The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1913-04-24


board on the return passage and been
brought to fruition by some months Of
correspondence. She even. consented
to speedy marriage. and as she was
living with q married cousin In Boston
the minister took his bride from there
ten days from the day he left Littleton.
But the blissfnl days Of his honey
moon failed to blot out entirely the re-
membrance of his church and his. work
and his people. True. In the tumult Of
happiness that had possessed him since
that day when their clumsy interfer-
ence had driven him-actually driven
him-into the joy that was now his he
had almost forgotten their plans for
him. but now 1t all came back to him.
and he realized that he did owe them
something, for who knows how long
he would have doubted and feared had
not the terror of Miss Nell" been upon
him?
Suddenly the minister laughed aloud.
1t 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 asked
you to marry me so as to prevent my
congregation marrying me to some one
else, did your 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 woman like her,
with money and property and the
world at her feet. would want with
poor struggling minister can't con-
ceive. But had heard SO much Of her
and the people SO evidently had set
their minds on 1t l tell you was in a
regular 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 a
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 NellY"
Married Miss Nellv" repeated the
minister bankly, Staring at his wife's
flushed. laughing face.
Yes, truly. am Helen Gilbert At
water, called Miss Nell at the old
home in Littleton. Listen, dear. had
no thought of deceiving you at first. ]
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--nelther 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 l loved you, dear, too much then
to have you leave me.
"Then at the end you took me by
storm. l have been too happy to talk
Of anything like that, and had been
waiting till you would say something
of your work to tell you all about my
self"
But, my dear, why Atwater? 1t
was always Miss Nell Gilbert" The
minister was still bewildered.
"Yes, 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
cariing my name. There are plenty of
people in Littleton who know my real
name, but never used it, for was but
a baby when | went to live with my
aunt after my fathers death. Really,
dear. you needn't be alarmed. I am
not half as bad as was painted, l
won't try to. run the church or manage
the organist or-or'-
"Or any one except the minister"
finished her husband. well, the sur
prise is certainly on Inc, but must get
even with those people some way"
The news Of the minister's marriage
spread like wildfre 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
word about it. Who was she? No
body knew. Conjecture was rife 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 thunder
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 Nelp
and her ways. But stranger to steal
their beloved minister.
All week long the tongues wagged
necessarily over the minister and his