Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-11-01
words to express what it was.

part that she evidently expected him
to play. but his eyes were upon her
face, which was whittier now and. If
possible, lovlter. than before.
oh. Just see how devoted he is"
murmured the eldest Of the two dear
old sisters. and he caught the sense of
her words as ne passed. and wondered
down n aisle with the terrible eyes
of scorn upon him, he seemed to feel
the presence of Miss julia Bentley
leading onward toward the church
door: but he would not take his eyes
from h a sweet, sad face of the white
bride on his own arm to look. He some
how knew that il he could hold out
until he reached that door without
looking up. her power over him would
be exercised forever.
Out into the vacant vestibule, under
the tented canopy, alone together for
the moment, he felt her gentle weight
grow heavy on his arm. II knew her
footsteps We're tagging. Instinctively.
lest others should gather around them.
he almost lifted her and bore her down
the carpeted steps. through thec covered
pathway, to the luxurious motor car
waiting with open door. and placed her
on the cushions. Some one closed the
car door and almost Immediately they
were in motion.
h settled back with a half sigh, as
if h 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. n the
whole droop of her figure showed utter
exhaustion. 1t seemed a 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
ha WAS frninr Tn cou Inf S6n vv,f n,,t
her hand with a weary protest
"Oh. please don't!" n pleaded. II
know-the boa 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 man!
But you don't understand" he pro-
! tested.
{ Never mind" she moaned. 81 don't
want to understand. Nothing can
change things. Only. let me be quiet till
we get to the house. or 1 4 never can go
through with h rest Of it."
Her words ended with almost a sob,
mingling Of emotions. uppermost Of
which was a desire to take the little.
white. shrinking girl into his arms and
comfort her, Nothing can change
things!" That sounded as though she
did know but thought it too late to
undo the great mistake now that it had
been made. He must let her know that
he had not understood until the GER
mony was over. While he sat %helplessly
looking at her in the dimness Of the a
where h looked so small and sad and
misty huddle beside her great bOquet.
she opened her eyes and looked at him.
She seemed to understand that he was
about to speak again. BY h great r
light they were passing he saw there
1 there wQro foQ re- In hor ovoS QpQin and
he voice held a childlike pleading as
She uttered one word: b
"Don't!"
It hurt him like q knife. he knew not
why. But he could not resist the ap-
peal: Duty or no duty. he could not
d1sobey her command.
Very we'll" He said it quietly. al
most tenderly. and sat back with folded
arms. After all. what explanation
could he give her hat she would be-
lteve? He might not breathe a ord
OF his commission or the message.
What other reason could he give for his
extraordinary appearance at her we'd
ding and by her side?
The promise in his voice seemed to
give her relief. She breathed q sigh
of relief and closed her eyes. He must
just keep still n have his eyes open
for a chance to escape when the car
riage reached it's destination.
- SAAOAe1y CIlOy IlI0d0SO iii OuSIt
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 way
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 in 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 i'm
the present situation for even a con
~stderatiOn Of his own interests.
Whatever there was of good in him
must go now to set matters right in
which he had greatly b~lundered. He
must do the best he could for the girl
who had SO strangely crossed his
mission. But when he tried to realize
the Importance Of his commission and
set 1t owe against the interests Of the
girl bride. his mind became confused.
What should he do! He could not think
OF slipping away and leaving her with
y further words. even II an opportu-
nifty offered itself. Perhaps he was
wrong. Doubtless his many friends
might tell him so IL they were con-
suited. b he did not intend to con-
suit them. He intended to see this
troubled soul to some place Of safety,
and look out for his commission az
I 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
:. Their was only one woman in TIL
whole wide world that gave, him any
concern. n that was the little aoEHow !,
ful creature who sat opposite to him
and to whom he had lust been married
Just been married! Hel The thought
!, brought with It q thrill Of wonder. and