The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-12-11
CHRISTMAS
WEDDING BELLS

HiiiSd AiOWaius nc wal ~ A"fA"Hh
and good and reliable. TIE had bern
good to bis mother and his sister.
Everyone knew NE would be good W
a wife, and they all knew, too, that
he wanted Elizabeth for his wife.
you're foolish not to take him."
they said. I'VE all know you have
the opportunity to do so every time
he goes to see YOU. We would wager
he'd propose any number Of times"
Il don't know about that Eliza
beth would laugh They could get
nothing out Of her.
Once some Of them spoke to How
ard.
"We wish you two would get mar.
lied. We're tired of seeing you court
ing all the time
Howard smiled.
ITS up to Elizabeth" he said.
One woman spoke TIP Elizabeth one
day in very serious fashion.
"The trouble with you," the woman
said, us that you've always had so
much attention. Not only Howard,
but everyone has been charmed by
you, and you think that will go on to
the end of time. You'll find it won't
They'll stop, and then, where will you
| be 2"
II don't want to be married so as
to escape being an old fnaid,v Eliza
beth laughed. "I've seen too many
happy ones to be afraid What's more
II think lot more Of person who
| is faithful to someone they're loved
than to marry for the sake Of marry
ing. Lots of the "old maids" are
that. Some of the married ones have
been so afraid they would be thought
unpopular and unwanted that they've
married out of sheer cowardice."
This was very puzzling. Had Eliz-
abeth loved someone in her earlier
days--perhaps when she had gone
away on a visit? No one knew. But
everyone was puzzled. So much puz-
zled that they ask no more questions.
They stopped telling her she should
marry Howard. They stopped telling
her what a wonderful husband he
would make, and how much he loved
her.
They were specializing on which Wis
lit it could have been when the trag-
edy occurred. And had the mysterious
man married on had he been already
married and SO Elizabeth, as nice,
quiet girl had quickly taken herself
home and out Of the way?
1t was showing hard. Elizabeth
was getting together her Christmas
presents when the door bell rang.
Outside stood Howard.
u thought perhaps you'd not mind
if ] went with you when you took
around the presents" he said. ~
knew it was just about your time" 1
How lovely itswas outside. The
snow was falling, the air was so clear
and cool, and here was Howard, SO
straight and tall, his face glowing
with health, his eyes so clear, so keen
and so devoted II made even the
cold, crisp air seem warm and soft
and affectionate.
They had delivered the presents and
were now passing the small church.
Inside someone was practicing on the |
organ. That was doubtless the organ
list practicing for the music for the ;
service in the morning. There was
much beautiful music always for
Christmas! So many wonderful hymns
and such an atmosphere about it all.
81 WISH" Howard said, "that he'd
stop practicing the Christmas music
and play us a wedding march"
perhaps he would" said Elizabeth.
"Do you mean it," Howard shouted.
ooh, yes, my dear, of course l mean
it. You've not said a word about
marrying the last four times I've seen
YOU and I've been about to do it my
self. The people-they tried to keep
me from seeing how wonderful you
were by talking about you, making
you what they saw in you-not giving
me a chance TO see for myself"
The organist played the wedding
march. The clergyman came over
hurridly to marry them, bringing two
witnesses with him,
"The Christmas bells and the we'd
ding bells are joining together for
us" Howard said little later.
They took the basket which had had
the presents in it back home. Then
they announced to all the people what
they had done.
"Merrie Christmas!" everyone wish
ed them. But Elizabeth answered,
1--WE don't need TO be wished Merrie
Christmas. but we thank you all just
the same!'