Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-05-15
I am the happiest girl"

day. Will that give us time, my dear?
And who are, you going to have hereT'
"Just the family. I've invited two
guests, but neither of them can come.
One has broken leg and the other
says he doesn't want to see me mar
ried to another man." Sheba explained
with smile.
$50 Gordon won't come"
"Yes. He'll have to be here. We
can't get along without the BRIDE
groom. It wouldn't be legal mar.
riage, would it,"
4 Diane looked at her, for the moment
dumb. "You little wretch!" she got
out at last. $50 it's Gordon, is it,
Are you quite sure this timer Not
likely to change your mind before
Thursday" "
II suppose, to an outsider, do seem
fckle." Miss O'Neill admitted smiling
ly. "But Gordon and I both under
stand that"
"And Colby Macdonald he I'M
derstand it toor'
ooh, yes" Her smile grew broader.
HE told me that he didn't think I
would quite suit him, after all. Not
enough experience for the place."
I. Diane flashed suspicious look Of
inquiry. -Of course that's nonsense.
What did he tell your"
Something like that. He will marry
Mrs. Mallory, think, though he doesn't
know 1t yet"
"You mean she will get him on the
rebound" said Diane bluntly.
'That isn't nice way to put 1t. He
has always liked her very much. He
is fond of her for what she Is. What
attracted him in me were the things
his Imagination gave to me-"
"And Gordon likes you, suppose,
for what you are?'
Sheba did not resent the little note
Of friendly sarcasm. II suppose he
has his fancies about me, too, but by
the time he finds out what am hen
have to put up with me-"
The arrival Of Elliot interrupted con-
adences. He had come, he said. to re-
ceive congratulations.
"What In the world have you been
doing with your face?" demanded Di.
ane. AS an afterthought she added:
Mr.. Macdonald is all cut up too"
"We've been taking massage treat
ment." Gordon passed to subject Of
more immediate interest. do get
my congratulations, Dip
She kissed him, too, for old sake's
sake. II do believe you'll suit Sheba
better than Colby Macdonald would.
He's great man and you are not. But
It isn't everybody that Is At to be the
wife of great man."
"That's double, left-handed compli.
ment," laughed Gordon. "But you can't
say anything that will hurt my feelings
today, Di. Isn't that your baby I hear
crying? What heartless mother you
are!"
Diane gave him the few minutes
alone with Sheba that his gay smile
had asked for. sect out with you,"
she said, laughing. go to the top Of
the hill and look at the lovers moon
I've ordered there expressly for you;
and while you are there forget that
there are going to be crying babies
and nursemaids with evenings out In
that golden future Of yours"
"Come along, Sheba. Wen start now
on the golden TRAIL" said Elliot.
She walked as If she loved it. Her
long, slender legs moved rhythmically
and her arms swung true as pendu.
lums.
The moon was all that Diane had
promised. Sheba drank it in happily.
II believe must be pagan. I love
the sun and the moon and know It's
all true about the little folk and the
pied piper and"
IF it's paganism to be in love with
the world, you are thirty-third degree
pagan"
"Well, and was there ever a more
beautiful night before?"
He thought not, but he had not the
words to tell her that for him its
beauty lay largely in her presence. Her
passionate love of things fine and
brave transformed the universe for
him. 1t was enough for him to be near
her, to hear the laughter bubbling in
her throat. to touch her crisp, blue
black hair as he adjusted the scarf
about her head.
"God made the night" he replied.
$50 that's q Christian thought as we'll
as pagan one"
They were no exception to the rule
that lovers are CYCLISTS. The world for
them tonight divided itself into two
classes. One included Sheba O'Neill
and Gordon Elliot; the other took in
the uninteresting remnant Of humanity.
No matter how far afleld their talk be-
gan, it always came back to them
selves. They wanted to know all about
each other, to compare experiences
and points Of view. But time fled too
fast for words. They talked-as lovers
win to the end Of time-ln exclama-
lions and the meeting Of eyes and lit !
tie endearments.
When Diana and Peter found them
on the hillside, Sheba protested, with
her half-shy, half-audacious smile, that
it could not be two hours since she
and Gordon had left the living room.
Peter grinned. He remembered hill
top consecrated to his own courtship
Of Diane.