The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-29
EVENING STORY
Waiting at the Church.
(By Vincent G. Perry.1

all along that she didn't mind taking
this step, but now she knew she d1o
mind, and the thought frightened her.
1t would not have been so bad, she
told herself. if she had ever seen the
man she was going to marry. but she
hadn't and there was Claude Roy, the
man she had pledged to marry three
years before Nat the commencement
ball 1t was partly to spite him that
she was taking this foolish step, pul
it was hurting her far more rhan IL
could him and after all, she loved
Claude still. She couldn't deny that
The fault had not been Claude's,
she told herself. He was too GOOD Ior
her, that was the trouble, ana she,
silly little thing that she was, had
thought herself too brilliant to be a
minister's wife, for he had entered
the ministry against her wishes Her
frivolity had killed his love, she
thought. He would marry some
prosy little country girl that would
make his life a drudge.
Perhaps, tho. he wouldn't Mabel
Duran had always liked Claude, and
now that she was sure Irene was out
of the way Mabel would marry MN:
Claude was too good-natured and
easy going to escape net such as Ma
bel was capable of weaving about
him. Mabel was wretch. even tho
she vas beautiful and rich. Irene
hated her, she thought. Claude
wouldn't care for money. tho. she was
sure. Money without love was worth
less and that was what she was get
ting. 1t was to secure her uncle's for
tune that she was marrying cousin
S he had never seen and so carrying
out the terms of his will. Claude
would think she was a shallow thing
to sell herself SO. but perhaps he
would not know, for she had not
heard from him since she had sent
back his ring and written that the life
of a minister's wife held no attrac-
tionS for her. +
AS her wedding hour approached,
Irene tried to try her tears and get
ready. She would show her friends
that she would make as pretty a bride
as any of them. If only the groom
was attractive her wedding would be
rate. But what if the groom was bald,
or had beard or some other hideous
oddly that would make her laughing
stock? the thought chilled her. Oh,
if she had only thought of these things
before, she would not have let it go
so far, but it was too late, now. Her
trousseau was wonderful. No expense
hard been spared and she was proud of
it She had ordered flowers herself
for fear the groom would forget them
He was a very odd prospective hus-
band not to find time to get away
from his business long enough to get
a look at his wife-to-be before the
wedding day, but what could she eX-
! pect? He wrote very nice letters, but
i it was hard to tell what type of man
| he was from that. 1t made no differ
ence, she thought. lie was after the
money, just as she was, and if he was
| paying as dearly for it as she was she
| pitied him.
! 1t lacked fifteen minutes of the time
1 the ceremony was scheduled to begin
| at the church when Irene was finally
| dressed. Twice during the dressing
| she made up her mind to refuse to go
on with the wedding. Her guardian
would be raging, but she couldn't
| think of him. What the girls would
| say about it was what prevented her
| from doing so. She had kept them in
| suspense, not announcing whom she
| was to marry. and if she backed down
now they would claim that her man
| was only a myth. The groom would
! be at the church and she would get
her first glimpse of him there. If he
was only good looking she could stand
] it, she was sure.
Her guardian had made all ar
rangements at the church. There was
| a large crowd waiting outside to see
/ her enter and she sailed majestically
| thru it, followed by her bridesmaids
The cries of, Isn't she sweet!'' What
| other compliments did not escape her
She was glad Mabel Duran was one of
the bridesmaids and could hear them
too. Mabel also looked sweet, but all
| eyes were on the bride.
Irene was in the vestibule waiting
for the procession to be formed The
church was crowded. they told her,
| and she was pleased. If the groom
was only good looking, she thought
i againi But where was the groom g?
| announced somewhat nervously. Had
he missed his train Would he come :?
This was the worst suspense of all,
| she decided, but she wouldn't cry, for
| she just had to look nice and fresh for
that ceremony. The train was late,
her uncle announced after he had tel
ephoned the station. Thank goodness
it was that instead of his missing it,
She was able to breath again.
The guests were growing impatient
4 so the other members of the wedding
party took their places to be ready
upon the groom's arrival. Irene was
left alone in the vestry. She WASH t
going to have much chance to have a
look at this man before she married
him, she could see that. 1t was no
ones fault save her own that she was
in such a predicament and she cid not
blame any one. How different she
altar with Claude Roy. she thought as
she fought back the tears.
"Irenen 1t was Claude's voice and
she sprang from her chair
"Claude!" she gasped as she faced a
young man in clerical clothes, who
had just entered.
so you are the bride, Irene?" he
said slowly. Accept my congratula-
, tions.''
NO. no, Claude, don't congratulate
me- am making fool of myself
and 1 can't stand it," All her forti-
tude mad gone now and the tears came
with a rush.
There, there little girl" he said
soothingly and he put his arm about
her. She sobbed it out on his shouI-
| der.
II hate myself, Claudef am marry.
) ing man have never seen and inst
= for money. It's all through a st,Inid
old VIII my uncle made. I had false
idea or my position in, social circles