Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
SEA- MIST m m
By Radcliffe ScoviUe
GRAY DAYS Among the Dunes-Rea Becomes Bride

| all her life. A dutiful daughter and
now a dutiful wife. She went slowly
out of the room as her father turned
to his desk, signaling that the talk
was over.
Daughter of Jonas Warren, wife Of
Luke Dunnet Out Of the frying pan
into the fire. If only she dared go to
the city and work. But what could
she do? She had never been to real
city and the thought Of 1t terrified her.
Better to marry Luke than try to run
away. Besides. she had no money.
, That was the most effectual barrier Of
all. Perhaps Luke would give her
money after they were married. And
sometimes Luke went to Boston to buy
stock for his store. She might even
60 with him. Then there was the big
old house that looked on the water and
had been in Luke'S family since the
days when Tucket had been famous as
| whaling port. Luke was the last of
| the family. He had once told Rea that
! and had given 1t as q logical reason
| for marriage.
"Bein' as I'm the last man in the
| family it's sort Of up to me to keep
| things goin'," he explained rather
heavily. Rea had taken little heed to
1t then. So that was what he had
meant. In his slow way he was pre-
pairing her.
Course I'm 10 years older, but, then,
you're woman grown now and that
hadn't ought to make any difference"
Rea had laughed at that. Ten years
difference. Why 10 years was q life
time. In 10 years she would be 20,
almost 80. No longer young. Melinda
Smith, who taught school at the yil-
lage, was only %. Yet she was bony
and stoop-shouldered, with a lusterless
look of disappointment in her eyes
Rea shivercd with the dread of youth
for age.
pLANS for the marriage were simple.
There would be no honeymoon. for
Luke could not leave his store. Rea
would be married by her father at the
church, and after the ceremony would
60 with Luke to his house on the hill.
Jonas warren made the announcement
In cnurch Sunday morning. stating that
his daughter Rea and Luke Durnet
would be united In the holy bonds of
matrimony following the next Thursday
night prayer meeting. The announce
ment created but little stir for the rea-
son that every one knew all about it.
Mrs. Warren had told It, a little proud
ly, at the Ladies' Aid meeting, and it
had spread quickly from there.
In the opinion of the women It was
good match. There were one or two
other prospects in the village who had
looked more than once in the direction
Of Luke and his hardware store and his
big house. True. they were ladies older
than Rea. Older than Luke. One even
wore false piece, 1t was rumored, and
the other suffered from asthma, but
they were prospects, nevertheless.
"A chit OF girl like Rea Warrenl"
said one. well, rever!"
It was the general opinion, however,
that Rea would make good wife. She
could cook and sew, and If Luke held
her with Arm hand they would prob
ably get on well enough. Certainly he
would make an excellent husband.
There was not doubt In their minds
as to his qualities. A girl should con-
slider herself lucky to get Luke.
It seemed to Rea that her last week
Of freedom melted away like fog, with
a hot August sun shining through it.
Her mother said little, but her eyes
watched anxiously for any sign Of re-
bellion, and once she ventured that it
was nice that their houses wouldn't be
far apart.
"Tain't as II you were going away.
mo" Rea answered with q faint sigh
And Luke's good boy" her mother
added.