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

" Z III llN III AASAAa
his brain. He turned, half expecting to
see Julia's tall, handsome form,
though telling himself he was a fool,
and wondering why he so dreaded the
idea. Then his gaze was held fasci-
mated. .
She war a little creature, slender and
young and very beautiful, with a beauty
which "a deathly pallor only
Her face was ~delicately cut, and set In
a frame of fine dark hair, the whole
made most exquisite by the mist OF
white tulle that breathed itself about
her like real mist ove q flower. But
the lovSly cad dropped, the coral lips
had a look of unutterable sadness, and
the long lashes swept over white
cheeks. He could not take his eyes from
her now that he had looked. How lovely,
and how fitting for the delightful youth
by his side! 10y that he though OF II
she was like him, only smaller and more
delicate, of course. A sudden fierce,
ridiculous feeling OF envy filled Cor
don's heart. Why couldn't he have
known and loved a girl like thatY why
hy Julia Bentley been forever in his
pathway as the girl laid out for his
choice?
He looked at her with such intensity
that a. couple OF dear old sisters VINO
listened to the prayer with their eyes
open, whispered one to the other: Just
see him look at herl How he must love
her! Wasn't II beautiful that he should
come right from the steamer to the
church and never seq her till now, for
the first time in 10 long years. It's so
romantic!"
yes" whispered the other; "and I
believe it'll last. He looks at her that
way. Only I do dislike that way Of ar
ranging the hair on his face. But then
It's foreign I suppose He'll probably
get over 1t IL they stay in this country"
A severe old lady in the seat In front
turned a reprimaEding chin toward
them and they subsidized. Still Gordon
continued to gaze.
Then the bride became aware of his
look, raised her eyes. and--they were
full Of tears.
They gave him n ~reproachful
glance hat shot through his SOU like a
sword, and her lashes dropped again.
BY some mysterious control over the
law of gravity, the tears remained I'M
shed, and the mans gaze was turned
aside; but that look had done its
mighty work.
over him and seemed to eliminate In
that one look. 1t was as IL the reproach
of all things had come upon him. The
hurt in the white dogs eyes had
touched him, the perfect courage in the
appeal of the child's eyes had called
forth his deepest sympathy, but the
tears Of this exquisite woman wrung
his heart, He saw now that the appeal
Of the dog and the child had been the
opening wedge for the look of a woman,
which tore self from him and flung II
at her feet for her to walk upon; and
when the prayer was ended he found
hat he was trembling.
He looked vindictively at the innocent
youth beside him, as the soft rustic Of
tho nNN1fnn1a nn1 Aha 1tfAlo - aN 30 -
lief from the bridal party betokened the
next stage In the ceremony. What had
this innocent looking youth done to
a in those lovely eyes? Was
she marrying him against her will? He
was only a boy, any way. What right
had he to suppose he could care for a
delicate creature like that? He was
making her cry already, and he seemed
to be utterly unconscious Of It. What
could be the matter2 Gordon felt a de-
sire to kick him.
Then II occurred to him that mad
vertently he might have been the cause
Of her tears; he, supposedly the best
man, who had been late, and held up
the wedding no knowing how long. OF
course 1t wasn't really his fault; but
by proxy 1t was, for he nav was mas
~querading as that unlucky best man,
and she was very likely ~reproaching
him for what h supposed was his stu
pidity. He had heard that women cried
sometimes from vexation, disappoint-
ment or excitement.
YET In his heart Of hearts he
could not set those tears, that
look, down to so trivial a cause. They
had reached his very soul, and he felt
there was something deeper there than
mere vexation. There had been bitter
reproach for a deep wrong done. The
glance had told him that. All the la
hood In him rose to defend her against
whoever had hurt her. He longed to
make quite sure; and then, If there was
still appeal there, his soul must answer
For the moment his commission, his
ridiculous situation, the real peril to
his life and true, were forgotten.
The man Jefferson had produced a
ring n was nudging him. It appeared
that the best man had some part to
play with that ring. He dimly remem-
bered somewhere hearing that the best
man must hand the ring to the BRIDE
groom at the proper moment, but II
was absurd for them to go through the
farce Of doing hat when the BRIDE
groom already held the golden circlet
In his fingers! Why did he not step up
like a man and put 1t upon the out
stretched hand; hat little white hand
just In front Of him there, so timidly
held out with it's glove fingers tucked
back, like a dove crept out from its
covert u~nwillinglyP
But that Jefferson man still held out
the ring stupidity to him, and evidently
expected him to take II. Silly youth!
There was nothing for It but to take
1t and hand II back, OF course. He must
do as he vas told and hasten that aw-
full ceremony to its interminable close.
To took h ring and held II out, but
the young man did not take It again.
Instead he whispered, .Put 1t on her
finger!" es5r
Gordon frowned. Could he be hear
Ing Alright? Why didn't the fellow put
the ring on his own bride? II he were
being married, he would knock any
mar down that barred to put his wife's
wedding ring on for him Could that
be the silly custom now. to have the
best man put the brides ring on? How
unutterably out of placed But he must
not make a scene, Of course
The little timid hand. 30 slender and
white. came a shade nearer as II to
help. and the ring finger separated it
self from the others.
Xxx ~ I~I.- 49, ~