The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-03-18
on Tue RIVER BANK
BY JUNE aAHAN.

\SoPJ aA6ue, AoA7, ny tlle MCCLURE NeWSDa-
per Syndicate.)
Going to be married?" echoed
Barry Miles.
Ned King nodded triumphantly.
Sure as fate" he smiled. IN hold
you to your old promise, Barry; you'll
be my best MANI"
Barry thrust out a friendly hand.
"Of course. you can count on me, old
man? Congratulations-and who is
the girl?" ;
Ned Redeemed. but his ayes were
bold. Il
Della Adams" he said carelessly.
Barry Whitened and all the light
died out Of his face. Della Adams?"
he repeated in a curious tone You
are to be congratulated indeed, Ned!"
Thanks Barry. Remember, it's to
be a very quiet alfair--perhaps a doz.
en- guests. Next Wednesday evening
at seven-and you're to be best mani"
Barry did not vince now. Il shall
lRt forget" he said gravely as he
turned away.
Was Ned King his friend? Barry
asked himself this question over and
over as he made his way toward the
village hotel.
Surely Ned had known that Barry
Miles. the young salesman for a whole.
sale grocery firm in a neighboring
city, was In love with Della Adams,
and Della could have told Ned, II she
"a rod RI fotan fn Snrrnfhir Or o5no1fo1lu
interesting when Barry paid his next
visit to Grasston.
Meanwhile. Ned King had hurried
toward the Adams house and told
Della Of the best man arrangement.
Ned! You asked him, Barry, to
be your best MANI" she faltered.
why not? He was willing. Said
was a lucky chap to get you-and I
guess l am" confidently.
Della smiled strangely. I'm going
to send you home now, Ned. If We
are to be married next Wednesday I
have a thousand things to do"
Della watched MIN striding down
the village street, his stocky figure
covering the distance in absurdly long
steps. Why, she asked herself. had
~eile-engaged herself to Ned King when
el!e loved another man?
because the death Of her uncle had
lcrt her singularly alone in the world
end she had learned that Barry Miles
was engaged to a Drayton girl.
Della put on her jersey and went
out into October sunset. The Way to
the river led along a narrow path
ankle deep in autumn leaves. She sat
down beneath a bending willow.
Two men were sitting on a great fiat
stone. One Of them was young. and
the dark head vas buried in his hands.
He was listening to the words of the
stern-faced rector of the church.
I'm sorry, Barry Mr.. Fraser was
saying in his deep voice. I've known
Della all her life. and if she said she
would wait for you-that she would
listen to your story-there must be
some mistake-some misunderstood.
Ing. Have you an enemy?"
Not that l am aware Of" said
Barry drearily. Perhaps she didn't
care for me. hope you'll forgive my
whining about it, but l wanted to talk
to some one. and what you've said to
ne has done a lot of good" The two
men shook hands.
Garry laughed uncertainty. Il was
60 sure" he said, that ven brought
the marriage license down with me.
1t was sort Of a comfort to have it,
you know. The firm has given me
a raise in salary and extended my
territory to the northwest. And I
thought ! could persuade her to marry
NE at once"
He took a folded paper out Of his
pocket and tore 1t across. But before
he could complete its destruction
DelIa's slender form stood before him
and her hands grasped the marriage
license.
"Della!" he gasped, falling back q
step.
The girl turned a blushing face to
tile minister.
Mr.. Fraser" she pleaded, please
tell him it il all q mistake
Ten minutes later Ned King came
whistling down the path in search Of
his fiancee. By the rivers brink, I'M
der the bending willows, he found her.
standing with her hand In Barry's.
while Mr.. Fraser pronounced a bless.
Ing o. their marriage.
For q moment Ned watched them.
Then silently, with CHASTITY face. he
turned and disappeared.