The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-20
The Eues,ing Story
IN tne Eyef Hank.
(By Jp4f6 SHahan.1

ss'Going to be married 70 echoed
Barry Miles.
Ned King nodded triumphantly.
''Surc as fate.'' He smiled. 'I'n hold
you to your old promise. Barry: you'll
be my best man pr
Barry thrust out q friendly hand.
"Of course, you can count on me, old
man. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES who 10
Ned Redeemed, but his eyes were
bold
Della Adams. he said carelessly.
Barry whitened and all the light
died out OF his face. Della Adams %
are to be congratulated indeed, Ned!"
Thanks, Barry. Remember, it's to
be very quite affair-perhaps q
dozen guests. Next "wednesday even
ing at land you're to be best mani"
Barry did not vince now. Il shall
not 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 Tor q
wholesale grocery firm in neighbOr-
ing city, was in love with Della Adams,
and Della could have told Ned. If she
cared to. that she had promised Barry
to listen to something especially inter-
esting when Barry paid his next visit
to Grasston.
promise of increased salary burning in
his pockets and his love for Della
burning on his lips and the sweet story
that he wanted to tell her had been
told by another man and listened to
by-Della!
And Ned King had held him to that
jesting promise of long ago that he
would be best man at his wedding.
What a grim joke on Barry!
Barry sat on the side of his bed in
dropped in his palms. thought out the
whole matter. OF one thing he was
convinced, IL Della cared SO little for
him that she was to marry Ned King.
Barry should not be sensitive about
officiating as best man at the we'd
ding.
At least they could not say that he
was specter at the marriage feast!
Meanwhile, Ned King had hurried
toward the Adams house and found
Della sitting before the fire in the
Dear" he began tenderly. when
Della turned her pale face away from
his caresses. Il thought you loved
mel"
II have never said SO. Ned" she
said listlessly. II have said that 1 do
not care for any man-enough to
marry him; but you said you would
be satisfied with my-my-friend-
ship"
Until you learn to love me-and
that will be soon!'' he added quickly.
''You know l wouldn't have hurried
you into this marriage. Della. only
your uncle's sudden death has left
you alone and unprotected, and the
necessity for me to go out to Cali
fornia at once will enable us to go
together and begin in a new place."
She hesitated a moment and then
asked with averted face: you are
sure-sure about that other-mat-
ter pr
"You mean Barry Miles?" he ques-
toned craftily. s'Surely, he's as good
as engaged to "a iseitl in Drayton.
can't think OF hersna.me.r by the way,
1 met him q while ago and he's prom
Used to act as my Lest man.
Med. You asked him, Barry, to be
your best man ?" sli,, faltered.
"Why not? He was willing. Said
was a lucky chap to get you-and
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 him striding down the
village street, his stocky figure COW
ering the distances in absurdly long
steps. Why, she asked herself, had
she engaged herself to Ned King when
she loved another man?
Because the death of her uncle had
left her singularly alone in the world