The Winslow mail., 1917-02-02
BETR0THED !;
BY ELIZABETH SHSELD9.

wedding day She looked thin and un-
happy and a wistful smile trembled
at the corners of her mouth. Dreamy
eyed, she watched her mother select
her trousseau.
'You act as If you were not inter.
ested in your gowns" complained heI
mother.
Everything is sweet and lovely"
the bride-to-be responded. "But, just
suppose, mother, I shouldn't marry
Stuart, then what would we"
Her mother turned to her, mutely
beseeching. Speech was impossible.
30, WELL" laughed Hilda, something
might happen, you know
Your actions are very unbecom-
ing" demonstrated her mother "YOu
are one of the very fortunate girls.
Think of becoming the bride of such
man as Stuart Dale!''
Hilda wished people, her mother in.
cluded, would stop singing Stuart's
praises. During the three swift
months she had been engaged, she had
listened desperately to it. None of
her friends, had they known her state,
would have been able to find any pos
sible reason for her discomfort, except
of course that Pete ONeil affair. But
they would have laughed at that.
Again she picked up the filmy lace
and tulle garments. She stared dream
lily into space. Her mother sighed.
Weren't you the least bit uncertain
about marrying father" she questioned
her mother.
"Tve never been uncertain about
anything after / made up my mind to
do 1t. Such talk Is very upsetting,
dear. l think you must be tired out.
You're acting so strangely, Hilda."
Hilda shook her head "No, I'm
not" she responded cheerfully. But
she left the room and the house. She
hurried down the road towards the
shipping district of the town. She
went on and on, wrapped in a sweet
ly confusing mood. She reviewed the
short eager courtshtp of Stuart's. They
had known each other always. Then
his feeling of companionship had sud
denly changed to consuming devo-
tion. When he had won her the thrill
ing devotion had reduced itself, queer
ly, to sort of perfectly fiawless COM
panionship, just like everything about
Stuart. A bewildered, helpless look
flashed into her eyes. She had expect
ed Stuart's love to make SO much diff
ference in her life. But it did not.
She had her memories still to- combat
as acutely as if Stuart's love was not
now part of her life. She hurried
steadily on toward Main street, as if
she would run away from the haunt
ing thoughts of that night long before
Stuart had asked her to be bis wife.
That one happy hour: Stolen happi-
ness that belonged to her alone
At this point in her thoughts her
eyes trailed upward to a familiar sign
above one of the store doors. "CvNeila
Feed and Grain Store" it read. She
had been reading that sign all her life
time, but she stopped now as if fasci-
mated at the words. Through the open
doorway she encountered the eager,
questioning face of Pete O'Neil. She
caught her lips between her teeth. In
q panic she turned to run. A moment
later Peter swung up to her. His blue
eyes were ablaze.
$50 you're engaged to that fellow
Dale?" He swallowed hard.
"We're to be married two weeks
from today" He stared steadily into
her brown eyes. Her lids fiuttered
beneath his look.
"You can't marry him." he told her.
''You haven't forgotten me-"
"He Is the man of my choice" she
interrupted him.
But you can't forget me, Hil6a.
You're remembering now, that last
night we met up there" he motioned
In the direction of the llill.
You're talking about things that
happened ages ago" said Hilda slow
ly. Her face was White.
why, girl, you " ere my sweetheart
when you were ten and you used to-
laugh at him. Maybe I'm not your
kind, but I've always been your lover"
He laughed bitterly.
The corners of Hilda's mouth quiv-
cred. I'm to marry another man. You
can't talk Like that to me-now."
But you won't marry him. You're
going to marry me, now, tonight" he
said steadily.
You're mad, Pete" Hilda lifted her
eyes, fascinated. Pete always thrilled
her. That's all over between us. You
must go away, go, quickly"
Coming close to her, Pete whis, ,pered.
You could not be his wife, be, :ause
you love me. You gave YOURSELF TO
me that night, up there"
White and shaken, Hilda pushed
him away with Quivering fingers.
Almost sobbing she whispered, "Go.
please go. You deserted me crrelly
for weeks after that night"
Deserted" echoed Pete. "Ycu