The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-05-17

steps-heavy footballs quite unlike the
tread of Mary Smiths fairy feet-and
the front door opened and elected
oyung woman, rosy checked, fat, quiv-
ering with flesh and curiosity.
what is It, pa?" she demanded.
Captain Smith drew a clay pipe from
his breast pocket and indicated the
visitor with a gesture of his hand:
"One of your city beaus, Mamie. Take
him away"
When the reverberations of his ter
rlble voice had died on the still air the
girls nervous giggle broke the strain
ed silence.
IL have made a mistake" explained
Meldon, for the third time that morn
Ing
"who are you looking for?" asked
the girl good naturally.
Miss Mary Smith. She is the daugh-'
ter Of a Captain Smith. do not know
his given name" Ralph Meldon paus-
ed at the foot Of the steps and re-
garded first the little brown church
and then the large conch shell on the
porch near the captains swinging feet
A great light broke over Miss Mamie
Smiths rosy face. Il guess you mean
Captain Lemuel John Smiths daugh-
ter. or course you'd be invited, being
city folks" She paused and surveyed
Meldon with genuine admiration In
her big brown eyes.
"She said It was near the church
and had conch shell on the porch"
insinuated Ralph impatiently.
"Oh, yes. indeed-just around the
corner OF the church on the other side
Of the street You see, almost every
house on this street belongs TO Smith.
Just as many folks call the village
'Smlthport as they do East Bay"
Captain Smiths white head bobbed
over the edge Of the hammock. Thine
was" he beloved, when there was
Capn John Henry Smith in every
house in this street, sir"
Indeed" Meldon was properly as
! tonished at must have made matters
interesting for the postmaster"
ut did, it did, sir. Postmaster got
so riled with worrying over which
John Henry Smith the letters was for
|
come to hand in the boxes. begin
ming mt No. /. one letter for each so
long as they lasted until the letters
give out. Then next mail time he'd
begin where he left off till every man
had letter. He had sight or
trouble with the newspapers, every
other one having q different brand or
politicks. About once a week there'd
be row over each Citing their right
letters and papers, and the wimmen
folks got to know so much about each
others affairs that the postmaster give
every John Henry Smith another ini-
tial TO his name. Mines Cap'n John
Henry It. Smith" The captains rubi-
cund countenance disappeared once
more behind the hammock.
Meldon turned the corner and march
ed determinedly up the wide cross
street whose rather imposing houses
gave evidence Of greater prosperity
than was enjoyed on the street OF the
Smiths.
Opposite the church was an impos-
ing red brick house, homely of archi-
lecture. but breathing forth comfort
and Mt this moment even gayety.
Strains Of music drifted from the open
windows, and long stretch of striped
awning made a tunnel from the gate
TO the front door Into this tunnel
Mcldon marched regardless OF i'm
pending festivities or that he was an
unlimited guest.
The front door was open, his hat
and stick were taken away by fiut-
terlng maid. and he was left In the
shadow Of q wide doorway where he
could see down the vista of long
: room filed with people. He awoke TO
the fact that the orchestra had been
: playing Lohengrin's wedding march.
and now the strains died away, and
the measured tones Of a clergyman
! broke solemnly into the silence.
Dearly beloved. we are gathered
together this man and this
woman In holy matrimony."
Meldon did not hear any more. He
leaned dizzily against the door Intel
mud thought vaguely OF that BRIEF
period in the winter when he had re-
:, Ioiced i'm the sweet companionship of
Mary Smith. and now she was being
married, and he, an unlimited guest
lurked Mt the threshold!
The ceremony was over, and there
. were the murmur of voices and low
laughter. Meldon leaned forward for
one look at the bride. After that II
would be his part to go.
, The bride and groom were sur
rounded by shifting group, but over
there by the window, where the late
, afternoon sun fell athwart her golden
hair AMI pink flushed cheeks, was his
, Mary Smith. Her gown of pink FUZZY
: chiffon denoted her attendance in the
!. bridal procession. but not as the prin
!, cipal other bridesmaids I'm pink
a chiffon lowered near her or darted in
q and out of the group surrounding tho
! bride. Meldon could now see darn
hair crowned with orange blossoms
\ and veil.
4 Mary Smith saw him coming, and
I the light In her shining eyes set his
: heart to beating triumphantly. In Q
7 moment he was at her side, and she
: was making explanations in her soft
I voice. eve live next door, in the