The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-02-13
ON The RIVER BANK
BY JUNE GAHAN.

Copyright. 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per SyndicateJ
Gong to be married?" echoed
Barry Miles.
Ned King nodded triumphantly.
Sure as fate" he smiled. III hold
you to your old promise, Barry; you'll
be my best man."
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 eyes were
bold.
Della Adams" he said carelessIy.
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 affair-perhaps doZ-
en- guests. Next Wednesday evening
at seven-and 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 for whole
sale grocery firm in a neighboring
city, was In love with Della Adams,
and Della could have told Ned, IL she
/ cared to listen to something especially
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
l was lucky chap to get you-and
guess 1 am" confidently.
Della smiled strangely. Pm going
to send you home now, Ned. If we
are to be married next Wednesday l
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
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
and 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 bending willow.
Two men were sitting on great fiat
stone. One of them was young, and
the dark head was 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 misunderstand-
ing. Have you an enemy?"
J Not that | am aware Of" said
Barry drearily. Perhaps she didn't
:. care for me. hope you'll forgive my
whining about it, but wanted to talk
to some one, and what you've said to
me has done lot of good" The two
men shook hands.
, Barry laughed uncertainty. Il was
, so sure" he said, that l even brought
the marriage license down with me,
, It 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
thought could persuade her to marry
] me at once"
: He took a folded paper out of his
! pocket and tore it across. But before
e he could complete its destruction
. Della's slender form stood before hin
{ and her hands grasped the marriage
license.
"Della!" he gasped. falling back {
( step.
;, The girl turned blushing face t.
+ the minister.
n Mr.. Fraser" she pleaded. "pleas'
a tell him it Is all mistake"
,. Ten minutes later Ned King CAM
Z whistling down the path in search o
l. his fiancee By the rivers brink, uf
!. der the bending willows, he found her
d standing with her hand in Barry's
while Mr.. Fraser pronounced a bless
ing on their marriage.
, For a moment Ned watched them
% Then silently, with CHASTITY face. b
" turned and disappeared.
s,