The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-28

rounded by bevy OF servants
foremost among whom her old
nurse claimed the privilege OF
greeting her with tears and
smiles and many "Miss-Celia-my.
dears."
A way of escape! II surely
would be found through some
back or side entrance of the
house.
But even as the thought came
to him the old nurse stepped to
his side.
Mister George. We hewitt for.
got me, hev YEP" she asked earn
estly. you usen't to like me
but We was awful for the teasin'
an | was always for my Miss
Celie! Yer growed a man. an ]
know We must be worthy o. her
or she'd never hev consented to
take We. Ye won't mold II against
me, Mister George. that ! used To
tell yer uncle on your masterful
tricks, will ye? You mind | was
on'y carin' fer my baby girl. an
ye were but a boy"
She paused as IL expecting an
answer, and Gordon embarrassed
ly assured her.
"Ah. We luv her, Mister George
don't ye?" the nurse questioned.
Everybody what lays eyes on her
luvs her. She's that dear"
Then suddenly Gordon found
his lips uttering strange words,
without his own apparent consent.
eyes, ! love her." he was say
ing, and to his amazement he
found that the words were true.
This discovery made matters
still more complicated.
Then ye'll promise me some
thing, Mister George. won't ye?"
said the nurse eagerly. Yell
promise me never to make her
feel bad any more? She's cried a
lot these last three months, an
nobody knows but me. She's
been that sorrowful, enough fer
a whole lifetime. Promise that
yell do all in yer power to make
her happy always.
81 will do all in my power to
make her happy" he said, sol
EMMY, as IL he were uttering a
VOW, and wondered how short
lived that power was to be.
The wedding party had arrived
in full force now. The bride, with
only a motioning look toward Cor
don, led the way TO the place
where they were to stand under
an arch OF roses.
Gordon had no choice but ia
follow. He was conscious of q
feeling Of mysterious joy; but al
the time he knew he was an i'm
poster. -
Yet there he stood bowling
shaking hands, and Sinking be-
hind his false mustache, which
threatened every minute to be-
tray him.
People told him he was looking
we'll, and congratulated him on
his bride. Some said he was
stouter than when he left the
country, and some said he was
thinner. The supper with Its
formalities was got through with
somehow, though to Gordon, with
his already satisfied appetite and
his hampering mustache, 1t SEEM
ed an endless ordeal.
Jeff" as they all called him,
was everywhere, attending tC
everything, andh slipped up to
the unwilling bridegroom just as
he was having to answer a very
difficult question about the late
ness of his vessel.
"Your train leaves at ten
three" he said in low, business
like tone. eve secured the state
room as you cabled me to do, and
here are the tickets and checks.
We've arranged for you to slip
out by the fire-escape and down
through the back yard of the
next neighbor, where motor will
be waiting around the corner in
the shadow. Celia knows where
II is. Your coat and hat are out
on the fire-escape, and as soon as
Celia's ready I'll show you the
way"
Gordon thanked him, but his
countenance grew blank. Was
there, then, to be no escape? Must
he actually take another mans
bride with him In order to get
away? And how was he to get
away from her?
Don't let anything hinder
you! Don't let anything hinder
you!"
This refrain had rot ceased fol
an instant since 1t began. He
must do something that would SET
him free to 60 back to Washing.
ton. An inspiration came to him
Wouldn't you like to go to the
station with use" he asked tn,