Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-08
THE BEST MAN,
ACharmisg And wholesome Romance By Grace Z. n. Luis

know-the boat was late. 1t doesn :
matter in the least
He sat back appalled,! She did not
herself know then that she had mar
ried the wrong man!
But you don't understand he
protested.
Never mind,'' she moaned. Il
don't want to understand. Nothing can
change things. Only, let me be quiet
till, we get to the house. or ! eve
can go through with the rest of 1t"
Her words ended with almost a Sob
and he sat silent for an instant, with
a mingling Of emotions, uppermost OF
which was a desire to take the little,
white, shrinking girl into his arms
and comfort her, Nothing can change
things!" That sounded as though she
did know but thought it too late to
undo the great mistake now that 1t
had been made. He must let her know
that he had not understood until the
ceremony was over. While he sat
helplessly looking at her in the dim
ness of the car where she looked so
small and sad and misty huddled be-
side her great bouquet, she opened
her eyes and looked at him. She
seemed to understand hat he was
about to speak again. By the great
arc light they were passing he saw
there were tears in her eyes again,
and her voice held a child-like plead
ing as she uttered one word:
DON'T"
1t hurt him like a knife, he knew
not why. But he could not resist the
appeal. Duty or no duty, he could not
disobey her command.
every WELL" He said it quietly, al
most tenderly, and sat back with
folded arms. After all, what explain
alton could he give her that she
would believe? He might not breathe
a wore of his commission or the mes
sage. What other reason could he
give for his extraordinary appearance
at her wedding and by her side?
The promise in his voice seemed to
give her relief. She breathed a sigh
of relief and closed. her eyes. He
must just keep still and have his eyes
open for a chance to escape when the
carriage reached its destination.
Thus silently they threaded through
unknown streets, strange thoughts in
the heart Of each. The bride was
struggling with her heavy burden. and
the man was trying to think his way
out of the maze of perplexity into
which he had unwittingly wandered.
He tried to set his thoughts in order
and find out just what to do. First Of
all of course came his commission, but
somehow every time the little white
bride opposite took. first place in his
mind. Could be serve both? What
would serve both. and what would
serve either? AS for himself. he was
free to confess that there. was no
o left in the present situation for
even a consideration of his own inter-
ests.
Whatever there was of good in him
must go now to set matters right in
which he had greatly blundered. He
must do the best he could for the girl
who had SO strangely crossed his
pathway, and get back to his COM
mission. But when he tried to real
ize the importance of his commission
and set 1t over against the interests
of the girl-bride. his mind became
confused. What should he do! He
could lot think OF slipping away and
leaving her without further words,
even If an opportunity offered itself.
Perhaps he was wrong, Doubtless his
many friends might tell him so if they
were consulted, but he did not intend
to consult them. He intended to see