Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-02-28

But the blissful days Of his honey
moon failed to blot out entirely the re-
membrance of his church and his worF
and his people. True, in the tumult Q, 4
happiness that had possessed him since
that day when their clumsy interfe'-
ence had driven him ctually drive
him-into the Joy that was now his BID
had almost forgotten their plans TO
him, but now it all came back to h1nt
and he realized that ..he did owe thels1
something, for who knows how lon:
he would have doubted and feared haE
not the terror of ''A1iss Nell'' been upon
him?
Suddenly the minister laughed aloud.
It was all so funny to him now. Mrs.
Morris, sitting beside her husband, was
astonished at his mirth and looked it.
''Well, dearest, know you'll think
me crazy, but it is really too good to
keep. You didn't know that l asked
you to marry me so as to prevent my
congregation marrying me to some one
else, did you?' And out came the
whole story, his mental picture OF
"Miss Nell'' and all.
"You know" he concluded, II never
for moment thought of her side Of 1t.
l was concerned for my own safety.
What in the world a woman like her,
with money and property and the
world at her feet. would want with 8
poor struggling minister 1 can't con-
ceive. But had heard so much of her
and the people so evidently had set
their minds on it tell you was in
"e:,uIar funk over it. 1t drove me to
put my timid hopes to the test for you,
sweetheart"
There was peculiar smile lowering
around Mrs. Morris lips, and for q,
minute or two she said nothing.
"What is it, dear?' asked the minis
ter anxiously. "You are not vexed?"
''N-no," hesitatingly, mot exactly,
but am just thinking how beautifully
you have played into your congrega-
TONS hands, for, do you know, Calvin,
you have really and truly married that
domineering person, Miss NellT" !.
Married Miss Nelly" repeated the
minister blankly, staring at his wife's
flushed, laughing face. ...f
Eyes, truly. I am Helen Gilbert At
water, called Miss Nell at the old
hometin Lttleton. Listen, dear. I had
no thought Of deceiving you at first. I
did not know you were in'the church
at Littleton till we reached New York
on our voyage home. You know We
were pretty well acquainted then, but
I-neither Of us knew our own heart. L.
often intended to tell you in a letter,
but somehow couldn't. felt that If
you knew It might make difference.
You were. poor, comparatively. had
all that money and property. And
and loved you, dear, too much then
to have you leave me.
"Then at the end you took me by
storm. I have been too happy to talk
Of anything like that, and I had been
waiting till you would say something
Of your work to tell you all about my
SELF" ~
but, my dear, why Atwater? It
was always Miss Nell Gilbert" The
minister was still bewildered.
eyes, my aunt did not like my father,
the man whom her young sister mar
ried, and never mentioned his name.
II was always called Gilbert at home,
but of course had no reason for dis
,carding my name. There are plenty of
people in Littleton who know my real
name, but never used it, for l was but
a baby when I went to live with my
a Of Pot
dear, you needn't be alarmed. I am
not half as bad as l was painted.
won't try to run the church or manage
the organfst or-or'-
Cor any one except the minister
finished her husband. "Well, the sur
prise is certainly on me, but must get
even with those people some way
The news of the minister's marriage
spread like wildfire through the town.
He had sent laconic message to one
of his church officers to the effect that
he had been married in Boston and
would occupy his pulpit the following
Sunday. That was all. Married, after
all, and none Of his congregation knew
a word about it. Who was she? No
OO0J AAC w. CONJECTURE WAS ElI0 on
every point, and one version after an
other OF the story of his wedding found
quick credence. Some of the older
members Of his flock were thunxfef-
struck. To think that Mr.. Morris
should trick them like that and be en-
gagged all the time! They had Just set
their hearts on his marrying Miss
Nell" whom everybody knew and loved.
They were accustomed to ..Miss Nelr'
and her ways. But stranger to steal
their beloved minister!
All week long the tongues wagged I
over the minister and his 81
bride, but at Saturday midnight no one 1,
had seen either Of them. The church
vas packed Sunday morning. The bells
had ceased ringing, and only few late
somers saw the Gilbert carriage drive
up to the door and the minister and a.
lady alight from 1t. {,
Straight up the middle aisle he led
her, sweet and demure looking, while
he organ played softly and the silence