Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-05-29


soul belonging to Twenty years. Mr. Greenel
But she is still alive, and We re going Jim father and
mother both dead now but he wouldn't without
me She looked lovingly up at him.
We'll, | couldn't, he said, as he folded up the long
blue tickets and put them in welworn purse. Who
would keep the pckpockets away from me- or tell me
when to get off the train if mother wasn't there? And
she couldn't without me, for might get sick or play
with the fire do something
They laughed deghtedly like two children-the years
had fallen from them like garment They were going
home
The people will be taking you folks for the bridal
party if you don't look OUT the agent remarked
he Shoveled coal into the dirty little
Is there a wedding to-day" Mrs, Moore asked.
"Yes, ma am, the first real church wedding in Mill
brook I'M Brown has just come back from Prince
Albert to marry the eldest Taylor girl It's going to be
in the church and everybody's going. | am
going TO close up and CO. too so you had better all come
along. The train won't be here until dark.
Mildred looked up with sudden interest. A wedding!
That would be something tell Edith about The bride
will probably be dressed in that dreadful hot pink and
have paper in her hair, and say Yes, sir to the
minister.
There has been great times getting ready for it,,
nearly all day. 1t beats all how interested women
IN a weddngi
Half an hour later Mildred found herself in the little
new church. with its implanted walls and seats and
pleasant piney odor. 1t nearly filled with excited
looking women with here and there an apoogetic-oo-
ing
Evergreens were banked at the windows and wreathed
around the altarra and them punches OF roseberres
gittered warm and red.
1t is pretty! Mildred murrnured to herself &"
wonder who thought of the color scheme But the bride
will probably spoil il az"
The women behind her were talking Mary won't
see white woman until the spring anyway and they
will only get their mail once month But she'll stand
1t all right, Mary will. She's good stuff like her
mother. She may get lonesome, but nobody will know
it."
Poor Maryl" Mildred thought This isn't we'd
ding-it's tragedy
Suddenly silence fell, and some going down
the narrow AISLE some one very small and young and
az he was eSSed IN then
she more for her eyes blurred with sud-
den rush OF tears. Poor Mary! Poor Mary
They were passing her seat Mildred looked,
the bride, but at the face OF the young husband
1t honest face strong. invincible and
shining with light ineffable-the face of who
could fight the world and bear its prosperity Its de-
feat with equal camness because there would be a.
his side who believed in him. trusted him, loved him
Mary the seadfast the mmovable AIaryhis hearts de-
sire! The hail and the frost might blight his crops
The storm might Overwhem his focks, poverty and
distress might overake him, but Marys love would not
fail!
In sickness or in health for better or for worse till
death do part; the air still resonant with the
words that carry in them much of fes meanings
unuttrable PAIN and sorrow, IFS richest JOY and bless
edness
A strange feeling stirred in Mild-eds heart The
glory in the young mans face smote her with sense
Of loss, of disappointment and defeat Toms lace had
gowed like that on the morning. so long ago. when they
had walked together down the soft-carpeted aisle She
could smell the chrysanthemums she heard again
from the little organ-lOft above her the wedding
that had seemed then breathe over them in pillows Of
exquisite sweetness. Its jOyOusness had intoxicated
her; now its sweetness stabbed her heart.
The people around her hastily preparing fol-
low the bridal party but Mildred sat motioness The
sncwfakes sifted against the windows and the shadows
deepened in the little church Outside there talk
ing and laughter and merry ange OF Segh-bells but
the organist played ontla deathless S;ory OF love
ending glorious triumphant!
When Mildred went back to the station the
whrng around the elevators the wires sang above her
head The wind cold down the little white street.
but she loved to feel it on her hot checks.
their faces bloated and botched and of them
about the late train Instncvey she thought OF
Tom-the clcareyed the wholesome, the best earth
and the pride of possession thrilled her.
She went into the waitng-room. There NE
chatter of many voices The little bride stood at the
window looking up the street but her thoughts
far away the heldS IN that little farm
house that had been her home and which she would
Mildred took her hand
Don't be afraid little girl" she said gently You
will be lonesome sometimes, and homesck and tired
you'll want your mother much but you'll be
sorry reay-hes worth it all-hes worth everything
Mildreds eyes sparkling with love and JOY The
little bride looked up with womans quick under
standing.
81 know /" she whispered softly -.
, When Tom reached his lonely little house on the
river bank he was chilled the bone but he put away
his horses and made them comfortable for the night be-
fore he thought OF himself
He could not eat The house seemed desolate bare
and empty. Every of it called for Mildred but
Mildred had gone; she had gone home This was not
her home. The boyishness had gone from Toms face
he sat staring into the FIRE he thinking bitterly
of how her eyes had spared the thought OF getting
away He flung back his head with gesture Of
despair He might well admit it, he thought-Nii-
bred had gone back him. and then the that had
gathered slowly in his heart came by long burning
road to his eyes and he laid his head the little off
cloth-covered table and cried aloud
The station agents prediction came true and the
storm came on with the night The snow was sitting
drearily against the windows and pilng higher and
higher around the little house. He did not hear the
=
the door reused him from his gloomy thoughts and he
stared in mute wonder Mildred, white with snow,
stood before him.
"Toni I've come back I've come back home +" she
cried Il found that could not leave you. dear
Didn't / promise something once about leaving all
others and cleaving only to you? That family in
Toronto are very dear people. and love them very
much but they are some of the whom agreed to
leave"
She had slipped off her snowy wraps as she spoke.
and stood smiling before him Her eyes were snarkng
herh beauty dazzled him