The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-09-24

L
What b z. little onc!" her father
asked tenderiy. Although not q sue
cessful man. what the world calls q
failure. he was devotedly attached to
his motherless 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 1t. I would
take him to be . very handsome man.
and think you win 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 great braid
down her back.
a
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, luxuries, and she
did not dare tell him that she had
given her heart to another man.
Forgive me-" she whispered. tender.
ly kissing him. and then she resolutely
put from her all thoughts Of what
might have been II she had been free
when she met Fred. and. taking up q
book, read aloud to her father until II
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 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 . spot she often frequented
because Of its 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 il 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 SUI.
fered all that day. but she did try hard
to put Fred'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 tie
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.
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
that broke. repeat the Il do" and did
not recognize her own voice as she
took her vows. but as the ring was
a nm har An he .
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 staggered 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 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 Fred's arms; that Il
was his ring she was wearing and
that she was his bride.
What does 1t 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 baamed.s
"Why. ! was to marry Gordon Phil.
lips" she faltered.
Frederick Gordon Phillips" her
husband corrected. and then light
came to her.
Il fell In love with you the nrst
moment l saw you. but resolved 10
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 was
not. although she asked him later:
Suppose hadn't loved you as the
poor young man. or that I hadn't
proved faithful to my promise?" but