The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-10-10

said, sleepily, as she dashed In.
What is it, little one2'' her father /
asked tenderIy. Although not sue
cessfui man, what the world calls f
failure. he was devotedty attached to
his rnotherless girl, and his face shone |
with love.
Papa, tell me. Mr.. Phillips isn't
deformed, or anything like that, is
he?" Maisie gasped, seating herself on
the edge of the bed where her father
was resting.
No. pet, no." the father declared
emphatically. Far from it. | would
take him to be very handsome man,
and l think you will learn to love him
dearly, or l would never have con-
scented to the marriage, you may be
sure of that. Deformed! Why, Maisie
Do you think your old father thinks
so little of his little girl that he would
let her throw herself away on anyone
who cannot make her happy" and he
tenderly stroked her hair, which she
was just learning TO wear on top OF
her head instead Of in q great braid
down her back.
For q moment Maisie was tempted
to confess her misery, then a glance
at his worn face deferred her She
knew that his health was very poor,
and that her marriage would secure
for him comforts, Injuries, and she
did not dare tell him that she had
given her heart to another man.
Forgive me- she whispered, tender
~ kissing him, and then she resolutely
put from her all thoughts of what
might have been if she had been free
when she met Fred, and, taking up
book, read aloud TO her father until it
was time to dress for the simple even
ing meal.
But little sleep came TO her on that
last night of her maidenhood, but she
rose next morning with a sweet, proud,
/ pure resolve to learn to love the man
she was to marry, and think only of
/ him. Before taking up any OF her
/ small tasks for the day she hurried
/ away TO a spot she often frequented
+ because of it's solitude. and there. to
her dismay, she found Fred. more
( handsome and fascinating than ever.
| Il hoped you would come here this
morning and give me last chance TO
! plead my cause" Fred exclaimed. but
/ she shrank back. her face first scarlet,
then very pale.
You must not plead anything" she
| said gently but firmly. This is my
wedding day, and | cannot listen to
/ you" and without waiting she ran
/ away, her hands clasped over her ears,
! her heart beating violently. She suf
fered all that day, but she did try hard
TO put FTed's image out of her mind
and think of the man whose bride she
was TO become that night; yet, even
when she was dressed in the simple
white gown, and in the parlor of the
parsonage, she could not Danish tire
handsome, pleading face of the man
she had learned TO love with all her
girlish heart
White as death, with her lips com
pressed until they lost most of their
girlish curves. she waited for her
bridegroom. and so faint was she that
she did not raise her eyes when at
last Gordon Phillips entered the room,
She fet as though moving in a dream
when her father took her by the hand
and led her UP to the waiting minister.
She knew that a man was standing
beside her but her eyes were never
raised to his face She heard a voice
not recognize her own voice as she
took her vows. but as the ring was
slipped on her fingers she gave a great
start. and at last raised her great
violet eyes to find a pair of dear, ia
miliar dark ones looking down upon
her, and she stagger ID so that a strong
arm had TO be thrown about her to
keep her from falling. She never re
membered the rest of the service, only
awakening to a delicious reality when
she felt her husbands lips on hers and
his voice saying:
My brave darling, you truest of lit
tie loves. look at me-" and she knew
that she was in Freds arms; that II
was his ring she was wearing and
that she was his bride.
What does it mean?" she cried
struggling to get away, although she
felt her resting place to be the dearest
on earth
What happened, darling?" Fred
asked, again kissing her, while the
clergyman and her father beamed
Why, I was to marry Gordon Phil
lips she faltered.
Frederick Gordon Phillips" rel
husband corrected. and then lght
came to her.
Il fell in love with you the frs
moment | saw you, but / resolved te
win you as poor man." Fred said joy
; ously. WAS I cruel?" he asked ten
derby. and Maisie, forgetting all she
had suffered, declared that he wa!
not although she asked him later:
Suppose | hadn't loved you as tht
poor young man, or that | hadn'
proved faithful to my promise?" blu
he. once more kissing her, declared:
Either premise would have beer
impossible, darling, because you SEE
you are yourself"