Smyrna times., 1916-12-20
WEDDING LACE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


didn't know her, that was patent-an !
the offerings of the summer hotel had
so far not produced anyone so divert
ing as to looks. He said before he
knew it, completely contrary to his
good old New England bringing up:
"It's foolish to waste time on knitting
on a day like this. Why don't you
play?"
She looked up from her yards of ex-
quisite lace and answered quite COM
posedly, "Please don't think 1 don't
want to, but this is a work of neces-
sity-it's wedding finery."
81 say-can't you chuck it just for
few minutes. Come on and play in this
one set with US and I'll find you a
partner. It's a shame to waste this
weather on that stuff"
She shook her head with determina-
ton, but an appreciative smile light
ened her face. "Pd just love to, but
1 can't. Weddings don't wait, you
know"
"All right! You're the doctor. SOr-
ryp he answered. COming-cOmingw
he called, as LOrita beckOned impa-
tiently. Hanged if that girl isn't a
peach for looks. Lucky fellow to get
her." Then her words came back with
force. ''Weddings don't wait - she had
said, and it struck him suddenly that
his own nuptials were approaching
with rather a breath-taking speed.
Four months would consummate the
plan so long dear to the heart of his
parents.
LOrita was talking with Captain
Matter. 81 was just telling Paul." she
explained, "that would have to start
you in training right away in order to
have you in form by the time of our
wedding. Unpunctuality is your worst
fault, Gordon"
'I've a good excuSew
81 saw your excuse just now!" Lor-
ita's eyes flashed.
"Did you? Well, she's pretty any
way, don't you think? 1 asked her to
play"
"What?" LOrita had gone off into
peals of laughter. "Oh, Gordon, you'll
kill me. Come on-let's play. No,
II tell you the joke some time again.
hate to spoil it by hurrying"
That night Gordon was called away
on business. When he returned to the
hotel, a week later, he was amazed
to learn that Lorita and her mother
had departed, and a day later he
learned of her marriage to Capt. Paul
Natter.
He returned to his Office and hard
work, thoughtful and sober, but not
crushed in soul and spirit as his New
England conscience told him he should
be. But after awhile reaction set in
and he felt vague longing, indefinite
and unaccOuntable at first, a desire
for something he could not name. But
gradually the want took form and out
of the chaos of his thoughts appeared
a pair of sea-gray eyes and a tired
white face looking gratefully at him
November came, dark and dreary
and wet, and the third week brought
a letter from his mother. Obeyine
instructions, he went to a tea room tC
meet her one afternoon at four.
Gordon looked around approvingly
his artistic eye pleased with the scene
Then he started, for there at the mex
table was his summer girl and she wa
knitting.
'Is-isn't it finished YETI" asked Cor
don across the space. The gray eye
flashed up at him and suddenly wid
ened and darkened. And was it i'm
agination or did faint rose touch tn
dead whiteness of her cheek? The
she smiled. "No, it's never finished
But you are not served yet. Can't 20
come over here. It's so unsociabl
eating alone"
He needed no second invitation.
'T1 come if you stop knitting. Don
you think it's bad for you-so muc
of it. / should think your husban
would rather have you in sackclot
with some roses in your cheeks Il
stead of all that fuzzy stuff-and-
he stopped lamely.
"My husbandI' She looked blan
"Oh, see! 1 said it was for a we
ding and you thought it was for min
How funnyl Why, this is the way
earn my livingl Last summer at Ga
hurst 1 was making things for"
was her turn to stop and she fam
red, for she remembered the trae
ending to his romance.
"FOr Lorita?" he asked.
EYES,"
"TeIl me something" He lean
forward eagerly. 'Tve. dreamed
your gray eyes all fall and thi
heaven sent me here today to find "
Isis there any prospect of your ms
ing your own wedding lace? L MI
know it if there is"
"None that 1 know OFF, she {
swered. Then briefly. "But would
waste the time on myself; there &
so many more wonderful things
dol 1 think I'd look up at the S
and trees so long I'd soon grow
neck like the little girl in the ste
and have to carry my head arou
on a wheelbarrow."
81 love you" he whispered ten