Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-09-13

u1oS Hdu passed since the
tower clock doomed high noon. The
ofgan1st was tremendously killing
Time. The ushers were striving to
look easy and unconcerned. The con-
gregation was beginning to rustic and
whisper and was sharing the incini.
ent nervousness since, as best man. it
was my responsibility to put the we'd
ulhg through without mishap, and the
absence of the bride was a decided
impeachment to my plans. NV cousin.
chester Lipscomb who was suppos-
euly the person most interested. was
taxing 1t coolly, in that immovably
Self-confident, self-satisfed manner of
MS, as II proceeding upon some supe-
rlor assurance that nothing in which
ne was concerned could go far wrong.
Well, nothing ever had. That is
why the match was deemed such a
good one for Eleanor Jermyn. If I
maintained my private misgivings
about mating of the girls vivid.
mfrthful, adventurous romanticism
with Chester's solemn rigidity of
spirit, 1t was not my business as best
man to voice them. My business was
to get that twain safely married.
AT sixteen minutes and six seconds
(by my StOpwatch) past twelve. the
sexton brought me a note which read
"Dear Vix:
Its all off. 1 simply can't 90
through with it.
"NORRIE."
Through the agency of a hastily in
sp1red usher the news was gradually
disseminated through the church that
the bridal gown had suffered a last
minute injury Of a serious though not
necessarily fatal nature, while 1 was
Speed-limiting to the Jermyns' house
in a car which I had Communicated
from the end of the line The running
board was unsuitably decorated with
young man whom had never seen
until he attached himself to it at the
moment of starting. He was spare
and 1.-THE and deep-browned by a sun
harsher than ours, and there was
hard-controlled excitement in his GU
riously luminous eyes.
"She isn't coming is she?' he de-
manded. Then, reading my expression
and in a flash of triumph, II knew she
wouldn't"
Where do you come in on this?" I
retorted.
All. the answer that 1 got as he
dropped with sure-footed nonchalance
from the speeding car was, I'm at
the Pioneers club when she wants
me-"
A flustered maid admitted me to the
house and piloted me to Eleanor's
room. AS I entered a strange expec-
fancy died out of the brides face.
"Oh! It's only you, Vix. I
thought"
think afterward I'll give you
three minutes to be in the car"
"There isn't going to be any after
ward. Go back and get rid of them,
Vix."
"Oh, yes! Certainly! Just like
thatv' I returned bitterly. "Including
Chester, suppose"
Especially Chester. l hate him.
"a nice time to find it out! What's
the idea. Norrie?'
Nothing" replied the bewildering
rebel. 81 hate him for-oh, just for
wanting to marry me-"
"See here, Norrie Jermyn," said
authoritatively. "You can't pull this
sort of thing just on bunch of hate
You're either going to produce sane
reason or you're coming with me now"
"Has it got to be sane?" she an
swered dreamily. Suppose were
married already|
"You, Norrie! secret marriage
I don't believe it."
There is a clear honesty about Flea
nor Jermyn which makes anything fur
tive or undertand in her attitude
toward real things unthinkable.
"No: it isn't marriage, exactly. But
it might as we'll be- I never could get
away from it. Never! Not if I married
Chester a hundred times* Was he
there at the church,"
That 'he" never meant Chester Lip
comb; not in that tone I apprec ated
that and answered, before I could
catch myself:
A swift radiance intensified the love-
l'ness of the brides face. "Oh, Vix!
Did he send me message?"
Suddenly felt sorry for our we'd
ding party, l knew from that moment