New Britain herald., 1929-07-10

your lawful. welded wife?"
 Nan Carroll did not look at the man who stood tall, stiff and straight by her side. In an ef- fort to realize the unbelievable that she was actually being mar ried to John Curtis Morgan-the girl concentrated all her attention upon Justice of the Peace Doheny. What a round, red, jolly face he had, though he was trying his best to look as solemn as the occasion demanded.
 "Is he going to say, No, no! It's all a mistake! I've already got a wife, from whom no court in the land can divorce me. l promised to love and cherish her until death do us part. I can't make the same promise to an- other woman'-?" The thought zigzagged like lightning through Nan Carrolls mind as she held her breath for the few seconds that seemed like an eternity before the answer came, in deep, vibrating tones:
 T do."
 Was the answer more emphatic because he had hesitated those few 1 seconds? But the justice of the peace was going on, his merry blue eyes which could not look solemn, twinkling upon the pale-faced, brown-eyed little girl whose head did not quite reach the shoulder of the man she was marrying.
 Nancy Stair Carroll, do you take | this man."
 Nan appeared to be listening in- tently, but a roar as of rushing waters, filled her ears. Her brown eyes fixed in trance-like stare upon Justice Doheny's face, be- came aware at last that the hu- morously puckered old lips were no longer speaking, that the justice of the peace, with cooked head and quizzically raised eyebrows. was awaiting her answer She felt a slight movement of the man who stood so close beside her Suddenly reaizatio swept over her.
 "Yes, I do' she gasped, and emerged from her cold, stiff lips as little more than a tremulous whis- per.
 Above the rushing of mighty waters the girl heard the faint, far away voice of the comcal old jus tice of the peace; Join right hands"
 Because she was still staring fixedly at the justice, Mans right hand wavered blindly, until it was enfolded, almost crushed
 How thin his fingers are" Nan thought as she closed her eyes for moment and let her body sway dizzily. T must fat ten him somehow. He works too hard" It did not occur to her then or afterward that it was odd that her only conscious thought as the ceremony was being concluded her husband. She had always [ thought of him first.
 T pronounce you man and wife,
 | It was not tlntil those words had been spoken that Nan wrenched her eyes from the merry fat face of the i justice and forced them to look up into the face of the man she had married To her amazement. John , Curtis Morgan was smiling. An an- swering smile began to flicker over | her own pale face before she dis covered that his was only ghastly 1 imitation of a smile, which could do no more than spread his mouth, and left untouched his deep-set black eyes, in which there was such l tragic pain that the girl involuntar- fly shrank from him.
 But his lean, strong fingers closed more tightly over her cold little hand. She felt herself drawn toward him, saw his head bending. He was going to kiss her. In thousand day dreams she had pie tured herself in his arms, his black head, sprinkled with silver, bending closer and closer, his lips finally touching hers, gently at first, then crushing her mouth with fiercely exultant passion. But in none of her dreams had a fat, bald man with obscenely merry eyes looked on, ap- plauding.
 Pride and determination to go through the farce as gallantly as her husband. made Nan lift her would be as cold as hers. For a moment black eyes gazed deeply in- to brown, and the girls heart gave sudden throb of joy as she saw the imitation smile become a real one--tender, whimsical, fond. She closed her eyes and in q moment it was over. His lips had brushed her forehead.
 Well, sir, this is a proud day for Aloysius Doheny. I never thought it would be my luck to tie the knot for the biggest lawyer in the state-and the prettiest girln' The justice of the peace, gleefully chucklns his pretense to solemnity, shook hands heartily with the couple he had just united in mar riage. "All over now but the shout ing, eh? Well, let me the first to wish you both a long and happy married life"
 Thank you, Doheny," John Cur tis Morgan answered gravely. Shall we go now, Nan?"
 Whoa" The justice stopped them with a jovial below of laugh ter. "Ain't you forgettin' something |? I'll bet the missus wants the cer- tificate, even if you don't Won't take me minute to fill it out. Let's See September 12th, ain't 1t. Reckon that's one date you'll new CT forget. eh, Mrs. Morgan" | Mrs. Morgan, Inyoluntsritv Nan