The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-02-13
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

W NAdt
why not?" Hilda demanded.
He laughed sheepishly. "Oh, don't
know-perhaps because the bride,
groom always looks Ike such fool
it's the bride who counts, you know"
And such BRIDE" breathed HilGa.
Then, after moments silence, she
made her generous effort, Such a
beautiful bride"
Look here" said the man below,
come down, want to talk to you"
With another furtive wipe of her
eyes, Hilda descended and selected a
pew in tie darkest corner of the
church. Kent Cartwright sat down
beside her. Il want to talk to you" be
said There's something dreadfull5
wrong, Hilda"
Her heart seemed to stop beating.
What do you mean??"
Just this-a bridegroom ought to
go happily, joyously to his wedding.
why, Hilda, know Margarets the
loveliest girl in the world, know I'm
a lucky fellow, and yet dread to.
way on earth to get out of it without
dishonor, without hurting Margaret,
that I'd do it."
Hilda trembled in the silence which
followed the fierce, tense sentences.
"Oh. how did it 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 a being from a different
planet You know how l went mad
over her-and how I forgot the claims
even OF my friendship for you l
didn't come to see you for weeks, and
it's a wonder you did not break our
compact Of good fellowship then and
there, but you We're so sweet about
Margaret"
Hilda remembered the agony Of
those days when Kent, the friend of
her girlhood had deserted her for
Margaret Wainwright. OF 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 Hidas heart
leaped. 1t 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
and looked down into her pale face.
'"Hilda," he said, sharply. you've been
crying"
Yes" she 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
cant break Margaret's heart"
~ must urea NY OWN. his
eyes were blazing in his white face.
81 had to tell you, Hilda Oh, it's all
a muddle," Kent said Sometimes
think that she doesn't care for me
she seems to care only for herself"
Hilda had thought that. Pretty Mar
garet had lived such a butterfly life,
and Kent had followed bewildered in
her wake. Il suppose I've got to go
on with it," he said, heavily.
Hilda knew that the decision lay in
her hands. II she said Yes" Kent
would do his duty but IL she let him
know that his feeling was recipro-
Gated nothing could avert a catas-
trophe.
She tried to speak steadily "Of
course" she said, you must 60 on.
Tomorrow morning you will feel as
brave as lion. Go, take a long walk
and get back to normal"
Come walk with me-" he begged.
No"
He held out his hand "Good-by,
Hilda."
HIS voice Droke, and, almost totter-
ing, she fed from him up the stairs.
"Good-by," she called from the organ
loft, and heard him go out of the
church
For an hour she was alone with her
agony. Then she went back to her
task With trembling fingers she
tried to play, but found that she could
not. The twilight came, and the dark
ness, and still she sat her head on her
hands, her hands on the keys, motion
less. Then suddenly there stole out
upon the silence Of the church the