Oxford Democrat., 1916-12-19

ear INTO whieh to pour the sheck b
had received She already knew of ~
lnfatuation; 1t only remained fer HIN
to tell bow he had been dfsenchantsl.
''lf there was ever contemptible
asinine. natural born fool" he began,
Il am that person" Then hs told her
where he had been. Of hts confession
and the effect 1t had had on tie object
Of bis previous alteration. "Why, just
think" he went on, what . horrible
mess l would have got into Il I had
married that womani He'll would have
been heaven to IT,"
"Yeu are indeed fortunate In sscap-
ing such q fate. have believed that
your father knew Of this infatuation
and one Of his principal reasons In
forcing you into the condition Of legal
matrimony with me was to get you
out of the tolls Of an adventures"
Legal matrimony," repeated Wal
ter. for the first time quieting down
and pronouncing the words as Il, they
hurt him.
"And now," continued Helen, II viii
say this: Since your fathers object IN
Withdrawing you from this woman
has been accomplished, whenever you
and be concur In a request that this
marriage between you and me be an
nulled l will consent"
The expression on Walters face 10
not describable. He had received one
blow during the evening; here was an
other. The realization suddenly came
to him that for q bad woman he had
exchanged good one. Had he not
been fool he might possibly have won
the girl whom his father had wished
him to marry and now, instead Of be-
ing in misery, be might be happy.
Helen started to leave him to 60 to
her room. He gave her an imploring
look.
Don't go at once" he said. I'm all
broken up"
She hesitated. turned and said: ANY
thing can do to comfort you ! will
do. But I realized before I consented
to this match that l was giving up
much in deprlving myself of one to love
me and whom l might love. With you
it was different You expected 10 find
that comfort which Is to be derived
from q pure affection elsewhere"
Still that wistful look ON his face re-
NAMED
Come" she added. changing her tone
to a more cheerful one: "let US not be-
gin our life together repining. There
are refreshments In the larder. We
may play. as the children say. that this
is a real wedding for US and be merry"
She summoned maid and told her
Of several dishes to bring that would
be appreciated for night supper.
When the yiands were served the pair
sat down at the table. The bride placed
dainty bits on her husbands plate.
and after eating the toothsome food
and looking into a pair Of honest. SYM
pathetic eyes Walter began to recover
from the shock he had received. and
1t occurred to him that possibly, after
all. he might win this girl for his real
as we'll us his legal wife.
An hous passed. and they had be-
come sufficiently chummy for Walter
to express this hope. He was met by
the assurance that, while the early no
mantle love period would not be theirs.
they might grow with that more ma
ture. stronger affection that comes
through long companionship and un-
Ion Of interest. This made the young
husbands heart leap within him. He
took her hand. bent toward her and
kissed her.
This evening-eventfu In the lives
Of these two persOns-took place long
enough ago to warrant the growing up
almost to manhood and womanhood Of
several of their children, The father
and mother have trained their Of
spring that In the matter of marriage
they shall rely on older heads for ap.
proval of life partner. This is not
sa.lt they are to marry one repulsive to
them or for gain. but that they are to
guard against q misalliance at an age I
when they are not capable Of deciding
wisely.