Smyrna times., 1906-12-26
HALLIDAY'S
BRIDE
BY LorfiSe NerrjieId
Copyright, 1905, by NJ. NJ. Cunningham
BY Louise NerriJieId


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 a 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 a week before the marriage.
The bus stopped in front of him to
let a 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 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
lone old maid. In every letter you beg
me to take the next boat back. And,
really, Jack 1 know it will make you
feel worse, but we are having u splendid
time! Uncle Rex and the girls met us
in Pc-ris and will go up to Holland with
Aunt Nan as soon as Bess and 1 start
foi home. 1t has been a glorious trip,
and when think that next year 1t will
be you and 1 drifting together through
all these dear little old world corners
seeing the things we both love, why do
you know, l h We even kept a notebook
that will serve as our guide, so not
to miss one single place or picture that
l want you to seei Next year, Jackl
Won't we be old married people then.
though! Uncle Rex says I don't act
bit like a 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 1 are to sail on the 10Th. Will
you meet us? I know you will, of course,
but l can hardly wait to catch the first
glimpse of you. Oh dear boy, sometimes
1 am half afraid of my own Joy and the
perfect peace of it, Love 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, so she cannot
know. Three weeks! Mamma thinks
white chrysanthemums will make the
prettiest decoration for the 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 a white embroidered Elton suit
with a fine white mesh veil, spotted
daintily in black, drawn over her
wrinkles. To O'DonneIl 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 Oh
board also and that her uncle was glad
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, wheI
he was to have met her. He had seer
by the papers that the Sirius was in
and among the list of passengers wer'
Mr.. and Mrs. Stephen Halliday. The.
must have caught the first boat out o
Cherbourg
O'Donnell opened the door a secont
time to let another woman out at For
ty-second street. He did not motto
what she was like. His head whirle'
dizzily, as though he were on the EN-
of long rope circling through space
1t was foolish to lose his grip just be
cause a girl had thrown him over
idiotic. He would get through wit
the bank and take a run out Of tow
to freshen up, to forget.
At the next corner the last woma
! allghted. She wore a white chiffo
veil and appeared to be in a hurry
O'Donnell sighed in relief to know b
was alone and looked about him. An
then he started, every nerve tense an
taut for on the floor of the bus, a
(. most at his feet, lay the little gol
mesh coin purse that he had give
D Penelope before she left for Europe.
Before he had lifted it in his han
he was positive, even before he sa'
her initials on the top band. 1t had
curious little ring on the chain to sll
over the finger, a dull gold circle set
diamonds. For moment he held Il
purse stupidity, staring at it with hui
CRY, eager eyes. 1t was hers; she ha
held 1t In her hand a moment ago.
Suddenly reason began to tighten al
he remembered the woman with Il
chiffon veil. 1t was she, of course. {
had not noticed She had been in
hurry, naturally. Probably she b;
IN .,ono.yri1ad him and dreaded the