Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-11-16
40 70 the limits Of her brain canac,tv

plaintively. Il only wished 10 say
what was pleasant and nice about
your nancee. | know she's a lovely
girl. I've often admired her at the
opera. She goes a great deal in Mrs.
Langdon's box. and Mrs Langdon and
are together on the board OF man.
ayers OF the Magdalene Home. and
also on the board Of the Hospital for
Unfortunate Gentlefolk" And so on,
ard on.
| walked up and down among those
wrapped-uD, ghostly chairs and tables
and cabinets and statues many times
before Joe arrived with the minister
and he was a Methodist, McCabe by
name. You should have seen Mrs.
Balls look as he advanced his portly
form and round face with its shaver
upper lip into the drawing-room. |
She tried TO be cordial, but she
couldn't-her mind was on Anita,
and the horror that would fill her
when she discovered that she was to
be married by a preacher Of a sect
unknown to fashionable circles.
"All | ask Of you," said | to him,
rs that you cut 1t as short as pos
sible. Miss Ellersly is tired and
nervous" This while we were shak-
ing hands after Joe's introduction.
Alva and she we're coming down the
stairway. / was amazed at sight OF
her. Her evening dress had given
place TO pretty blue street suit with
a short skirt-white showing at her
wrists, at her neck and through
slashings In the coat over her
bosom; and on her head was hat
to match. looked at her feet-the
slippers had been replaced by boots.
"And they're just right for her" said
Alva, who was following my glance,
though I'm not so tall as she"
But what amazed me most, and de-
lighted me, was that she seemed TO
be almost in good spirits. 1t was
evident she had formed with Joe's
daughter one of those sudden friend
ships so great and so vivid that they
rarely lived long after the passing OF
the heat Of the emergency that bred
them. Mrs. Ball saw 1t also, and was
straightway giddied into sort Of
ecstasy. You can imagine the Wis
ions it conjured. I've no doubt she
talked house on the east side OF the
park to Joe that very night, before
she let him sleep. However, Anita's
face was serious enough when we
took our places before the minister,
with his little, blackboard book open.
And as he read in a voice that was
genuinely impressive those words
that no voice could make unimpres-
sive, | saw her paleness blanch in.
to pallor, saw the dusk creep round
her eyes until they were like stars
waning somberly before the gray face
OF dawn. When they closed and her
head began to sway, steadied her
with my arm. And so we stood,
with my arm round her, she leaning
lightly against my shoulder. Her an.
swers we're mere movements Of the
lips
At the end, when kissed her cheek
she said: 'Is II Overt"
YES" McCabe answered-she was
looking at him. "And | wish you all
happiness, Mrs. Blackjack"
AT that name, her new name, she
stared at him with great wondering
eyes; then her form relaxed. car
; ried her TO a chair. Joe came with
a glass Of champagne; she dranl
some Of 1t. and It brought life bach
to her face. and some color. With
a naturalness that deceived even me-
for the moment, she smiled up a
Joe as she handed him the glass. III
II bad luck" she asked. "for me TO b,
the first TO drink my own health!'
, And she stood. looking TRANQUILITY q
| every one-except me.
took McCabe into the hall ant
!. paid him OF
: When we came back. | said: NOV
{ we must be going"
r "0h, but surely you'll stay for sup
!. peri" cried Joe's wife.
!. NO" replied |. In a tone that mad,
1 II impossible to insist We appre
!. ciate your kindness. but we've i'm
( posed on It enough" And I shool
e hands with her and with Allie and III,
r minister. and. linking Joe's arm II
l. mine. made for the door. gave tn,
+ necessary directions to my chauieu
while we were waiting for Anita b
, come down the steps. Joe's daugh
ter was close beside her, and the,
Q kissed each other good-by. Alva on tn
'Oibo VI eoaaS' hHSa uol eu6Bco'
I Ing any emotion Of any sort "Tc
( morrow-sure." Anita said to hei
And she answered: Yes. indeed-a
Q soon as you telephone me-" And D
o we we're OF a shower Of rice raj
9 ting on the roof Of the brougham-
g the slatternly man-servant had throw
I. It from the midst Of the group o
Il servants.
o Neither Of us spoke. I watche,
+ her face without seeming to do SC
and by the light Of occasional stree
n lamps saw her studying me furtiyely
3 At last she said: II wish TO 70 b
3 my uucie's now"
8 I'VE are going home" said I.
sspuf tho houoa Min ~ -. -.