically She was old and dress
ed In white embroidered Elton suit,
with a fine white mesh veil, spotted
daintlly In black, drawn over her
wrinkles. To O'Donnell she looked
like the incarnation of feminine incon-
sistency.
Halliday, Stephen Halliday! Pen
had mentioned him In her steamer let
ter when they had crossed In June,
merely mentioned that he was on
board also and that her uncle was glad
to see him. He must be about thirty
seven, mighty decent sort of fell
low, of course, but not for Pen, his
Pen, with her sensitive ways and dear,
precious, unspoiled Illusions and ideals
Of life In general and men in particu-
lar.
Yesterday had been the Goth, when
he was to have 1t her. He had seen
by the papers that the Sirius was In,
and among the list Of passengers were
Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Halliday. They
must have caught the first boat out of
Cherbourg.
O'Donnell opened the door second
time to let another woman out at For
ty-second street. He did not notice
what she was like. His head whirled
dizziiy, as though he were on the end
OF long rope clrcling through space.
1t was foolish to lose his grip just be-
cause a girl had thrown him over
idiotic. He would get through with
the bank and take run out Of town
to freshen up. to forget.
AT the next corner the last woman
aiighted. She wore a white chiffon
veil and appeared to be In hurry.
O'Donnell sighed In relief to know he
was alone and looked about him. And
then he started. every nerve tense and
talt, for on the floor of the bus, al.
most at his feet, lay the little gold
mesh coin purse that he had given
Penelope before. she left for. Europe.