The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-02

IL she could not have borne one instant
more Of strain, then sitting opposite he
adjusted the window to give her air.
She seemed grateful but said nothing.
Her eyes were closed YEARLY, and the
whole droop of her figure showed utter
exhaustion. 1t seemed q dissertation to
speak to her. yet he must have some
kind Of an understanding before they
reached their destination.
AN explanation is due to you---"
he began, without knowing just what
he was going to say, but she put out
her hand with a ear protest
"Oh, please don't!" she pleaded. 81
know-the boat was late! 1t doesn't
matter in the least"
He sat back appalled,! She did not
herself know then that she had married
the wrong mani
"But you don't understand" he pro-
tested.
Never mind" she moaned. Il don't
want to understand. Nothing can
change things. Only, let me be quiet till
we get to the house, or / never a go
through with the rest of It."
Her words ended with almost a sob,
and he sat silent for an instant, with q
mingling of emotions, uppermost Of
which was a desire to take the little,
white. shrinking girl into his arms and
comfort her, Nothing a change
things!" That sounded as though she
did know but thought it too late to
undo the great mistake now that 1t had
been made. He must let her know that
he had not understood until he GER
mony was over. While he sat helplessly
looking at her in the dimness of the car
where II looked so small and sad and
misty huddie beside her great boquet,
she opened her eyes and looked at him.
She seemed to understand that he was
nhn.,A - 80 10 n sn q. - De- The axnnat $40
light they were passing he saw there
there were tears in her eyes again, and
her voice held a childlike pleading as
she uttered one word:
DON'T"
1t hurt him like a knife, he knew not
why. But he could not resist the APP
peal. Duty OF no duty, he could not
disobey her command. IS
Very WE'LL He said II quietly, al
most tenderly. and sat back with folded
arms. After all, what explanation
could he give her that she would be-
lieve? He might not breathe u word
Of his commission or the message.
What other reason could he give for his
extraordinary appearance at her we'd
ding and by her side2
The promise in his voice seemed to
give her relief. She breathed a sigh
Of relief and closed her eyes. He must
just keep still and have his eyes open
for q chance to escape when the car
riage reached its destination.
Thus silently they threaded through
unknown streets, strange thoughts in
the heart of each. The bride was
struggling with her heavy burden, and
the man was trying to think his a
out Of the maze OF perplexity into
which he had unwittingly wandered.
He tried to Set his thoughts in order
and find out just what to do. First of
all, OF course, came his commission,
but somehow every time the little white
bride opposite took first place I'm his
mind. Could he serve both? What
would serve both, and what would serve
either? AS for himself, he was free to
confess that there was no room left in
the present situation for ven q on
sideration of his own interests.
Whatever there was of good in him
must go now to set matters right in
which he had greatly blundered. He
must do the best he could for the girl
pathway, and get back to his COM
mission. But when he tried to realize
the Importance of his commission and
set 1t over against the interests of the
girl bride. his mind became confused.
What should he dol He could not think
Of slipping away n leaving her with
out further words, even il an opportu-
nily oliercu ltsell. IernapS ne was
wrong. Doubtless his many friends
might tell him 70 II they were con-
suited, but he did not intend to con-
suit them. He intended to see this
troubled soul so some place OF safety,
and look out for his commission as
best he could afterward. One thing
he did not fully realize, and that was
that Miss Julia Bentley's vision
troubled him no longer. He was free.
Thar waQ only nna uynFnon q, tha
whole wide world that gave him any
concern, and that was the little SORROW
full creature who sat opposite to him,
and to whom he had just been married.
Just been married! He! The thought
brought with 1t a thrill of wonder, and
a something else that was not unpleas-
ant. What If he really had2 OF course
he a not. OF course such a thing
could not hold good. But what IL he
had! Just for an instant he enter
tained the thought-would he be glad
or sorry? He did not know her. of
course, had heard her speak but a few
words, had looked into her face plainly
but once, and yet suppose she were hist
His heart answered the question with a
glad bound that astonished him, and all
his former Ideas OF real love were
swept from his mind in a breath. He
knew that, stranger though she was,
he could take her to his heart; cherish
her. love her and bear with her, as he
never could have done Julia Bentley.
Then jill at once he realized that he
was allowing his thoughts to dwell
upon a woman who by all that was holy
belonged to another man, and that
other man would doubtless soon be the
n with whom he would have to deal.
He would soon be fact to face with a
new phase Of the situation and he must
prepare himself to meet 1t. What was
he going to do? Should he plan to es-
cape from the opposite door of the au-
tomobile while the bride was being as
sisted from her seat2 No, he could
not, for he would be expected to get
out first and help her out. Besides,
there would be too many around, and
he could not possibly get away. But,
greater than any such reason, the
thing that held him bound was the
look in her eyes through the tears. He
simply could not leave her until he
knew that h no longer needed him.
And yet there was his commissionI
Well, he must see her In the hands of
those who would care for her at least.
So much ha had done even for the
white dog, and then, too. surely she was
worth az many mfnufaa ,f Nc ftr,n n /.