Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-07

previous summer had rlpened fast on
shipboard on the return passage and
been brought 10 frulti0n by some
months of correspondence She even
consented 10 speedy marriage. and
as she was living with married
cousin in Boston the minister took his
bride from there ten days from the
day he left Littleton.
But the bllssful days OF his honey
moon failed TO blot out entirely the re-
membrance OF his church and his work
and his people. True, In the tumult of
happiness that had possessed him since
that day when their clumsy interfer-
ence had driven him. actually driven
him. into the JOY that was now his he
had almost forgotten their plans for
him, but now II all came back to him
and he realized that he did owe them
something, for who knows how long
he would have doubted and feared had
not the terror of Miss Nell" been
upon him?
Suddenly the minister laughed aloud.
II was all so funny to him now. Mrs.
Morris, sitting beside her husband. was
astonished at his mlrth and looked IT,
"Well. dearest, | know you'll think
me crazy, but ii is really too good to
keep. You didn't know that I fskp6
you to marry me 90 as TO prevent my
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 1t.
I was concerned for my own safety.
What in the world woman like her.
with money and property and the
world at her feet, would want with a
poor struggling minister / can't con-
ceive. But | had heard so much of her
and the people so evidently had set
their minds on II, | tell you / was In
regular funk over it. 1t drove me to
put my timld hopes to the test for you,
sweetheart"
There was peculiar smile lowering
around Mrs. Morris lips. and for
minute or two she said nothing.
"What is it, dearf" asked the minis
ter anxiously. "You are not yexed, are
you?"
"N-no," hesitatlngly. mot exactly,
but am just thinking how beautifully
you have played into your congrega-
tlon's hands, for. do you know. Calvin.
you have really and truly married that
domineering person, Miss Nell -
Married Miss Nell"" repeated the
minister blankly. staring at his wife's
flushed, laughing face.
eyes, truly. | am Helen Gilbert At
water. called Miss Nell at the old home
I'm Littleton Listen. dear. | had no
thought OF deceivlng you at first. did
not know you were In the church at
Lttleton till we reached New York on
our voyage home. You know we were
pretty well acquainted then. but /
neither OF us knew our own heart. |
often intended to tell you In letter,
but somehow | couldn't. felt that IL
you knew IL might make a difference.
You were poor comparatively. l 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 to talk
of anything like that. and i had been
waiting till you would say something
OF your work to tell you all about my
self" raata 4. stv.s; 9lG-t-@ ~
But my dear. why Atwater? 1t
was always Miss Nell Gilbert" The
minister was still bewildered.
Eyes. my aunt did not like my father,
the man whom her young sister mar
ried. and never mentioned his name.
II was always called Gilbert at
home. but of course had no, reason
for describing my name. There are
plenty OF people In Litteton who know
my real name. but never used 1t, for ]
was but a baby when | went TO live
with my aunt after my fathers death.
Really. dear. you needn't be alarmed.
am not half as bad as | was painted.
| won't try TO run the church or man
age the organist or-or"-
"Or any one except the minister"
finished her husband. "Well. 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 wildfire through the town.
He had sent a 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
a word about IL. Who was she? No
body knew. Conjecture was rife on
every point and one version after an
other OF the story ofhi 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 and loved
They were accustomed TO "Miss Nell
and her ways. But a stranger to steal
their beloved ministerl
All week long the Tongues wagged
necessarily over the minister and his
bride. but at Saturday midnight no one
had seen either OF them The church
was packed Sunday morning The bells
had ceased ringing, and only few late
corners saw the Gilbert carriage drive
UP TO the door and the minister and q
lady alight from Il.
Straight up the middle aisle he led
her. sweet and demure looking. while
the organ played softly and the silence
Of the church could be felt. At the Gil