The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-05-09
AT The CHURCH
%~~~~~~%
BY VINCENT L PERRY.

per Syndicate)
It was Irene Whites wedding day
and Irene was In tears. She had felt
all along that she didn't mind taking
this step, but now she knew she did
mind, and the thought frightened her.
1t would not have been so bad, she
told herself, II she had ever seen the
man she was going to marry, but she
hadn't, and there was Claude Roy, the
years before at the commencement
ball.
The fault had not been Claude's, she
told herself. He was too good for her /;
that was the trouble, and she, silly lit
tie 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.
AS her wedding hour approached,
Irene tried to dry her tears and get
ready. She would show her friends
that she would make as pretty bride
as any Of them. If only the groom
/ do dtlId(lifc AcI Wtudl4S hOulQ OC
a success from appearances, at any
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. He
wrote very nice letters. but 1t was
hard to tell what type of man ne was
from that
1t lacked fifteen minutes of the time
the ceremony was scheduled to begin
at the church when Irene was finally
dressed
Her guardian had made all arrange
ments at the church. There was
large crowd waiting outside to see her
enter and she sailed majesticalIy
through it, followed by her BRIDES
maids. The cries of: isn't she sweet"
what a beautiful gown" and numer-
ous' 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
again. But where was the groOm2
He had not arrived yet, her guardian
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
the ceremony. The train was late,
her uncle announced after he had tele-
phoned the station. Thank goodness il |
was that instead of his missing it She
was able to breathe again.
The guests were growing impatient |
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 wasn't |
going to have much chance TO have q
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 predicament and she did not |
blame any one. How different she
would feel if she was TO stand at the
altar with Claude Roy. she thought as
she fought back the tears.
"Irene," 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.
$50 you are the bride. Irene?" he
said slowly. Accept my congratula-
TONS"
NO, no. Claude, don't congratulate
me am making fool of myself and
l can't stand i'll" All her fortitude
had 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 Shout
der.
II hate myself, Claude 1 am marry
ing a man l have never seen and just
for money. It's all through stupid
old will my uncle made. l had false
idea of my position in social circles
and its relationship to my happiness.
that's why l sent back your ring. But
love you. Claude, and 1 would give
1t all up now, but it's too later
81 am glad you have come to your
senses. dear" he said kindly. II am {
glad you have seen that life of work S
that counts is far superior to butter
1y existence. 1t isn't too late to call
his wedding-sham off. sweetheart. |
fou will never regret II. dear
81 know 1 never will, Claude. will
,all it off no matter what anyone
says. 1t will be an awful shock for a
his poor cousin that 1 am supposed f
o marry, but he can't really care for {
ne and the money is all he wants. If h
marry you he will get it all and l t
lon't care" She had stopped sobbing o
md the sign of tears had almost dis :
from her eyes. y
Her guardian rushed into the vestry. n
Here is telegram; open it. quick a
t is probably from him." he said ex- p
itedly. tt
i Ix-