Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-05-27
CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII
Breaking the news to Jack and Mar
jorie was no easy task, but we got
through 1t some way. Jack and his
sister had an unhappy hour over 1t, but
Jean was adamant In her decision.
There was to be no marriage. so far as
she was concerned. 1T was out of the
question.
"You are passing up as decent q
chap as ever lived" Jack told her, ION
chance of Spool, and you don't know
that he even cares for you. Perhaps
Spoofs affections are already fixed.
Have you thought of that?"
Thought of 1t! I've lain awake
nights. with burning eyes, and thought
of it. But what can l do? l can't ask
him"
you could marry Frank. like a
sensible girl"
81 only wish l could. But It Is out
Of the question"
And with that the matter had to
stand. Jean doubled her energies in
helping Marjorie prepare for the great
event, and while she tried always to
greet me with smile / more than once
surprised tear stealing unbidden
down her cheek. reflected that If
I was suffering, Jean was suffering,
too, but there was no comfort in that.
I didn't want Jean to suffer. And
why she should wiring her heart over
me, and yet refuse to marry me, was q
twist in her nature beyond my power
Of comprehension.
Spool took the news with genuine
or well-feigned surprise. We merely
explained that the wedding was not to
DE a double one after all; that Jean
and | had reconsidered matters, but
Jack and Marjorie would be mar
ried as arranged.
81 say, I'm sorry to hear that
mean about you and Jean. presume
1t is only postponement?" But we
gave him no answer to that question,
and Spool, of course, did not press 1t.
Christmas day dawned bright and
cold. with whip Of northwest wind
and skiff of loose snow sitting across
the frozen prairies. I found myself
lying awake in the morning, thinking
of Jean, and of all I had hoped that
day would mean to me. This was the
dream that was gone; the picture l
had had to tear out of my heart, only
1t would not stay gone; 1t plagued me
In my sleep, 1t haunted me in every
silent moment Of the day. That Jean
should be so strong, so set, SO immov-
able. and. as 1t seemed to me. so un-
reasonable, In spite Of all her delicate
usefulness and strange uncommon
ness Of spirit-that was a side of
jeans character which all the years
Of our childhood and youth had not re-
vealed to me. I had not re-
opened my suit. ! had accepted her
decision. But the old picture would
come back. and this Christmas morn
Ing as It swan before my eyes It
stirred within me an Unreasonable
poignancy Of spirit
merry Christmasl" shouted Mar
jorie, poking her head into my room.
Marjorie was going through a time Of
strangely mixed emotions. Her heart
was light on her own account and
heavy on mine, and In these days she
found the bridge between laughter and
tears an extremely narrow one. Per
haps 1t was for that reason that her
shout of Merry Christmas ended In
something like a sob, and, with little
rush, she plunged onto my bed and
threw her arms about me she wrapped
them around my neck and shoulders
and drew my face to hers. And as her
cheek lay against mine little warm
trickle of moisture wended its way
down, upon, and across my lips. and
felt her frame tremble as it rested
near me.
"Not crying, Marjorie; not crying, on
this of all mornings !" / exclaimed, al
though my own throat was full. "Not
crying, dear-on my account?"
To that question she Struggled closer.
and after a little / heard her whis-
pering In my ear. "It will come all
right in time, brother NINE" she said !;
.all right In time. can't think
can't believe-anything else. Don't
you feel-don't you know-that 1t
will?" And so to soothe her, and that
her greatest day might not be spoiled,
said / knew 1t would come all right
In time, but there was stone between
my lungs and a band Of iron about my
chest.
tContinued)