The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-09-15
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHAPTER CCCLX.

CHAPTER CCCLx
 .arhis isn't little worry. Jinn- It is a cruel tragedy-and it's mine and yet not mine." I said in response to Jim's invitation that I Gonide in him after Father Andrew had start ed on his fateful journey to the Can adian Northwest.
 Go ahead, then-for mercy's sake. tell me what you have on your mind, said Jim irrHably. T suppose it's some bunk about Val and Lane or something like that again. Well, get it off your chest" x,
 The change from tenderness to lrrl- tation puzzled me.
 You're overworking dear,' I said, as much to reassure myself as to tell Jim that I could excuse his mnodl- ness. That's why you're so jumpy my adorable, big husband-one ready for his tired, Lilac Lady to lean on, and a moody, small boy the neN."-
 Cut out the rhetoric and speak your spiel" demanded Jim.
 His impatience forced me to quick, terse speech and so I bIurted things out crudely.
 'tJim. Father Andrew had a tele- gram from man claiming to be my father, Lucky Dee.'
 ThOugnt ne was klileQ Tn a Idll- road acciden.,, replied Jim indiffer- ently.
 '-He says that was someone else. And we couldn't identify the body properly. It was so-marred. And now this may turn out to be-my own father. Father Andrews gone to Canada to see.'
 Hope he won't be a disreputable old cuss," said Jim idly.
 Then I burst out with what he was evidently failing to understand.
 "But, Jim, if this man is my father. don't you see what it does to Neal-and Phoebe 9"
 gro Neal and Phoebe? Whats it to them Why under the sun do you want ,. to ring them in on your fu-
 Jim. don't you seer" I cried. of this is my father, then mother never had right to marry Father Andrew -neveE was married to him in the sight of the law. And Neal-Neal hasn't a right to his name. Oh, my poor darling Neal. Think, think what this means to him!"
 'Its deuced uncomfortable the way you put 1t, Anne. But I'll bet that any court of law will say he's legally Andrew Hyland's son. After all your mother buried a body she be- iieved was her husband. She con- sidered herself 0 widow as far as she ever knew! [oung Meals all safe. We'll fix 1t up with that father of yours to hold his tongue. So that's all right
 "But 1t Isn't, JIm." I cried. Phoebe has a right to know. She must de- eide whether or mot she's willing to share what's hanging over Meals head"
 "Oh. bunk! You talk as if wa were living in the Middle Ages" re- torted Jim, with 0 callousness I had not heard in his voice for months. Ut doesn't make a darn bit of differ ence with the kids. People today are broad-minded and square. The only ones 1t does affect are yours truly and wife. We may have an old scamp on our hands-6egging your pardon for calling your father that"
 I'm afraid that's true enough" I replied wearily. And I can't scare up the proper sentiments about a | long-lost father who disgraced US in life and left us to starve. No one | can take Father Andrews place. And l this menace to Nears name and posi- ton worried him terribly, so that's why 1t has gotten on my nerves.' Does he take 1t seriously7" asked Jim with a queer wobbliness in con- trast to his cocksureness of a moment l before"
 to get the kids safely married be- fore we actually know there's a bar rier''-
 Jim, how can you Didn't they promise Father Andrew to wait till he got backf And. anyway. you In to share disgrace she may want to avold,"
 Jim looked at ma strangely, 1 The Harrison pride-that's what yo4,rs thinking of" he said. with ing she might be better off safei, married. It might protect her from other things. Come on, Anne, let, see this through to a, finish, They are T mad about each other, They oDl1 want half an excuse to send ont thu
 wedding invitations, A bang-up affai1
 out at Jeanteis, Come on. Lots SC,
 this one thing through before - be
 Before Father Andrew returns
 We can't. Jim, they wouldn't the,
 promised him. Neal doesn't knoy ! what may be coming to him" Who does?"
 Jim almost snaried that. then h,
 laughed again and subsided witt l lack of faith in his own judgmen
 which was hardly more satisfa etor, that his old habit of laying dowi ] the law.
 .All right. have it your own way
 just thought I'd like to see thi
 through and have them happy be
 fore fate had a chnace to step in.'' : l 1ou aSSP SdYiIS you want
 'ses this through But it isn't uf to us. It's their affair and the, , don't need us to work it out fo them-''
 : Perhaps you're right. Anyway Jeanie is Phoebe's guardian. Tn wise old governor saw to that Fn glad now. She'll look out for tn kid, . But I don't want yo worrying. Lilac Lady. I'd spare yo all worry if could, If only cou1d-"
 As Jim ended, he drew me int
 his arms and clese to bis heart, felt hiHa trenbls as he laid his lip
 against my hair,
 "Td give you the stars and tn a moon is csuld," he whispered : 'Td give you the world. dear. Re , member that. Always remenbe thatt'
 Keep telling me. deaF,' I aF | swered, thrilling, as I always do = response te Jim's tenderness. TT a rather you te1i Tne than just ieaE g | me to rem emfSF.'