The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1915-05-13
ON TIE RIVER BANK
Ry JUNE GAHAN.

per SyuQlCdte.l
"Going to be married." echoed
Barry Miles.
Ned King nodded triumphantly.
"Sure as fate," he smiled. I'll hold
you to your old promise, Barry; you'll
be my best man?'
Barry thrust out friendly hand.
"Of course, you can count on me, old
man? Congratulations-and who is
the girl?'
Ned reddened, but his eyes were
bold.
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 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 neighboring
city, was in love with Della Adams,
and Della could have told Ned, if 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 man." she faltered.
why not? He was willing. Said
l was lucky chap to get you-and 1
guess l am" confidently.
Della smiled strangely. I'm going
to send you home now, Ned. If we
are to be married next Wednesday l
have thousand things to do"
Della watched him 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 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.
'Tm sorry, Barry" Mr.. Fraser was
saying in his deep voice. 1--WE 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?"
Not that l am aware off, 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
80 sure" he said, "that even brought
the marriage license down with me.
1t was sort of comfort to have it,
you know. The firm has given me
raise in salary and extended my
territory to the northwest. And l
thought could persuade her to marry
me at once"
He took a folded paper out of his
pocket and tore it across. But before
he could complete its destruction
Dellas slender form stood before him
and her hands grasped the marriage
license.
"Della!" he gasped, falling back a
step.
The girl turned blushing face to
the minister.
"Mr. Fraser" she pleaded, please
tell him it is all mistake"
Ten minutes later Ned King came
vhistling down the path in search of
his fancee. By the rivers brink, un-
der the bending willows, he found her,
standing with her hand in Barry's,
while Mr.. Fraser pronounced a bless
ing on their marriage.
For a moment Ned watched them.
rI .:1~.4I,, Nth obo cflu faca ha