The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-12-07
HER WEDDING DAY
BY SHIELDS.

age of dimes. She pushed the money
aside petulantly, then sent a dimpled
smile at Murray Kent, who, seated di-
rectly before her, was deyouring a ten
cent lunch.
In the crowd of messy laborers and
factory hands, eating with hats on,
sprawling all over the tables, Murray
stood out conspicuously.
She looked at him through eurled
lashes and followed his gaze to his yell
low automobile, standing outside.
The day was uncomfortably hot.
Just across the street, beyond the vel
low car, was a strip Of green grass and
trees.
Elaborately n~onchalant, Murray Kent
finished his meal and came toward the
cash desk. With hands deep in the
pockets Of his grSy flannel suit, he
stood feasting his eyes on her allurtng
little body and flushed face. framed In
soft, brown hair.
"T shall come back for you later with
the car" he said. "It's yours for the
afternoon, little bird. You're welcome
to everything l own"
you're always making promises to
me-" protested Cecilia.
"Tll keep this one" he assured her,
"We'n drive up Riverside and pick out
a fiat right now, sweetheart"
Cecilia smiled uncertainty and slow
ly Withdrew her hand, which. he had
covered with his. srss
"Tn return for you at four" he as
sured her.
When Murray crswled into the low
seat of the car, Julia Schmitt, proprie-
tor, seated herself in the open door
way. ''The loafer,' she scolded his
well-tailored back. "Pays ten cents
for his lunch and spends the afternoon
here"
Cecilia felt too wflted with the heat
to reply. Suddenly Julia demanded
"Did he tell you Row he happens to
have IS on the door OF his dads car
If has right name is Kent? She laughed
at her own shrewdness.
The hot afternoon droned on. Ju-
liza was quietly snoring when Murray
drove his yellow car to the restaurant
at four o'clock. Cecilia jumped in be-
side him.
They turned into Fifth avenue,
straight up to Central park, crossing
to Riverside drive. They dashed past
blocks and blocks of apartment houses.
Cecilia sat In breathless anticipation
till the car slowed down on a rugged
road, little more than a lane, leading
to a narrow stream. Murray leaned
forward to lift her from the car, and
the warmth of his face burned into
hers as he whispered: "My, you're
prettyw His lips touched her throat.
kiss me, sweetheart" he begged, as
he held her.
"No," Cecilia answered sharply.
"Take me back-to Julia"
Cecilia crouched back afraid not so
much Of Murray as Of herself. Her
face famed as an overpowering i'm
pulse came to put her arms about him
and press her lips to his. However,
she Yentured timidly to say, "We for
got to look at apartments, didn't we?'
Murray bit his lips and then sent his
dazzling smile at her.
"Why live cooped up in a ten-room
fiat? Wouldn't you rather have a coun-
try house, darling? That's it-we'l
live In the country"
"That would be wonderful" Cecilia
tried to adjust her puzzled mind, with
the bimbleness Of Murray's, to a eoun-
try house and garden. A mist filed
her eyes Her head slipped to Muir
rays shoulder as he kissed her and
painted In words q r~ose-covered cot
tsgs on the edge of a stream that they
were to occupy as DOE as he could
find Il.
At I'VE the next morning Cecilia was
out of bed. This was her wedding day !
On a card inscribed Murray Fraser
Kent" vas scrubbed in lead pencil,
Tomorrow morning at nine.''
Cecilia appeared In her softest little
summer dress and a summary hat at
nine O'Clock, and a happy smile in her
Onc surveyor the cfOWueu lDlTu
avenue block for Murray's blond head.
Julia Schmitt was busy In the big
kitchen when at eleven, Cecilia, her
face white as the marble table tops,
tucked her hat under, the cash desk.
With trembling fingers she tied the
black apron strings about her slim
waist. Defeated and miserable, she
climbed on the high stool behind the
cash desk.
HE was only jollying me-" Cecilia
bent her head low on the desk. IL
didn't understand"
Her eyes bright with unshed tears,
Cecilia raised her head and turned to
meet the much-battered face and BAN
daged head Of Murray Kent standing
hesitatingly in the restaurant door.
She few TO him. He muttered shame
facedly, Bumped the boss car into an
other fellows and just came from the
hospital"
your dads yellow carr" cried Ce-