The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-19
TIE EVENING ST0R
HaIliday's Bride.

read the letter over again.
He did not know how long he hadstood
on the corner, her letter crushed IN one
hand, his eyes staring at the passing
vehicles and people. The letter had been
delayed; she had mailed it over two
weeks before in Brittany, and less than
a week ago he had read OF her marriage
to Halliday. Merely a brief four or five
lines in the cable dispatches concern
ing noted Americans abroad But she
had written him that letter a week be-
fore the marriage.
The bus stopped in front of him to let
q passenger alight. Half unconsciously
he accepted the invitation OF its open
swinging door and slipped into the cor
ner seat as it swung on leisureIy up the
avenue. There were three other soccu-
pants OF the bus, all women. He did
not look at them. Just at that particu-
lar moment he did not feel kindly toward
the sex
Smoothing out the double sheet Of pale 4
gray note paper. he reread the letter
from Penelope Graham.
You dear old boy, aren't you ashamed
TO be so selhsh2 We sail on the 10th. 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
ASAlC OAQ III every letter you DGk
me to take the next boat back. And
really, Jack. I know It will make you
feel worse, but we are having a splendid
timei Uncle Rex and the girls met US
in Paris, and viii 60 up to Holland with
Aunt Nan as soon as Bess and / start
for home. It has been a glorious trip,
and when 1 think that next year 1t will
be you and I drifting together through
all these dear little old world corners,
seeing the things we both love, why, do
you know, I have even kept a note book
that will serve as our guide, SO as not to
want you to see. Next year, Jack; won't
we be old married people then. though
uncle Rex says I don't act a bit like q
young person about to be married in
three weeks, but it doesn't seem like
coming shock at adjust part of the
drifting and glorious happiness Of life
these days.
''Bess and I are to sail the 10th. VIII
you meet US? know you will, of course,
but / can hardly wait to catch the first
glimpse of you. Oh. dear boy, some
times I am half afraid of my own JOY
and the perfect peace of it. Love is tenn
pestuous, Bess says, and uncertain, and
full of wavers and quavers, and troubles
and bubbles, and I am only happy. But
Bess has never been in love, so she can
not know. Three weeksi Mamma thinks
white chFysanthemunls will make the
DrGLllGSL decoration LOT the CAdDC1s an
ferns instead of palms
O'Donnel1 read no farther. Something
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 dressed
in a white embroidered Elton suit. with
a fine white mesh veil, spotted dainty
in black, drawn over her wrinkles To
O'DonneII she looked like the inearna-
ton of feminine inconsistency
Halliday, Spephen Halliday Pen had
mentioned him in her steamer letter
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,a mighty
decent sort Of a fellow, OF course, but
not for Pen, his Pen, with her sensitive
ways. and dear, precious. unspoiled IL
lusions and ideals Of life in general and
men in particular.
Yesterday had been the 10th. when he
was to have met her. He had seen by
the papers that the Sirius was in, and
among the list of passengers We're MI
and Mrs. Stephen Halliday. They must
have caught the first boat out Of Cher
bourg.
O'Donnen opened the door second
time to let another woman out at Forty
second street. lie QlQ not lOlACC WlldL
she was like. His head Whirled dizziiy,
rs thou1th he were on the end OF a
long rope circling through space 1t
was foolish to lose his grip just because
a girl had thrown him over; idiotic.. He
would get through with the bank and
take a run out Of town to freshen up,
to forget.
At the next corner the last woman
aIiehted. 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 ana
taut 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.
Before he had lifted it In his hand
he was positive. even before he saw
her initials on the top band. It had a
curious little ring on the chain to slip
over the finger. a dull gold circle set
in diamonds. For a moment he held
the purse stupidity. staring at 1t with
hun cry. eager eyes. It was hers; she
had held it in her hand moment
ago
suddenly reason began to tighten
and he remembered the woman with
the chiffon veil. Tt was she OF course.
He had not noticed. She had been IN
a hurry, naturally. Probably she had
recognized him, and dreaded their
bus to stop he swung down the steps
to the street and started headlong
back to Forty-third street, looking for
2 woman with q white chiffon veil.
She was nowhere in sight, but he
kept on. If it were Penelope he would
md her somehow And suddenly as
he passed the postal station one of
the swinging doors opened and she
came out, tall, slender, dressed in
gray. with the white chiffon veil over
her face.
Pen he exclaimed, pen. dar-
ling
And then the white veil was raised
and he found himself looking into
Bess' dancing. laughing blue eyes and
holding her extended hands in his.
Don't shout on the street, Jack.
she said, nerrily. walk decently and
orderly with me to the depot Nam
mas waiting for me there. We
tnorett -vnII were dead or something