The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1926-08-28
"Soon to Be
Married"
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD


either spoke and then Ii had been the
young man who had dropped into an
abyss or silence few words weighted
with significance.
Il expect my fiancee win meet me
at the DOCK" he said.
The girl at his side had made no
comment at first, but had the mans
gray eyes not been fixed on the dim
distant shore-line that was California,
he might have seen that her lip
quivered and her hand gripped the
rail tightly.
When she did speak, she was smil-
ing and her eyes drew and held his
steadily. Il am soon to be married
myself" she said. Congratulations !"
But some minutes later Patty
Wayne entered her stateroom, only
to ding herself face downward on
her berth.
"Cruel-cruel-cruel !" she moaned.
Then she sat up resolutely. well,
it's over" she said. "And 1t really
wasn't his fault. 1 let myself care
but it is only fair to say that he never
took any advantage. 1 just dreamed
and let myself think" in spite of
her efforts at self-control the tears
came again.
Patty Wayne and Dick Comstock
were each returning from a vacation
spent in Hawaii's sunny paradise
Strangely enough, they had wandered
throughout the islands without meet
ing, only to fall into casual acquaint-
anceship the very afternoon that the
Matsonia left Honolulu.
And to Patty, at least, pretty little
brown-eyed kindergarten teacher, the
moment when the journey would end
was something not to be thought
about. Unless
Patty had not realized how very
much she was depending upon that
unless" until that bitter ten minutes
at the bow rail. She hadn't once sus-
pected that there had been any other
girl In Dicks life. He had spoken Of
years away at college. Of more or less
erratic wanderings about the world,
but OF nothing that limited at any tie
which would ho4d him to q settled
existence.
On the other hand he had not made
love to Patty. And now she thought
she must have been mistaken when
she fancied she saw him looking at
her with love and longing In his eyes
pPnh0hlH Ohn told hArcalf frrllry
when she supposed he was looking at
her, he was in reality seeing the face
Of his absent flancee.
They said good-by just before the
steamer locked, standing beside the
gaRgplank, amidst a great creakine
Of hawsers about the winches.
Patty let him hold her cold little
hand bit longer than necessary, but
surely 80 much was permitted one
whose whole heart ached to feel his
arms about her.
"Good-by, Patty" he said quietly.
'T-oh, hang 1t. Good-by."
"Good-by, Dick. hope you'll be
very happy But the last she saw
Of him as she turned to 60 ashore
was a pair Of miserable gray eyes and
a white, set mouth.
She had finished seeing about her
baggage and was wondering vaguely
just where to find a decent restaurant
when some one came quickly up be
hind her.
"Patty-oh, Patty!"
II was Dick and In his hand was
telegram He didn't look particularly
happy, but his eyes had lost their
foriorn expression.
II did want to tell you the whole
story" he was saying. Even If, un-
der the circumstances, it won't do any
good"
He paused, giving Patty a chance
to ask somewhat coIdly, for all the
unreasonable beating Of her heart,
where's your fiancee?"
That's what I wanted to explain
he said eagerly. you see when / was
q kid in high school, / was sweet
on a girl and-well, we got engaged.
We kept it up while / was In college
and although afterwards / didn't see
so much Of her, still l always sup
posed some day we'd be married.
"Then l went to Hawaii-and well,
the place sort of got under my skin.
The beauty, and all, but I knew
wouldn't want to be there with
Flossie-which told me a whole lot.
So wrote her, as nicely as / could.
that / thought we'd both made a mis-
take, being so young and-well. the
day before ! left Honolulu I got d
telegram, saying that she would hold
when landed"
isis that it?' Patty indicated the
yellow paper.
This? Oh. no. Wait till finish.
I met you and fell In love. But what
could I do. bound to another? So |
let you go out of my life. When we
locked a messenger handed me this"
He held out the paper and Patty
read.
Mr. Richard Comstock
7 had to punish you little first.
But don't worry. I am soon to
be married myself.
FLORENCE.
You see said Dick. And
well, I just had to tell you. even II
You are engaged to another
Me? Engaged? Oh" and Patty
blushed. remembering. Il Just said
that in--in seIf-defense,-
nsoly o,-fr,x.oI 49, ss-xx.