Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-09-17
1.-THE coBBLER"
BY GERTRUDE eURNHAM.

Sylvia sighed and flushed. 1t was
such pity that Daddy Allen could
and would not understand what dear
Brock was.
Just then Breck himself dashed in,
tossed his overcoat on the seat beside
Sylvia and Joined the waiting line be.
fore the ticket window. He stopped a
second to impart some information to
her.
Everything is top hole, angel child.
We're going to remember today, and no
mistake" he chuckled.
As she cast about despairingly for
some speedy remedy she glimpsed a
piece of paper lying on the floor near
Breck's coat. Further inspection
proved 1t to be stiff and heavy, need
Ing only judicious folding to make 1t
At in the slipper. At any rate, 1t
would do temporarily.
On the train the masterful Breck re-
vealed his startling plan.
snow that have the contract which
really establishes the business, ] want
you, too. There's license in my
pocket which has been there quite long
enough When we get to Harville
we'll visit certain nice old Justice"
So in the course of an hour Sylvia
allowed herself to be passively guided
up a flight of dlngy stairs and Into
an equally dingy Office. A kindly
faced, stout old gentleman came for
ward to greet them, seeming to un-
derstand their errand without expla-
nation. The phenomenon Of an clipping
couple no longer caused him thrill.
"Half a second and I'll have wit
ness in" He summoned an office boy
from some other region, deliberately
adjusted his spectacles and then re-
marked: snow for the license. Wen
be sure that Is o. X. first"
Without the slightest hesitation
Brock confidently reached his hand In
his pocket and drew 1t forth-empty
There ensued a profound silence,
broken by an irrepressible chuckle
from the office boy. Poor Sylvia,
whose courage had been rapidly eb-
bing wished herself a thousand miles
away.
Further frenzied search failed to
produce the missing document, and
the young couple was finally forced
to retreat proffering apologies and
crimson with embarrassment. The
attorney bowed them out with slight
trace Of WEAKNESS.
Later In the afternoon Sylvia ano
Brock parted. He was tremendously
disappointed and chagrined, but Sylvia
felt a thrill of wicked relief, for hei
idea of a wedding was vastly different
Besides, who ever heard Of a girl be
ing married with hole In her shoe
She glggled at the thought.
At dinner Sylvia slid into her place
dreading the keen scrutiny and ques
tioning Of her father. He, however
was unusually amiable this evening
and when she ventured to mention the
fact that she had been with Brock thai
afternoon did not protest acidly.
$50 you think that you would b'
happier with that young whippersnap
per, Brock Merrill, than you are witt
your old father2" he queried dryly.
II never put 1t that way" retortet
Sylvia spiritedly. "You know that
think the world Of you, daddy, but
am going to marry Brock, just tn
same"
"Well," her father went on, a twinkle
In his eye, II see that he has JUS
secured contract I've been trying Il
get myself He's clever fellow, 9
I guess you can have him II you mt
him necessary to your happiness.
presume you will want the usual "trip
peries, so here's check as starter.
When the full import of thi
astounding announcement on the par
Of her parent broke upon the slight
dazed Sylvia, she made swift and rap
turous acknowledgment, then fled up
stairs. In the seclusion of her rooI
she pirouetted and kicked one SINAI
slipper high In the air.
II was the one with the hole In II
and the temporary sole fell out. Sylvi
smiled reminiscently and picked It VI
Some writing on the fold attracte
her attention, and she opened the sole
paper.
So intensely interesting did she mn
II that she sat cross-legged on the moo
and read it through with wrinkle
brows. then laughed until the tear
came. Growing somewhat calmer sh
Jumped up, and still clutching Tn
cause Of her merriment dashed dow
stairs, skipping steps recklessly' on
shoe off.
/ Mr.. Allen, enjoying his cigar an
newspaper in the library, wondere
mildly what Sylvia found SO amusin
In her telephone conversation. Ha
he listened intently he would hay
heard these mystifying sentences ba'
" mixed up with gurgles of laughter
"Breck? Yes, just as soon as 70
possibly can. Yes, fathers home he
be delighted to see you. Honesti
Whatf No, I'm not spoofng. You
never guess where ! found 1t. Hustl
over and I'll tell you everything"
The receiver clicked and Sylvia, sti
holding badly damaged marriaf
license, sat down and laughed son
more.
Blunders OF Novellsts.
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