Gilpin observer., 1910-01-27

table by the bedside, remarked:
A fine day, SIR"
The sleeper opeend his eyes. Don't
tell me it 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
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 writing to an
nounce not only my engagement but the
date of my wedding, May l, just a month
hence.
You no doubt will be surprised at
my decision to marry so soon after the
announcement of my engagement but
as you know. 1 always did do eccentric
things. and now that I know my own
mind l wish to be married as as
possible.
Perhaps you know the man l am
to marry. At present 1 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. John? This wish
most earnestly. The wedding will be SOL
emnized at noon on the first. only quiet
little home wedding with a 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"
1t was not meant to be a cruel let
ter; but it hit hard. Rev. John
Ashe had known Dorothy since his
Junior year at college, where he had
met her at football game. She was
a 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 a
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 find, 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-
tantly 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
SO longed to hear.
And, after all this time, she was
about to marry another man and she
begged him to officiate. That seemed
more than he could do. 1t was hard
enough to know that she was to marry
some one else-but to perform the
ceremony. No, he never could do
that. Why was Dorothy so cruel? She
knew that the one great hope he had
cherished for the last three years was
to make her his wife He would send
her word at once regretting his in
ability to be at Overlook on the first.
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-
belled. He would attend her wed
ding.
The tub filled. James returned to ar
range his masters wearing apparel.
time. as was the custom. his man found
the minister sitting up in bed staring
into vacancy. His brown eyes, no
longer full of sleep, were unusually
bright and his mouth had become very
stern.
DO you recall any engagement for
Nay l, James,"
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, had forgotten. But
that doesn't interfere with a 12 o'clock
wedding"
His servant stared a minute, then
remarked: Your bath is ready, sir"
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
thirueth came secured berths, packed
the luggage and. at the last minute.
bundled his master on the train for
New York and the wedding.
The train rolled along all night and
the minister slept with semi.con.
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 disconsolate,
h. arose. for the train was nearing
New York, and he began the difficux
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
knewi the wedding guests were to
go out later In the day.