Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-04
THE BEST MAN.
AChsymisk AID Wbolsssnse Reasscs b Grace Z. II. Lets

a., srnro.e NV commission had
been entirely out Of the question, anu
I had had no duty toward the govern
mert to keep entirely quiet about my
self. do o think I ought to nave
made a scene? Would you sr.s
sake? Tell me please" he lnslsteo'
gently.
And while she hesitated he addea:
II did some pretty hard thinklns
durinz that first quarter OF a secunu
that I realized what was happenlne,
and l tell you honestly l didn't KNOW
what was the right thing to 10. !.
seemed awful for her sake to make d
scene, and to tell you the truth "ol-
shipped her from the moment my eyes
rested upon her. There was some,
thing sad and appealing as h looked
at me that seemed to pledge my very
life to save her from trouble. Zen
me, do you think I ought to nave
stopped the ceremony then at the nrss
moment of my realization that Was
being married?"
The mothers face had softened as
she watched him and listened to ms
tender words about Celia and no"
she answered gently: :.
II am not sure-perhaps not! II
was a very grave question to face. l
don't know that I can blame you 10.
doing nothing. 1t would have peen
terrible for her and us and everybody
and have made it all so public. On l
think you did right not to do anything
neutrality-suspicious. yeti is ter
rible to me to think you have peen
forced to marry my daughter in that
way"
please do not say forced-Mother
-"'said Gordon laying both n
earnestly upon hers and looking into
her eyes, IT tell you one thing that
held me back from doing anything
was that 1 so earnestly desired n a
what l was passing through. might nc
real and lasting. L have never seer
one like her before. 1 know that il
the mistake had been righted and she
had passed out of my life | should
never have felt the same again. l am
glad, glad with all my heart that she
is mine, and-Mother!-I think she il
glad tool"
The mother turned toward her
daughter. and Celia with starry eyes
came and knelt before them, and laid
her hands in the hands of her hus-
band, saying with ringing voice:
Yes, dear little Mother, l am glad
der than 1 ever was before in my life
And kneeling thus, with her hus-
bands arm about her. her face
against his shoulder, and both her
hands clasped in his, she told her
mother about the tortures that George
Hayne had put herNthfough, until the
mother turned white with horrors at
what her beloved and cherished child
had been enduring, and the brother
got up and stormed across the floor,
vowing vengeance on the luckless head
Of poor George Hayne.
Then after the mother had given
her blessing to the two, and JEFF had
added an original one Of his own
there was the whole story Of the
eventful wedding trip to tell, which
they both told by solos and choruses
until the hour grew alarmingly late
and the mother suddenly sent then
all Off to bed.
The next few days were both busy
and happy ones for the two. They
went to the hospital and gladdenet
the life Of the little newsboy with
fruit and toys and many promises: and
they brought home a happy white dos
from his boarding place whom JEFF
adopted as his own. Gordon had q
trying hour Or two at court with his
one-time host, the >scoundrel who hat
stolen the cipher message; and the