Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-11-08
THE BEST MAN
by GOUvERNEUR MORRIS

1llOH Openlh ana Oienha were really
married by the mayor. He made Or
loft kiss Olenka; shook hands with
athem; said he hoped that they would
be a loving couple; made the remark
that everybody's name began with o,
and wished them good-day,
Orloff, Olenka, Stanislas Odeskalki
and old man Openta went uptown by
The elevated, and hurried to the
rooms in East 123d street, near the
river, which Orloff had hired for him
self, his bride and his father to live
in. II was a bitter afternoon in jan
uary. In many windows lights
already glowed. Old man Openta
walked ahead, giving his arm to
Olenka, who was so rosy that men
turned their heads to look after her.
The best man and the groom brought
up the rear. The bridegroom's face
was bright and smiling, and he kept
his eyes steadily on the bride; but
the best man acowled continually.
Only once did he speak of anything.
s''You should have told me-" he
said, what pretty girl she is. You
must look out or some fellow will
take her from you"
He cheered up when the four flights
of stairs leading to the Opentas' new
rooms had been Surmounted.
Now we are going to feed" he
said.
old man Openta unlocked the door,
ard motioning to the others to wait,
crossed the threshold, turned and
held out his hands.
"Welgub," he said. He affected the
English language with ostentation.
but the others chung to Polish. Olen-
LEA hesitated and looked at her hus-
band. blushing.
But go In he said, and he pushed
her gently. This is no time to hang
back"
Old man Openta embraced her when
she had crossed the threshold
Openta pushed Odeskallii into the
room, followed and closed the door.
WELL here we are" he said.
what do you think of it?"
Odeskalki began to look about crit
ically. "It is easy to see that a wom-
an has not lived here" he said. You
ought to have curtains. Mrs. Openta
will be lonely without curtains"
Olenka went close to the stove and
spread out her hands to the warmth.
II think a fire Is SO home-like," she
said.
"8ut the room Is warming up" said
Openta. Don't stand on ceremony.
Let us all take our coats off. lie
E started forward to help Olenke, but
Odeskalki interviewed.
mo, let me do It," he said.
"All right" said Opepta, and /
will help father off with his"
In helping Olenka, Odeskalki pressed
her shoulders with his hands, but very
slightly, so as not to give offense.
''And now" said Openta, sit is time
for OIenka to enter upon her first du-
ties as wife" He pointed to large,
broad cupboard in one corner of the
room.
Olenka smiled over her shoulder at
The three men. At times she fairly
astonished by her prettiness. She was
as out of place in that shabby room
as an orchid. You would not have
,,e.s surprised to learn that she was
n princess-even q fairy princess-in
disguise. Her voice was tender ana
haunting, like the middle register or
b flne old cello when a master Is play
Ing. Her feet moved in and out under
tho hem of her skirt, timidly and
GENTLY. like two mice. II you had
heen in the hall and heard her laugh,
YOU would have said, Somebody IS
making a child happy in that. room.
Presently, with great snow OF
courage, she flung open the cupboard
door and at once began to emit eN-
carnations of surprise and pleasure.
FOR the shelves displayed cold meats,
salad, oranges, nuts, raisins, celery,
Jelly cake and wine to give delight to
soon a real feast began. Olenka
presided: but so intent was she on
seeing that the mems plates were al
ways filed that she did not find time
tc eat more than q few mouthfuls her
sof Old man Openta became To-
uuacious. Openta himself beamed on
the party and kept jumping from his
seat to heap fuel into the stove. 1t
Logan to get red-hot. OdeSkalhi
scowled continually, but 1t was no.
ticed that he ate and drank as much
as he could get.
nc "Eut you mustn't mind his dark
looks" said Openta to Oienka. AT
heart he is not an ill-natured fellow
Odeskalki only scowled the more
and, filling his glass. toasted Olenka.
4 "Nay you be happy he said, and
shook his head gloomily.
- at is always so with him when he
esrinks," said Openta. you would
think him a dragon, but at heart he is
not an ill-natured fellow
ie''I CAD cad do bore" said old man
rtipenta suddenly. He rose and placed
himself with his back to the stove.
Ia Odeskalti drew out q fat silver
watch and scowled at it.
thine for us to be off, he said to
hCpenta.
cit is really too bad" said Openta
to the bride. but | could not seem to
make them understand. And if ! We're
40 stay with you I should lose my
place. But next week I shall be put
ON the day shift. 1t was all | could
40 to get off this afternoon to be mar
ried."
''When do you think you will come
.Lack?n said Olenka.
"Perllaps not before l or O'clock
said Openta.
Tonight" said Odeskalld. sull1ily,
,''there is to be a large dinner for men
given by a young man who is going
20 be married. There will be a real
lake in the middle of the table. with
hanks of ferns and red roses, and live
sible to say when the affair will break
up, for there viii be a great deal of
hard drinking-and not ordinary
white wine like this, ] can tell you.
Those young fellows Will not have
anything but the best imported cham
payne. costing you, perhaps, six dol
lars the bottle. That's the kind of a
feast TO have"
''You see, said Openta gently, this
envious fellow and l will be kept
busy serving courses and drawing
corks until the last guest goes. There
will be eight of us walters, one for
every four guests. But will come
home as soon as may be, and ! VIII
FAKE you up.
"But / shall not go to sleep until
i,u come" said Olenka.
\ Old man Openta, from his position
y In front of the stove, suddenly COW
cred his face. He clutched the seat
Of his trousers with both hands and
sprang forward. Then tears came
into his eyes and he began to tremble
ssWhat has happened to you
father?' cried Openta.
I'D is dotig," said the old man IN
q choking voice. Il hat purned by
bridges pehind be-"
fSs51ssrix..ll,i scowJed nj fhe old man,