The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-02


always wanted Opal to teach school, AM
mebbe she oughter a. done it, lamentei
Ma. Land, | dunno what to do If SET
tie wa MT so upstandin' I'd call it right off.
"Butch's a-gobblin' ice cream in tn
pantry, Gramma, informed Janice.
"A-gobblin' ice cream" echoed Jasper
Land! / wisht was dead" exclaimed
Ma Historically; but the sound of steps OF
the front porch sent her hurrying to tn
door, taking off her apron on the way. Flo
the minister had come. And it was not th
Rev, Wilbur Strang but the Rev Mr.. Stat
ford, who, somehow, did not lock so formi
dable as Ma had always imagined
Calmly Mr.. Stafford shook hands witt
Ma, and unconsciously she gave sigh 0
relief; for he seemed to bring the spirit 0
well-being and order with him. His yer,
presence stilled the turbulent waters
the Fickingers' "party." Ma forgot e
worry. And julie tried to resurrect th,
twins lanky curls with careful pokes Of he
finger
When Opal and Seton took their place
in the front room to be married, a hush fel
on the excited house Of Flickinger, and o.
the futtered heart Of Opal. And the ccre
mony was progressing smoothly when th'
twins, advancing prominently into the limo
light of their small world with the baskc
that contained the wedding ring, sldterl,
glanced up at Mr. Stafford; thcn Iariee
the bold one, stiffened with stcee fright
and, jerking Jasper after her, ran to tkci
mother
But julie, with solemn Impotence. pusho'
the protesting twins toward tic minister
and when he had taken the ring, she t&ckot
elegantly into a group OF ncigtbors; Will
the twins, who were clinging tightly to lee
skirts, were swallowed up in welcome oh
security.
During the congratulaticrs, after Dilli
Flickinger had kissed his sister Cp, h
turned impulsively to lis cid cndny jul
andheldout his handwithawl.Ear ard eccd-viI
julie, gratifed and touched, gave lirll c
hand, saying gently, That's TIE way fec
too, Billie. But she could rot Fclp addin
to herself !" Bill begun it, anyway, Z thoug
for once she was too sensible to say alou,
quite everything that she thought
And Jed, when he claspcd Seton hane
being faithful but inerticri1tc soul coul
not bring himself TO say brother thong
perhaps the bond was all Tic stronger be
cause it silently united them.
Then Willie Briggs, wiping sorlethin
from his chubby cheek lit might have bee
afurtive tear with a prinniy folded hirokcl
chief, wished Opal joy and congratulate
Seton with 9 generosity that VS. yer
creditable to Willie Fer he had written i
his volunlinous and neatly SEPT diary tia
his heart was ashes and dist. Ard Icing
very young man, he did net expect ever
recover from the wound that Opal had give
his vanity by not marrying him.
And Ma Fiickinger, realizing al II ono
that her youngest child was leaving fer + s
ever for another home, suddenly lolt th
bitterness Of parting; and Mrs Weed.
who understood, comforted Ma. Pc l'lickir
ger, having helped to bFirE gboltt Il
happy mating, was divided between pride
his success and q strangely insistent scnse q
loss; for Opal, quiet and unselfsh alHay.
was her fathers favorite
After Opal and Seton were started .
their wedding journey, and the guests wei
gone, Ma said, i can't help worryil.
cause Opal's goin' by boat to Chicago;
never did have no faith in Lake Michigan
She's as smooth as glass to-day" P
assured her.
1t could git rough quick enough if
wanted to, !" accused Ma q And, say, p;
amt Mr. Stafford a lovely MANI"
Everybody always said so, reininde
Pa; then he anxiously inquired, Did | g
| my blessin' invite out right side afore?
'Landl ] never thought Of. grace till "
was all set down to eat, and then it struc
me like cannon bali whatever was yc
} goin' to do about it; but out you breal
/ perfectly natural.-though polite, and
him to do it. =
t And Rev. Stafford didn't wander g
, over the globe a-givin' thanks for ever
thing he could lay hands on neither" a.
{ mired Pa.
7 He knew the dinner was ooolin', and
hadn't hardly begun till he was through
y praised Ma. And TO think that POI
Rev. Strang was dom his best all the tim
d as explained by his telegram a-eonlin' {
: top Of the blessin': Railroad wreck, d
o tanned, unhurt, turrible sorry, or words ,
) that effect
But it seemed leetle like funeral
:. me-our Opal goin' away--for good,
d could not help saying wistfully.
Here, too, sighed Ma; but ! wsuldr
s haveit no different now, even if it was a Il
and kinder forced on me, cause Opa
h happy, and Settles a good boy. IA Eot
)" makes their plans-but how often does l
match up to 'em2"