The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-04-28
CHAPTER xXXFX

CHAPTER xXXFx
DURING the two hours that they
~ waited for the Reverend Mr..
Greer, "the marrying parson,"
David and Sally sat stiffly side by
side on horSehair sofa, only their
fingers touching shyly, listening to
countless romances of J clipping
couples with which old Mrs. Greer
RECALLED them in a kindly effort to
help them pass the tedious time of
waiting. Her daughter-in-law, re-
Gently widowed by the death of the
only son of the family, trailed
weakly in and out of the living
room, her big, mournful black eyes
devouring David'S magnificent youth
and vigor.
"You remind her of Sonny Bob"
Mrs. Greer leaned forward in her
arm chair to whisper to David.
KILLED in the war he was, and
Cora just can't become reconciled.
Seems like the only pleasure she
gets out Of life now is acting as
witness for weddings. And I must
say she cries as beautiful and sweet
as any brides mother could. Some
Of the clipping brides appreciate it
and some don't, but Cora means
well. Once, I recollect, she spoiled
wedding. 1t seems that the girls
mother was dead set against this
boy, and when Cora started to cry,
just like a mother"
The story went on and on, but
Sally heard little of it, for her heart
was suddenly desolate with need of
her own mother. Lucky girls who
had mothers to cry for them at
their weddings! Her cold fingers
gripped David's comforting, warm
hand Spasmodically. Somewhere in
the world there was a woman who
was her mother, a woman who had
not waited for the marriage cere-
mony before Succumbing to just
such love as that woman's unwant-
ed daughter now felt for David.
Understanding and pity for that
harassed, shame-stricken girl that
her mother must have been just
sixteen years ago gushed suddenly
into Sally's heart. If David had
not been so fine, SO tender, so good
- She shivered and chung more
tightly to his hand. In a few min
utes she would be his wife and
safe, safe from Mrs. Stone, the Or
phans home, the reformatory.
IT hear Mr.. Greer coming in"
Mrs. Greer beamed upon them and
hustled from the room. She re-
turned Immediately, plump hand
resting affectionately on the Shout
der of tall, thin, stopped old man,
whose sweet, bloodless, wrinkled
face glowed with a faint radiance
of kindness and benediction.
"This is little Miss Sally Ford
and David Nash, Papa" Mrs. Greer
told him. They've been waiting
patiently for two hours to get mar
ried. 1--WE been entertaining them
the best I could with some of our
very own romanceS. I often tell
Papa we ought to write stories for
the magazines"
well, WE'LL" The marrying
parson" rubbed his beautiful, thin
hands together and smiled upon
Sally and David. You're pretty
young, aren't you? But Mama and
I believe in youthful marriages. 1
was 10 and she was II when we
took the big step, and we've never
regretted it. You have your Ii
cense, I presume?"
David's hand shook noticeably
as he drew the precious document
from his breast pocket and offered
it to the minister. Through old
fashioned gold-rimmed spectacles
the minister studied the paper
briefly, his lips twitching slightly
with a smile.
"Well, well, Mama" he glanced
over his spectacleS at his beaming
wife, Everything seems to be in
order. Where is Cora? She's 60
ing to enjoy this wedding enor-
mously. The more she enjoys it,
the more she weeps," he explained,
twinkling at Sally and David.
When Mrs. Greer had left the room,
the old minister bent his eyes
gravely upon David. do you know
of any real reason why you two
children should not be married, my
boy?"
David flushed but his eyes and
voice were steady as he answered.:
mo reason at all, sir. We are both
orphans, and we love each other"
Mrs. Greer and her daughter-in-
law entered before the old preacher
could ask any further questions, but
he seemed to be quite satisfied.
Taking a much-worn, limp leather
black book from his pocket, he
summoned the pair to stand before
him. Sally tremblingly adjusted the
little dark blue felt hat that fitted
closely over the masses of her fine
black hair, and Smoothed the crisp
folds of her new blue taffeta dress.
Join right hands," the minister
directed.
AS Sally placed her icy, trem-
bling little hand in David's, the
first of the younger Mrs. Greer's
promised sobs startled her so that
she swayed against David, almost
fainting. The boys left arm went
about her shoulders, held her close,
as the opening words of the mar
riage ceremony fell slowly and i'm
pressively from the marrying par
sons lips:
Dearly beloved"
Peace fell suddenly upon the
girls heart and nerves. All fear
left her; there was nothing in the
world but beautiful words which
were like a magic incarnation, en-
downing an orphaned girl with re-
Spectability, happiness, family, an
honored place in society as the wife
of David Nash
A bell shrilled loudly, shattering
the beauty and the solemnity of
the greatest moment in Sally's life.
Behind her, on the sofa, she heard
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