Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-03
4 BACHELOR HUSBAND
By RUBY NJ. AYRES
a,,bor OF "Richard Chdtterton," Etc.
,,a,,,,,oht. 1850, bv W. J. Watt q Co.

But even then she could not believe |
it. She dreaded lest with every mo-
ment she would wake and find it all
dream.
But Il was still a reality when they
got back home, and Aunt Madge pre-
tended to be surprised, and cried and
Kissed them both, and said she had |
never been so glad about anything.
She wanted them to have n glass OF |
as rule, she was a stanch teetotaler, |
but Chris said no. he could not stay
ne had an appointment. He went off
IN grent hurry, hardly saying good
night, and promising to be round early
In the morning.
AZ the doorway he stopped and looked
back at the two women.
Iil-er-you must have ring. Ma
RE Celeste" he said. "I'll--cr--I'l
tel them to send some round" and he
was gone.
1t was strange ~ooing altogether,
cut to Marie there was nothing amiss.
She was IN the seventh heaven of hap
PineSs. When she went to bed she
looked out at the starry sky, and wished
she were clever enough to write q poem
ABOUT this most wonderful Of nights.
!, She saw nothing wrong with the days
| tnat followed either. 10 be awkwardly
klsSed Dy Chris-evcn on the check
was deltrious happiness; to wear his
ring. JOY unspeakable; to be out and
about with him, all that she asked of
| life. Va
Inc wedding was to be soon There
was nothing to wait for. SO Chris and
aunt Mndgc agreed. They also agreed
tnat 1t must of necessity be Uuiet. owing
| 10 their mourning. Marie Celeste agreed
TO Vcrythng-She was still living In
the clouds. She could hardly come
down to earth sufficiently to choose
frocks and look at petticoats and silk
stockings.
Aston Knight, friend of Christie
pher :. was to be best man. and Marie's
special school chum, Dorothy Webber,
was to be maid of honor.
hope YOU won't mind such a quiet
wedding. my dear child" Miss Chester
said anxiously to Marie. but il one
starts to invite people. Chris has so
many friends. it will be difficult to know
where to stop. SO | thought If Mr..
hnight and Dorothy came, and lust
your fathers lawyer and myself, ~ 80
Il don't mind-arrange it as you
IKE, Marie said. She would not have
minded going off with Chris alone to
church in her oldest frock if it had to
come to that. There was not n cloud
in her sky.
Inc wedding was fixed for Friday.
On, not Friday" Miss Chester de =
INJURED. Its such an unlucky day
Surely Thursday will do just as well. ="
m not superstitious, Chris an
Swered: Are you. Marie Celeste?
think Friday is good day. We car
get away then for the week end"
Marie laughed. She thought Frida,
, was the best day in all the week shC
said-of course, she was not super.
stitious.
But his Friday proved unkind, for
I though it was the end of July. it raineC
:, hard when Marie woke in the mornin,
, and there was n chill wind blowing.
She sat up in bed and stared at tn,
window, down which the raindrops wcr
pouring. with incredulous eyes.
How could the weather possibly b.
> so bad on such n day! 1t was the frs
faint shadow across her happiness.
: The second came in the shape Of
wire from Dorothy Webber, to say sh
could not possibly come after ALL He
! mother was i'll, and she was wanted n
= home. Marie was bitterly disappointed
i but she was young and in love; til
world lay at her feet, and long befor
she was dressed to go to church he
spirits had risen again and she wa
ready to laugh at Aunt Madge, VIII
showed signs of tears.
4 IF you cry / shall take it as a bat
- omcn," she told the old lady, kissin
i her. What is there to cry for, when
- - am going to be so happy"
Miss Chester put her arms round tn
9 girl and looked into her face with mist!
=. | eyes.
'Daring-are you sure, quite sure
that you love Chris?" g,
"Do I love him?" The brown eye
opened wide with amazement. why
have always loved him." she saiC
simply.
h But she held Miss Chester's han,
very tightly as they drove to church il
y the closed car, and for the first tim
r her child's face was little grave
i. Perhaps it was the dismal day that op
h pressed her, or perhaps at last she wa
beginning to realize that she was tax
:, ing n serious step by her marriage wit
r Chris.
n It's for all your life, remember"
y little warning voice seemed to whisper
e and she raised her head proudly as he
heart made answer: Il know-an
d there could be no greater happiness
h 1t was raining still when the
IS reached the church, and the chauffeu
IS held an umbrella over Marie as sh
stepped from the car into the porch
q She wore little travelling frock c
palcst gray. and little gray shoes an
II stockings, and n wide brimmcd hat wit
sweeping feather.
;. Though she had never felt NOR
erownup in her life, the had ncvc
looked such child, and for a momrn