The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-27
: AT THE eleventh
HOUR.
A Message That Changed the
Course of Events.
BY BEATRICE sruRess.

n PIE VI uOttS just uuiSucu iuy Ou the
desk: two trunks. one already strapped
and the other standing open. indicated
journey; several frocks occupied the
bed, piles Of lingerie filed the chairs.
various other feminine belongings were
scattered about and a maid was hastily
and the new hand bag which stood on
table. Now and again she addressed
some question to the girl who still sat
at the desk and who answered In mono
syllables and with a preoccupied air.
"Oh. put in or leave out whatever
you like. Marie. II doesn't make bit
OF difference" she exclaimed at last
tmpatiently.
Marie. wondering within, obeyed, but
presently she came forward with some
thing which she begged mademoiselle
to try on.
"1ruly, il must be seen II II is what
| you call all right" she protested. and
the girl rose and walked to the mirror
She was wearing a long. loose gown
OF yellow silk, and her nut brown hair
was caught up loosely Oil her head.
Marie stepped in front OF her for
moment. did little adjusting and pat.
ting this way and that and then step
ped back with voluble expressions OF
admiration.
The girl looked into the glass as II
in dream. and then her heart throb-
bed painfully. She had put off the full
realization OF what she was about to
do and lived in vague hope that some
thing would happen to stop II, but now
as she looked in the mirror and saw
herself at last enveloped in the white
mist of wedding veil the bitter truth
came home. The bridal symbol, so
sweet and lovely in itself, became sud-
denly hateful to her, for in all its
frailty it brought to her the stern re-
allzatlon that the next day at noon in
st. Johns church she. Lucy Ruther-
ford. was to be married TO q man she
did not love.
How different, oh, how different It
might have been!
She tore off her veil and threw her
self on the bed In a passion OF tears.
She never would do IT.. she told her
self over and over; she never could do
IL! What did she care II Marie did
see? The whole world might see! IL
could see tomorrow. and they all could
have their presents back-she didn't
care. 1t didn't make any difference
what her stepmother said or did or
threatened-she could marry him her
self But as for Lucy. she simply hat
ed Hugh Gorlng all at once. and she
never wanted to see him again
She sat NJ presently and bathed her
eyes In the water the discreet Marie
brought 10 her and felt better Then
as the maid turned again to her pack
ing Lucy thought miserably of GER
tain night six months ago when she |
had quarreled so bitterly with Ralph |
Anderson and he had left her pres
ence without one backward look and |
very vicious slam of the door oh. |
how foolish and trivial q lovers quar- |
rel seems when six months have gone |
by! Lucy knew that If she and Ralph |
once looked into each others ewes |
again 1t must and would be all right |
once more. But how was this to hap
pen? In the heat and suddenness of
his wrath Ralph had rushed away TO
the vague and inde6nable wilds OF
Texas. and Lucy never knew whether
he received that little note she sent
him the morning after their quarrel.
She had said only: "Dear Ralph-If
you are sorry, am too. Lucy"
Anyhow he never replied. and may
be by this time be was already in love
with some horse riding girl in Texas,
while she was supposed to be making
her last joyful preparations for marry
ing another man.
"Oh, WELL" she had said TO herself.
"a girl has TO do something"
She rose and went over to the desk
again. where from secret hiding
place she drew Photographic snap
shot OF an athletic young man In ten
MS fiannels, with racket I'm his hand
and a bright smile on his face. Her
eyes filed with tears as she kissed It
and murmured. my sweetheart.
shall always love you."
While her lips still pressed the pic.
lure sharp ring startled her.
you answer. 1t. Marie. It's probably
the caterer or somebody asking about
tomorrow. Tell them Mrs. Rutherford
is out and to call up in the morning."
The surprised maid. knowing we'll
that Mrs. Rutherford was In, stepped
out into the ball to answer the tele.
phone. In a moment she returned.
1T was for you. mademoiselle-a .
who insisted-so have
turn re switch"
Lucy sat down again at the desk and
took up the receiver
Yes. this Is Miss Rutherford
The voice at the other end of the ,
wire was strangely familiar. 1t made
her cheeks burn, her heart throb and :
her eyes shine. She almost dropped !
the receiver.
why. Ralph" she exclaimed.
Again the voice spoke rapidly.
"Yes." she replied. lit is little late
or call.
Whats that? Wanted 10 answer INV :,
tote? Well. you've had lots of time to /,
10 Il In. l
"Oh, lust received n todavo xvro,o .