Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-27
CHAPTER XIV.

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romance, nothing but realities from
now on; and some of these realities
bitter and sad, and some of them
touched with Incompatible glory. No
life moves forever on one level. no
life is so drab that happiness does not
pierce it somewhere. somehow.
Christmas, with a sky of faded blue
and burning brass; dust. heat. ener-
walton. Clouds came up quickly,
there was the usual downpour of
lukewarm rain; then more heat, more
dust. more glare. To William it was
an unbelievable Christmas. He saw
not a single face in which the spirit
Of this day was manifest.
Snow blowing into his face with cold
freshness; snow under his feet
sparkling on his coat, covering the
trees in the park with fleecy NANTES;
cold, wind-driven snow: never had he
been so homesick as on this, his we'd
ding day.
Two rings. a small diamond and
plain gold band, took all but eight
cen dollars Of his small store. But
Ruth had few hundred, and he could
borrow from her until either they
sent him his letter Of credit or he
went to Hongkong for it, So there
was no financial worry in his mind.
He knew that the diamond was
bit of sentimental foolishness. but he
could not resist the temptation.
They were married at 2 o'clock. at
the American mission. Never had
the missioner offlciated at a stranger
wedding. In the first place. there
was something in the brides eyes
that baf1ied him. They. were more
like the eyes of person in trance
The girl looked not at objects, but
through them. And the man appear
ed to be all hands and feet; he could
not move without laundering into
something; and he spoke as IL he was
afraid of the sound Of his voice Be-
sides. one Of his eyes was discolored.
his lips We're bruised, piece OF
court plaster stretched diagonally
across his forehead. The missioner
decided that this was q plain case of
mismating. The girl had beauty and
breeding; the man had neither. though
none could doubt the frank honesty
of his blue eyes.
In other ATTITUDES the missioner
would have insisted upon knowing
little more of the family history, and
in the event of their refusing to ac-
quaint him with the facts which in
clined them toward matrimony would
have politely declined to act. But
this was the orient, world where
laxity disintegrated vigor where all
the mysterious kinks in human ma
the salients in character
He took William aside. however. and
asked him If the young lady was, or
had been, i'll.
iii? Why, no. But she's been
through lot of worry: She'll be all
right when things settle down again"
DO you wish to marry this man?
Are you acting Of your own free
will"" asked the missioner. as a final
attempt to get at the truth.
Ruth stared out of the window at
The patch of brilliant sunshine in the
middle of the red dust Of the COM
pound. The pause was so long that
the missioner began to fidget. and
Williams freckles grew deeper and
deeper in hue. Why didn't she an
swer?
Ruth"
oh, ] beg your pardon! Yes
wish to marry Mr.. Grogan."
With sigh the missioner opened
his book to the marriage ritual. Ruth
spoke her Alternatives in a colorless
tone. william had to clear his throat
dozen times.
Now" said the missioner. smiling.
after the gold band had been clum-