The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-22
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LESLIE.

Neal left yesterday. Due in your city tonight. Took mothers ring with him. Suppose he means to use well with my girl. Love,
 FATHER ANDREW
 This was the telegram which I had said contained no bad news, It didn't bring tidings of sickness or death, but it put sudden end to the last of my hopes for Phoebe And for Neal himself.
 All along I had thought that I would be able to reveal his own heart to Neal. In spite of his reticence about a1king of his engagement, all most because of his avoidance of be- ing alone with me, I felt that my Phoebe. I knew his desperate low atty to truth and to his word once it was given. I knew the chivalry which held him to Evvy because he felt she had once been shamed by a mans change of heart. But 1 had believed he loved Phoebe as she did him-so much that in the end noth- ing else could matter. And in the face of a love such as that I thought nothing else had a right to matter. But now Neal was bringing back our mothers betrothal ring to use as a wedding ring when he married Evvy. That circlet had been his gift to Phoebe. l had sent my telegram
 
 the ring l hoped to revive all NeaPs tender, poignant memories of the time when Ee marched off to war | leaving Phoebe to wait for him Phoebe with tear-yet eyes, NeaFs kiss on her lips and our mothers ring on her slim little hand.
 Now Neal was bringing mack mo- ther's ring for Evvy. As I read that gave up all hopes of saving Fhoebe's happiness-and his.
 
 my mind. At this moment the ug- Hest feature about it was that Evvy.I had dug it up from the past. Out of sheer malice, out of a perverted | desire to hurt others, Evvy had pried l and probed until she knew all, or | part of the story. Then she had gone | to taunt Val with it. Was she capa- ble of destroying the little happiness | Lane Cosby could find in life by pub fishing his story? It would seem pro- bable she would-end all out of sheer malice.
 Your bite of suppers ready for | you" announced Bertha from the | doorway, bearling at me with kind Illness and good will. ''Angy's abed, but I did my best"
 Its a good best,'' I said grate- fully, as Iwent out to the dining-room where cold chicken, a salad, thin bread Gnd butter sandwiches, stewed fruit and chocolate invited me- Now
  lark of waiting on myself and do- ing the dishes''
 Bertha protested sleepfIy, but in the end she obeyed. So when the dOorbeu sounded a few minutes later I had to answer
 On the threshold I found Neal, his red hair flaming up with the crisp dauntlessness that was part of him even when he was jobless and almost pennilesS and wouldn't take a bit of helD. had an instant to see that before he enveloped me in one of his bear-hugs.
 ''Jimminy Whiz-but I'm glad to get welcome back to the big burg from my BabbsieI" he cried Find ing you nome is most too good to be true. I'm all weighed down with loving messages and country sausages and young apples from Father, as well as a little loving. was just in
 "Oh, Neal, then I'm still your best girl" I cried, seeing the very open ing required. That makes it easi- CT for me to tell you-'
 Hold on! I'll have to confess that l you're only my next-best girl, Babbs,'' | interrupted Neal with a twinkle that | I felt masked a real gravity. "But l telling you that is made easier by all | the loving messages have from the all right
 I led Neal into the dining-Eoom and piling his plate with the white l meat of chicken, I made him share | my repast. Then, when I thought | that an abundance of good food had | produced the right mellowness, I be- gan again:
 Its wonderful your walking on | me like this, lad uear. I tried to | get you by long distance early this l evening. And then I telegraphed both you and father Andrew. I felt I had to talk to you," I concluded faltering before the quiet gravity of NeaPs eyes.
 Are you in any difficulty, Babbs 9" he asked.
 NO. But tonight I've been shown a new phase of Evvy's''-
 Neal interrupted with a firmness that terrified me:
 "Babbsie, dear, you're speaking of that woman I'm going to marry in less than a month. Don't say any thing that we'll both regret. Nothing must ever drive even the thinnest entering wedge between my sister and me. Nothing"
 Nothing" I repeated, and then 1 cried. but I loved you so much, lad, | that I'd be willing to risk your anger | rather than see you marry a woman who was unworthy"
 At this moment Jim came in, limp | ing wearily. At the sight of Neal | his face lighted up. and, flinging l one arm about me, he seized Nea-'s !