The Owosso times., 1920-10-29
Bride of
an Hour
By ALVAH J. GARTH

Rioting among the daisies, there
seemed to be sunbeam on her tongue
as Theda Roscoe whistled blithely in
response to welcoming bird calls. The
golden brim of day seemed to infuse
her with sheer love of life, dancing
in the blOOmy arms of June barefoot
ed, the air like wine, brew of joy
cool, clean meadows under foot
smooth and velvety.
She had never known luxury, and
barely comfort, she had never visited
the outside world. She had only
dreamed of great ladies, and knights
of chivalry, and flashing jewels, and
lace, and silks, and satins. OF sud-
den all these dazzled her bewildered
vision as she glided through the wood
land. There was tent, several au-
tOmobiles, score or more of persons,
male and female, Il man elevated on
tree stump with roll of manuscript
and beyond him two men manipulating
a moving picture camera.
So abruptly had she appeared, so
artless was her rare grace and beauty
that every member of that group of
movie people directed their attention
to her. A lady faultlessly attired,
with sweet winning face ran for
ward to meet her with Outstretched
welcoming hands.
"You dear, delicious little crea-
ture" she cried, "have you dropped
from the clouds? Oh, Mr.. Brocton !"
she called back to the group, "here
is your subject for the barefooted
bride all ready to order. Dear" to
Theda "yOu understand, do you not?
We are movie artists, and for five
minutes acting as l shall direct you.
a ten dollar gold piece shall be yours"
The young man summoned as Mr..
Brocton had approached. He regarded
Theda with interest. "The character
is ten years older in the scenario
when next she appears" he said. $50
she will do more than finely for the
girl model. Instruct her, Mrs. Wylie,
and We will make the picture"
Half understanding, shy, confused,
Theda allowed the lady to lead her
under spreading oak, one of the
actors donned a clerical costume, the
young man called Brocton took his
place beside her, clasping her hand,
and both kneeled. The mimicry of
nasty woodland marriage was gone
through, no words being spoken ex-
cept when the makeup clergyman
asked BrOcton if he had ring, which
was produced and placed on Thedas
finger There was a mock blessing
with outstretched hands, the bride
groom kissed the bride and Mrs. Wylie
led the dazzled Theda apart, gave her
the money promised and, speaking
motherly, caressing words, watched
her disappear.
= Theda went to the woods again next
day, but the movie people had depart
ed. She moved about in sort of
dream. The dramatic scene had ir-
resistibly drawn her within it's influ-
ence, the ring, which they had forgot
ten to take away from her, the kiss.
the ceremOny-it had all been so real
that she felt as though a spirit bride
groom seemed ever attracting her to-
ward the mysterious and unknown.
The event was bound to stir I'D all
the latent romanticism in Thedas re-
ceptive nature. Then, too, it led to
her going forth into that world the
portals of which had ever been closed
against her. With part of the ten
dollar gold piece she bought pair of
shoes, pride and necessity both urg-
ing the investment. Her stepfather,
dissolute, miserly old Martin Druse,
questioned her as to the source of the
money. Theda's mother had left
quite a small estate, but Druse was
its curator and had provided Theda
with the bare necessities of life, plan
ming only to get all he could for him
self out of the estate while he was her
guardian. When Theda told of the
movie people the old tyrapt affected
n horror against "such iniquitOus
people"
Theda escaped from the house at
midnight and the next day reached
the city with half of her golden store
left. She was a worker and, first
washing dishes i'm restaurant kitch-
en-, then as checker, and later work
ing for a hair goods emporium Theda
progressed wonderfully. Within
year there came lawyer from her
nome town telling that her stepfather
was dead. What he had held In trust
was now unrestrictedly her own. She
was heiress to what was probably of
fully twenty thousand dollars value.
1t was necessary that Theda go back
home to settle up the estate. That
last day in the city, passing an auto
mobile at the curb, some one called
TO her.
"Oh, my dear!" hailed Mrs. Wylie,
81 cant be mistaken, you are our lit
tie woodland flower" and she insist
ed on Theda sitting beside her while
she asked her all about herself.
You remember Mr.. Brocton?" she
asked Theda, and the latter covertly
the hasd that bore his ring.
"He has met with hard misfortune.
a road venture failed, be lost all ne
had and has been in the hospital for