The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1910-03-19

and, laying some letters on little
table by the bedside. remarked;
"a fne day. SIR
The sleeper opeend his eyes. Don't
tell me 1t Is time to get up?"
1T is eight o'clock. sir"
While James was drawing the bath
for his master Rev. John Ashe
stretched out his hand and took up
the bundle of letters. On top was =
little blue envelope addressed in q
feminine hand. familiar and full OF
character.
The man tore open the envelope and
began eagerly to read the contents.
Overlook. L. l.. April L
MY Dear John-I am writing to an
nounce not only my engagement but the
date of my wedding. May !. just month
hence. II
you no doubt will be surprised at
my decision to marry 30 soon after the
announcement Of my engagement; but
as you know, l always did do eccentric
things. and now that know my own
mind wish to be married as soon az
possible.
perhaps you know the man asa
to marry. At present shall not tell
you his name but leave you to Guess.
He is one OF our own old circle OF
friends.
"will you marry us, Johny This wish
most earnestly. The wedding will be sol
emnized at noon on the first. only quiet
little home wedding with very few
friends present Try to catch the nine
O'Clock train from Long Island city. Do
not refuse this one request and please
your sincere friend.
DOROTHY MILLS"
II uyoe MT ono,rt <n ho q cr,tol LOT.
ter; but 1t hit hard. Rev. John
Ashe had known Dorothy since his
junior year at college, where he had
met her at football game. She was
very attractive girl and he had fallen
in love with her. After graduating
from the seminary he had proposed:
but she had refused him. A year later.
when he received a flattering call to q
parish church In Evanston, he repeat
ed his proposal to Dorothy to become
his wife, but her answer was NO. She
admitted she cared about him, but not
enough to marry him. and promised
that. should she lind, In years to come.
that she really could love him she
would write; but he must not propose
to her again. To this he had reluc-
family consented. Now, he had been
in the west for two years and had re-
ceived friendly letters from Dorothy.
but she never had said the words he
20 longed to hear.
And, after all this time, she was
about to marry another man and she
begged him to omciate. That seemed
more than he could do. It was hard
ouns,wh - 1un~> xhsk .to $50. q, ,r.~~~
nome one else-but to perform the
ceremony. No. no never could do
that. Why was Dorothy 30 cruel? She
knew that the one great hope he had
chsrished for the last three years was
to make her his wife. He would send
her word ut once regretting his in.
ability to be at Overlook ON the hrst.
Again the strong desire to please
her-the desire that had mastered him
since their first meeting. prompted him
to send telegram Of acceptance. He
would do for Dorothy the one thing
against which his soul and heart re-.
belied. He would attend her wed
ding.
The tub filled, James returned to ar
range his matters wearing apparel.
Instead Of having to call him second
time. ~ was the custom. his man found
the minister sitting up in bed staring
Into vacancy. His brown eyes, mo-
longer full Of sleep, were unusually
bright and his mouth had become very
stern.
do you recall any engagement for
Nay l. Jamesf"
z. The Rev. John Ashe had always to
depend upon his servant to keep him
in mind Of engagements.
We leave New York for Old Point
Comfort, sir. at $3.50"
Bless me. I had FORGOTTEN. But
that doesn't interfere with q IL O'Clock
wedding"
His servant stared . minute. then
remarked: Your bath IL ready. air"
The minister was sure he would
never have performed his duties cor.
rectly during the month that followed
II 1t had not been for James. The
faithful man instantly reminded him
Of things to be done. and when the
thirtieth came secured berths. packed
the luggage and. at the last minute.
bundled his master On the train for
Now 1OIA Auo Suo W00Ulu&.
The train rolled along all night and
the minister slept with . semi-cou.
sciousness that provoked endless
dreams. One was very persistent, in.
which he proposed to Dorothy and she
accepted him. Finally he awoke with
happy sigh which memory turned
into unhappiness. Thus discousolste.
he arose. for the train was nearing
New York, and he began the dificult
performance Of dressing in sleeping
car.
By $3.50 he was crossing the ferry
from New York to Long Island City
to catch his train. He met NO one he
knew; the wedding guests were to
m out Later in the day