Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-01-30

blunt, but Miss Helen Atwater was
not very much taken by surprise. The
acquaintance begun in Scotland the
previous summer had rlpened fast on
shipboard on the return passage and
been brought to fruition by some
months of correspondence. She even
consented to speedy marriage. and
rs she was living with married
cousin i'm Boston the minister took his
bride from there ten days from the
day he left Littleton.
But the blissful days of his honey
moon failed 10 blot out entirely the re-
hembrance OF his church aud his work
md his people. True. IN the tumult of
happiness that had possessed Him since
that day when their clumsy iaterfer-
ence had driven HIM actually driven
him. into the JOY thar wss now his he
had almost forgotten thrir plans for
him. but now II an c3E.e baci 30 him
and he realized thai be Old owe chem
sometime for who knows how long
he would have doubted ANA feared had
not the terror of Miss Nen" been
upon him.
Suddenly the minister laughed aloud.
1t was all SO funny to him now Mrs.
Morris. sitting beside her husband was
astonished at his mirth and BOXED H.
"Well. dearest. ! know youll think
me crazy. but it is really too good to
keep. You didn't know Glat I flbd
you TO marry me 90 ms 90 prevtle ray
congregation marrying me TO some one
else. did your" And out came the
whole story. his mental picture of
Miss Nell'' and all.
You know" he concluded. Il never
for a moment thought Of her side OF it.
was concerned for my own safety.
What i'm the world a woman like her
with money and property and the
world NJ her feet. would want with
poor struggling minister | can't con
ceve. But | had heard 50 much of her
ana the people so evidently had set
their minds on it, tell you l was in
regular funk over it, 1t drove me to
put my timd hopes to the test for you,
sweetheart"
There was a peculiar smile lowering
around Mrs. Morris lips, and for
minute or two she said nothing.
what Is it, dear?' asked the minis
ter anxiously. you are not vexed are
YOU"
"N-no." hesitatingly. mot exactly.
but am just thinking how beautifully
you have played into your congrega-
tons hands. for. do you know. Calvin.
you have really and truly married that
domlneering person, Miss Nell
Married Miss Nellr - repeated the
minister blankly. staring at his wife's
flushed. laughing face.
"Yes. truly / am Helen Gilbert At
water, called Miss Nell at the old home
in Littleton Listen. dear. | had no
thought of deceiving you mt first | did
not know YOU were in the church at
Iittleton till we reached New York on
our VOYAGE home. You know we were
pretty well acquainted then. but I
neither Of us knew our own heart. |
often intended 10 tell you in a letter.
but somehow / couldn't. | felt that IL
YOU knew it might make difference.
You were poor. comparatively. | had
all that money and property. And
and | loved you. dear. too much then
To have YOU leave me.
Then at the end You took me by
storm. have been too happy 70 talk
OF anything like that. and | had been
waiting til you would say something
OF your work to tell you all about my
self"
But. my dear why Atwater; 1t
was always Miss Nell Gilbert The
minister was still bewlldered.
yes. my aunt did not like my father.
the man whom her young sister mar
red. and never mentioned his name.
81 was always called Gilbert at
home. but OF course ! had no reason
FOR describing my name. There are
plenty Of people in Littleton who know
my real name. but never used it. for
was but Il baby when | went 10 live
with my aunt after my fathers death.
Really. dear. you needn't be alarmed.
am not half rs bad rs | was painted.
| won't try 10 run the church or man
age the organist or-or
cor any one except the minister.
finished her husband We'll. the sur
prise is certainly on me. but | must get
even with those people some way"
The news OF the minister's marriage
spread like widfire through the town.
He had sent laconic message TO one
OF his church officers to the effect that
he had been married in Boston and
would occupy his pulpit the following
Sunday. That was all. Married. after
all. and none Of his congregation knew
n word about II. Who was she? No
body knew. Conjecture was rife ON
every point and one version after an
other of the story of his wedding found
quick credence. Some of the older
members of his flock were thunder
struck. To think that Mr. Morris should
trick them like that and be engaged all
the time They had just set their
hearts on his marrying Miss Nell"
whom everybody knew aud loved.
They were accustomed to Miss Nell'
ana her ways. But stranger to steal
their beloved minister,