The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-01-11

is that you, mammal" With a hap
Ply smile she turned back TO the phone.
Dear Mamma! Yes, I'm all safe and
happy, and I'm so sorry o have wor-
ried. We won let you do 1t again.
But listen; I've something to tell you,
a surprise-mamma, l did not marry
George Hayne at all. No, l say l did
not marry George Hayne at all. George
Hayne is a wicked a l can't tell
you about ii over the phone, but that
was why l looked so sad. Yes, l was
married all right, but not to George.
He's oh, so different, mother you can't
think. He's right here beside me now,
and mother, he is just as dear-you'd
be very happy about him II you could
see him. What did you say? Didn't l
mean 10 marry George? Why mother,
l never wanted to. 1 was aWfully I'M
happy about 1t, and l knew made you
feel so, too, though / tried not to. But
I'll explain all about it. You'll be per-
fectly satisfied when you know all
about ii. No, there's nothing
whatever for you to worry about. Ev-
erything is right now and life looks
more beautiful to me than it ever did
before. What's his name?' OH" she
looked up at Gordon with a funny little
expression OF dismay. She had for
gotten and he whispered it in her ear.
It's Cyril, mother! Isn't that a pref
ty name? Which name? oh, the first
name, OF curse. The last name?"
'Gordon-' he supplied in her ear
again.
Cyril Gordon, mother" she said,
giggling in spite OF herself at her
strange prediCament. Yes,
mother. l am very, very happy. /
couldn't be happier unless l "a you
and jeff, too, and"-she paused, hesi-
tating at the unaccustomed name-"and
cyril says were coming to visit you
tomorrow. Wen come up and see you
and explain everything. And you're not
to worry about George Bayne II he
comes. Just let jeff put him off by
telling him you have sent for me, or
something of the sort, and don't pay
any attention to what he says. What?
o say he did come? How strange
and he hasn't been back? I'm so thank
full. He is dreadful. Oh, mother, you
don't know what I've escaped! And
Cyril is good and dear. What? You
want to speak to him? All right. He's
right here. Goodbye, mother, dear, till
tomorrow. And you'll promise not to
worry about anything? All right. Here
is-Cyril."
Gordon took the receiver.
Mother, I'm taking good care Of her,
just as l promised, and I'm going to
bring her for a flying visit up TO see
you tomorrow. Yes, III tax good care
of her. She is very dear to me. The
best thing that ever came into my
life"
Then a mothers blessing came thrill
ing over the wires, and touched the
handsome, manly face with tenderness.
Thank YOU" he said; Il shall try
always to make you glad you sal those
words"
They returned to looking in each 9TH
nI'C ava nftDr the rnnAiNHAp Nya. L,,,-
up. a. il they had been parted a long
time. 1t seemed somehow as if their
JOY must be greater than any other
married couple. because they had all
their counting yet to do. 1t was beau
tiful to think OF what was before them.
There was SO much on both sides to
be told; and TO be told over again be-
cause only half had been told; and
there were so many hopes and expert
ences to be exchanged; so many opin-
ions TO compare, and to rejoice over
because they were alike on many es-
sentials. Then there were the rooms to
be gone through, and Gordon's pictures
and faVorite books to look at and talk
about, and plans for the future to be
touched upon-just barely touched
upon
The apartment would do until they
could loo bout and get a house, Cor
don said, his heart swelling with the
proud thought that at least he would
haV a real home, like his other mar
ried friends, with a real princess to pre-
side over it.
Then Celia had to tell about the hor-
ror Of the last three months, with the
unpleasant shadows of the preceding
years back of it. She told this in the
dusk OF evening, before Henry had
come in to light up, and before they
had realized that il was almost dinner
time. She old it with her face hidden
on her husbands shoulder. and his
arms close about her, to give her com
fort at each revelation of the story.
They tried also to plan h to do
about George Hayne: II then there
was the whole story Of GordOn's jour
ney and commission from the time the
old chief had called him into the office
until he came to stand beside her at
the church altar n they were mar
ried. 1t was old in careful detail with
all the comical, eXasperating Inc pitt
full incidents Of white dog and little
newsboy; but the s%trangest part about
it all was that Gordon never said one
word about Julia Bentley and her i'm
aginary presence with him that first
day. ami he never even knew that he
had left out an important detail.
Celia laughed over the white dog
and declared they must bring him home
10 live Will llltIl, III SIT SIltu ONtl
the story Of the brave little newsboy
and was eager to visit him in New
York, promising herself all sorts OF
pleasure in taking him gifts and per-
manently lettering his condition
and 1T was in this way that Cor
don incidentally learned that his wife
had a fortune in her own right. a fact
that for a time gave him great I'M
easiness of mind until she IA soothed
him and laughed at him for an hour
or more: for Gordon was an indie
pendent creature and had ideas about
supporting his wife by his own toll,
Besides 1t seemed an unfair advantage
to have taken a wife and a fortune as
it were
But Celia's fortune had not spoiled
her. and she soon made him see that
it had always been a mere incideS- in
her scheme of living; comfortable and
pleasant incident to be sure. but still
an incident to be kept always in the
background. and never for a moment
to be "a cause for self Equalization OF
pride.
Gordon found himself dreading the
explanation that would have to come
wban he rpacnp1 New York and faced