The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-09

CO1nla001le 0ef e0emleAs aas H. $780, Al
would not have held the @ a "
and Randy wanted q ~ II
i dissatisfacfion 81 so1 ne 49, Il X
carried herseaf "a ~ 1itas \ SayI y
chopping and changing. Johnny
had pulled himself TOT How "
to be best man. The ht3daa paItyaWn3
to meet h the church 1gch am ~
thence to the altar ~ sef,afatS
Johnny meant to be the vety ilrst but
fate, preventing, delayed him ~ no Masi
not only last, but late Thus he came
upon fine tableau Randy. very white
and faint, her bridal wreath IN ragged
and stained, leaning heavily upon Pc;
ter's shoulder and hiding her eyes with
her left hand; the right lay limp and
purple across her lap. is
There had been almost fatal acci-
dent The horses driving the brides
carriage had run away and smashed 4.
against the stone pillar of the porch
entrance. Randy had been picked up
senseless. Luckily Peter was there to 4
look out for her. since her father was
too much shaken to do more than get
his breath. She had - to quickly
enough, spoken just n WI. then fallen
back again unconscious.
But when Johnny appeared on the
scene she was SO much herself she was
trying to smile down her pain and say:
II don't look very nice, but hadn't we
better get it over, Peter? It would be
too bad to disappoint everybody. There
ought to be wedding at least, an It
turns out there can't be a funeral"
She got the words out with ghost
of her old spirit, but Peter felt her
shudder as she spoke. Peter was al
most as white as she. He had, further,
strange look. Johnny leaned sole
itously down to him, saying In his ear:
let me take you both home, old man.
You-yOu're not At to make yourselves
a spectacle"
Peter did not answer. The strange
look deepened. Very tenderly he put
Randy in other hands-plenty Of kind
and tender ones were eagerly stretched
toward her-then got up, saying. "Wait
minute honey" He laid his arm over
Johnny's shoulder and strobe OF out Of
earshot.
We've been better than brothers,
Johnny" he said, pausing at last under
the shade of big roadside oak. "Now
you must stand up to me. not consider
ing yourself at ALL"
II will,' Johnny answered. gripping
Peters hand hard. After gulp Peter
went on: ''You have got to decide some
thing, something can't decide for my
self. 1t is which Of us shall marry the
girl back there. One or the other must !!
do it, and do it right OF"
what do you mean? Are you craxyY'I
Johnny cried, recoiling step.
Peter sighed. II wish could think |
20 or wake and find 1t dream" be |
said. But it's no dream, Johnny. I
had Randy in my arms when she came .
to herself. She looked up at me and
said {
"What?" Johnny asked breathlessfy j
as Peter paused.
"Johnny.' That was ALL" Peter an
swered. "But it told me heap I'd
been suspecting all along She's en-
gagged to me. She'll marry me and do
her duty If choose to take her. amt |
afraid shed ever fail me. But am
afraid I'll fail myself. because I know"
''You couldn't Peter. 1t amt IN you
not to do the right thing" Johnny said
eagerly. You'd be so good to her shed |
be bound to love you best after-after}
little while"
"You've answered me, Johnny" Pc
ter said. looking over his friends head. |
Il am bound to do right when see
the right. Now, we'll go back and take |
poor Randy home. I'll tell the crowd !
the wedding is put off for two weeks"
1t came off duly, but with Johnny as
the bridegroom. That made great |
talk. of course. but nobody minded
very much. For Johnny found out all
of a sudden that Texas was fine place
and went there along with Peter, who
did not die of heartbreak, but came
back next season and married Melinda,
Randy's young sister.