The Monte Vista journal., 1912-11-02
THEIR SENSE OF HONOR
A Double Wedding Where Only
One Was Planned.
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

on her myers, but SBe went Dra'eiy
on, repeating the hard passages. never
resting until the music seemed to drip
from her fingers as she touched the
keys When the crash OF the last
chords came. she rose, and stood lean
ing over the choir rail. looking down
into the stiffness and shadow beneath
"Oh. dear" came her little signing
complaint. "Oh, dear" and with that
she dropped down on one of the cush-
Toned seats and sobbed. tempestously.
but silently.
She raised her head as a quick step
sounded in the aisle beneath.
up there. Hi'da?" called mans
voice.
She Strengthened herself I'D wiped
the tears from her eyes with
rolled.up wad OF wet handkerchief
Yes"
81 heard you outside" He looked
up at the girl. Il heard you practic-
Ing the wedding march. Do you know
| simply can't zee myself keeping step
to that thing"
why not?" Hilda demanded.
He laughed sheepishly. "Oh, | don't
know-perhaps because the bride
groom always looks like such fool
It's the bride who counts, you know"
And such a BRIDE" breathed Hilda.
Then. after a moments silence, she
made her generous effort. Such
beautiful BRIDE
Look here" said the man below.
come down. l want to talk to you"
With another furtive wipe of her
eyes. Hllda descended and selected
pew In tie darkest corner Of the
church. Kent Cartwright sat down
beside her. Il want to talk to you" he
said There's something dreadfully
wrong, Hilda."
Her heart seemed to stop beating.
What do you mean??"
Just this-a L.idegroom ought to
go happily. joyously to his wedding.
why. Hilda, know Margaret's the
loveliest girl in the world. know I'm
a lucky fellow, and yet dread to-
morrow feel that, If there were any
way on earth to get out OF 1t without
dishonor. without hurting Margaret,
that I'd do It."
Hilda trembed in the silence which
followed the fierce, tense sentences.
"Oh, how did 1t happen?" she began,
finally.
1T was the usual thing" he said,
YEARLY. she came here in all the
wonder OF her city ways-and she
seemed like being from a different
planet. You know how | went mad
over her-and how forgot the claims
even of my friendship for you
didn't come to see you for weeks, and
it's wonder you did not break our
compact of good fellowship then and
there. but you were 80 sweet about
Margaret"
Hilda remembered the agony Of
those days when Kent, the friend OF
her girlhood. had deserted her for
Margaret Wainwright. or course, she
had not blamed him.
You were so sweet" he repeated.
Something In his tone startled the
listening girl. You have stage
fright, Kent" she said: Its just the
ceremony you are dreading."
Don t." he interrupted her, don't
try to smooth 1t over. I've done an
awful thing. Hilda Ware-I am going
to marry Margaret Wainwright tomor-
row, yet there's no one In the world |
love but you"
For one moment Hildas heart
leaped. Ii seemed to her that all the
years she would go happily because
she had heard Kent Cartwright say,
Il love you" Then she rose with
quiet dignity. Il don't think you
know what you are saying" she said
Il know" he stood up beside her
aud looked down into her pale face
"Hilda." he said. sharply. you've been
crying"
Yes sne said simply, but we
mustn't talk about that. We must talk
about what you are to do tomorrow.
There is only one way. Kent. You
can't break Margarets heart"
so | must break my own" His
eyes were blazing In his white face
i had to tell you, Hilda Oh. it's all
muddle,' Kent said. Sometimes
think that she doesn Scare for me-
sue seems to care only for herself"
Hilda had thought that. Pretty Mar.
garet had lived such butterfly life
ana Kent had followed bewlldered in
her wake, Il suppose I've got to 20
on with IT, he said, heavily.
hilda knew that the decision lay in
her hands.
She triod IN an.aL .,.Iu 49,