Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-31
irritable until he recognized hers.
trThaf I,OiI AHicSinI Whnf

NAV S0"' "AA""AS' "
Listen. Yves. Can you hear me9''
She lowered her voice. I've had q
letter. There is somebody who is
threatening to make trouble At the
church. Somebody you know. !
thought I'd better tell you"
There was brief silence; then:
That's nonsense. Who dared to
write you letter like that?"
III explain that later"
ITS an internal lie, Missile. There's
nobody who has any claim on me-"
We'll. I've told YOU" she said drear-
lily, and hung up the receiver. There
had been terror as well as anger in
his voice. Bluster, that was what is
was. 1t was true, the letter. and he
knew who the girl was. When she
turned around, her father was in the
library door, watching her. He had
overheard and he had been frightened.
Il heard that. Missile. You mustn't
believe all the letters you get"
This one was true, father"
He hesitated; queer, to see him i'll at
ease.
Suppose it is" he said at last. "a
single man has good many tempta-
tons, Missile. Marriage makes all the
difference IN the world. You'll find
Yves a good husband Don't Judge him
yet. Give him time. anyhow" And
he added, not without n grim humor:
Il don't suppose that means much,
coming from me, but, If man loves his
wife You're a good girl, Missile"
He did not try to kiss her. She
turned and went up the stairs to where
Adelaide had laid out the sheet on
which she was to stand while putting
on her gown.
Then, almost Immediately, an organ
was playing somewhere. her father was
Offering her his arm, one of the brides
maids was strengthening out her long
heavy train. AS she moved forward
1t seemed to drag her back Her
father looked dignified and handsome;
after all, this was where he belonged,
with these handsomely dressed people
around him. He had never belonged in
the little house. There was some devil
OF reStleSsnesS In him that drove him
away from them, but also something
that brought him back. He was not
really wicked. Nobody was really
wicked. Even Yves.
She felt the ring slipped onto her
finger. 1t was warm; the best man had
carried it in his waistcoat pocket.
With this ring"
with this ring"
"I thee endow-"
l.
When they knelt she saw Wesley fur
lively pulling up the knees Of his
trousers.
Then it was over. She was a married
woman; she was Mrs. Wesley Dexter.
1t was all over, and nothing had hap
pened. She was starting down the aisle
again, but this time on her husbands
arm; first her father and then her hus-
band. Not wicked, but weak. One
leaned on them, and then they were not
there. But then she was being silly.
Ellen would tell her that. There was
Ellen, looking very grand. She ought
to smile at Ellen. Every bride ought to
smile.
She did it very well. If her smile
stiffened as they approached the late
corners standing at the rear of the
church nobody noticed it. And who
but herself could know that Wesley's
arm frightened in its sleeve? Or that
they both paused at the top of the
steps and glanced at the curious crowd
which stood in the street watching?
There was no disturbance. She did
not see even Emily Beaumont. The
carriage was waiting. Old Ishmael was
smiling. A policeman was holding open
the carriage door. She got in, gather
ing her voluminous train and veil about
her. Wesley got in, heavy, substantial,
rather white. The carriage door
slammed. Now she need not smile. But
she could not stop; 1t was frozen there
Beside her Wesley was wiping cold
beads Of sweat from his forehead.
well, that's over"
"And without any trouble" she heard
herself saying.
Trouble? oh, you mean that letter.
Now, listen, Missile, darling, that letter
was n lie have pnen1iaq. avaru sue
cessful man has enemies. Somebody
was trying to stir up trouble. that's ali.
There wasn't word of truth in It,"
She did not believe him, but she put
out the hand that wore his heavy gold
ring and lightly touched his.
Then we will forget it," she said
simply I'm do my best, Yves. and If
only you'll be honest and faithful"
Before God, will, Missie!"
He bent over and kissed the ring.
She saw that he was profoundly moved.
Moved and-relieved.
Continued in tomorrow's Star,)