Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-11-29
HALLIDAY'S
BRIDE

Copyright, 1905, by M. M. Cunningham

door Of the bank and give him time to
read the letter over again.
He did not know how long he 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
it 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 dis.
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 it 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 fling at the world as
lone old maid. In every letter you beg
me to take the next boat back. And,
really, Jack, I know it will make you
feel 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 1 start
for home. 1t has been a glorious trip,
and when 1 think that next year 1t will
be you and l drifting together through
all these dear little old world corners
seeing the things we both love, why, dc
you know, l have even kept a notebook
that will serve as our guide, so as not
to miss one single place or picture that
I want you to see! Next year, Jack!
Won't we be old married people then,
though! Uncle Rex says I don't act
bit like young person about to be mar
ried 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 are to sail on the 0Oth Will
you meet US? know you will, of course,
but l can hardly wait to catch the first
glimpse of you. Oh, dear boy, sometimes
I am half afraid of my own Joy and the
perfect peace of 1t! Love is tempestuous,
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 cannot
know. Three weeks! Mamma thinks
white chrysanthemums will make the
prettiest decoration for the chapel and
ferns instead of palms
ODOnnell 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 fine white mesh veil, spotted
daintily 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
oooL8 dloO anu tAdI uSI ulClc was Sldu
to see him. He must be about thirty
seven a mighty decent sort of fel-
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 met 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 a second
time to let another woman out at For
ty-second street. He did not notice
what she was like. His head whirled
dizzily, as though he were on the end
of long rope circling through space.
1t was foolish to lose his grip just be-
cause 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
alighted. She wore a white chiffon
veil and appeared to be in hurry.
ODonnell sighed in relief to know he
was alone and looked about him. And
then he started, every nerve tense and
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
ne was positive, even before he saw
her initials on the top band. 1t had a
curious little ring on the chain to slip
over the finger a dull gold circle set in
diamonds. For moment he held the
purse stupidity, staring at 1t with hun
CRY, eager eyes. 1t was hers; she had
held it in her hand a moment ago.
Suddenly reason began to tighten and
he remembered the woman with the
chiffon veil. 1t was she, of course. He
had not noticed She had been in a