The Holt County sentinel., 1915-03-19
on THE RIVER BAAk
BY JUNE oAHAN.

,copyrisht 1914. by the Mcclure Ncwspi.
per syndcatcJ
Gong to BE- married.? echoed
Barry Miles.
ned King nodded triumphantly
Sure as iate,' he smiled I'll hold
YOU to your old promise, barry, you'll
be- my best man
Barry thrust out u friendly hand
OF course, you can count on me. old
man? Congratulations and who Is
the girl?
Ned redeemed bu' his eyes wero
bold.
Della Adams. he said carclessly
larry whit-ncd and all the light
died out OF his face Della Adams
he repeated III u curious tone. You
are to b. congratulated indeed. Ned"
Thanks Harry Remember, it's to
b. u very quiet anair-perhaps a doz.
"a guests N"Nt Wednesday evening
at seven aud you re- to be best man
Harry did not vince now. Il shall
not forget BE- said graveiy as he
turned away.
Was Ned King his friend larry
asked himself this question over and
over ~ he made his way toward tho
village hotel
surely Ned had known that barry
Miles. the young salesman for a whole
sale grocery firm In a ncighborins
city. was IN love with Della Adams.
and Della could have told Ned. u she
cared 10 listen to something especially
interesting when Barry paid his next
visit TO GraSston.
Meanwhile. Nct King had hurried
toward the Ndams house aud told
Della of the best man arrangement
"Ncd' You asked him. Harry. To
be- your brs, man" she faltcrcd.
why not lie was willing Said
| was a lucky chap to get you-and |
guess I am. confidently.
bella smiled strangely. u IN going
to send you home now. Ned u W.
are To be- married next Wednesday !
have u thousand things to do"
Della watched MIN striding down
the yiilag" street. his stocky figure
covering the distance In absurdly Ions
steps WHY, she asked herself. had
she engaged herself to Ncd King when
I'll. loved another man?
i,ccagsr the death OF her uncle had
len her siugulirly alone IN I'll" world
aud she had learned that larry Miles
was engaged to u Drayton girl
Delta put on her Jersey and went
out into October sunset The way to
the river led along u narrow path
ankle deep IN autumn leaves. She sat
down b,nrath b"uding willow.
| Two men were sitting on u great HAT
sion" one of them waH young. and
the dark head VAS buried In his hands
| ~" was listening Ia the words Ut the
| sIrrnIac,d rector OF the church.
I'm sorry. Harry" Mr., Fraser was
SAYING IN hi deep voice. I've known
Della all her lie. and II she said she
would wall fOi yOu--that she would
! listen Ia your story there must be-
some mistake some misunderstood
| lux. Have you an enemy
Not that | am aware Of said
Harry dr"lrily Perhaps shc didn't
care Tor mr. | hope y0ull forgive my
whining about II. but wanted to talk
to some one. aud what you've said Ia
me has done lot OF good The Two
men shook hands
Harry laughed uncertainty, \ was
~ sure" h" said, "tha, even brought
the marriar" license down with me,
II was sort of n comfort to have II,
you know The firm has given me
u raisc IN salary aud extended my
territory to the northwest, And l
thought could persuade her to marry
me ut once,
lie took u folded paper out Of his
pocket and tore II across. liut before
he could complete It's destruction
Della's slender form stood before him
and her hands grasped the marriage
license,
bella" he gaspcd falling back q
step
= The girl turned a blushing face to
the minister.
Mr. Fraser" she pleaded. please
tell him II Is all u mistake"
! Ten minutes later Ned King came
} whistiing down the path In search Of
! his fancee. ny the rivers brink, I'm
der the bending willows. he found her,
!, standing with her hand In Harrys,
0 while Mr.. Fraser pronounced bless
= ing on their marriage
5 For a moment Ned watched them.
= Then silently, with CHASTITY face, he
> turned and disappeared,