Smyrna times., 1910-07-13

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to think.
This was not her Donald, for he had
been unfaithful long ago. Twenty
eight years had passed since he had
married her beautiful treacherous
friend. But if not her Donald, this
might be his son. She had followed
her lovers life with interest, and
knew that his wife who had died a
few years before, had never made
him happy. Faith was beginning to
guess at the state of affairs sharply
nov. This boy had been Donald's
only comfort why, then, was he
here, being married without his
father s presence, perhaps without his
consent?
The wedding was over AID the
names signed. Before Miss Faith
had decided what to say or do the
bride turned to her:
81 don't known who you are, and
why you are here, or whether you
and these flowers are conected ex-
cept in my own min3, but l want to
thank you for your presence.
" came to wish you JOY" said
Miss Faith simply.
the bride did not look joyful, the
tears were filling her e, es, and the
bridegroom was obviously uncomfort-
able.
I'm sure you've been sent special
| ly; you've no idea how | dreaded
this wedding mean, being mar
ried in this way. 1t is so different to
all I've expected, and it seems so
-underhand; but somehow you've
made it seem homelike. and the
flowers helped too. -
Miss Faith turned to Donald
Graham.
81 had no idea when l came in
who you were, but as it happens,
am an old friend of your father, >
she said.
ooh! I knew you belonged to
our lives, F." said the bride. ''You
just looked like benefcent fairy
no, like kind mother or aunt, -
with a little hysterical sob.
"Will you come into my house D.?
| should feel it such an honor if YOU
would take your wedding breakfast
with me-" Miss Faith said.
The young couple gladly accepted
the invitation, and while Janet pre-
pared the meal they sat by the cosy
fire and told Miss Faith of the poor
brides loneliness in her position as
governess to a very inconsiderate,
selfish family living in the town.
The last time | came to see her ]
felt l couldn't leave her alone again.
I'd asked father before l came away,
and he absolutely refused his consent.
l had plenty of money, and there
was poor Dorothy drudging for ar
existence; it wasn't fair, and
couldn't stand it any longer.
My conscience is making me very
miserable now," said Dorothy, smil-
ing through her tears.
at was'n't as if Dorothy had any
, friends of her own to take care OF
her, - continued Donald, Indignantly
"She's quite alone in the world ex.
. cept for me- "
! Miss Faith was keen student of
human nature, and she saw that the
j young people loved each other de
i, votedly, and felt sure that Dorothy
was a good girl and likely to make
Donald Graham an ideal wife. A
her suggestion they wrote a join
= letter to Donald's father and then
after their departure, she wrote her
self to the man she had loved all heI
? life. She told him of her meeting
:, with the young people, of their re-
morse and uneasiaess at their con
:, duct, and begged him to trust to he
=, judgment and accept her interpreta
tion of the BRIDES character.
q promise you devoted son an,
! charming daughter-in-law if you
! will only be fOrgiving and patien
: now, +" she wrote.
After posting the letter she though
- all day of the young couple and re
called memories of old times. Don
>, ald's reply brought her mixture o
joy and bitter regret.
: 81 believe your prophecies only
. because ! never knew your judgmen
wrong. Though think Donald ha
. made hopeless mistake, l will trea
his wife and him as if the wedding
. had been the desire of my heart-
= because you advise it. -
: A few weeks later Faith ha
= another letter from her old lover.
: "You were right. Now that Dor
othy is no longer afraid of me, sh
has pretty manners, and is charming
ly attentive to an old man, and will
- think, help to make my lonely lif
a little brighter. There has beel
: more sympathy between Donald an