The guardian., 1941-01-11
Here Comes
The Bride
g
By D. ]. WALSH
Associated Newspapers-wNU service.l
iris, it was absolutely
wonderful Marcella's s
dress was a dream-white

shower bouquet, and guess what?"
RosalInd paused, then added solemn
~: Il caught the brides bouquet!
You know what that means"
''It doesn't mean anything" COM
mented Miss Blake, the presidents
secretary. 81 caught one once. But
If l ever do marry" she added
thoughtfully, II shan't have a big,
elaborate ceremony. I'd rather be
married quietly without any fuss or
feathers"
"Oh, applesauce!" cried little
Gladys Murphy, the switchboard
girl, "every girl wants to have a
swell wedding with bridesmaids and
Lohengrin and oh, Promise Me-
n everything!"
We'll" said Rosalind complacent-
ly; II have decided that Gerald and
are going to have a church we'd
ding"
1T is to be hoped" Miss Blake
remarked as she turned to her desk,
that your young man agrees with
you"
Miss Blake's insinuating comment
stuck irritatingly in Rosalind's mind
as she began typing letters. She
had a feeling that Gerald was not
entirely in sympathy with her elab-
crate plans but she felt sure she
could talk him over. She would
bring up the subject again that eve
ming and when he saw how her heart
was set on it, he would not oppose
her.
But, surprisingly enough, Gerald
did oppose her. "Rosalind, dear"
he said, holding her hand in his and
stroking it softly, "You know I've
had to work hard for everything I've
got. I've felt happy because I've
saved enough to furnish home for
us and something in the bank. If we
were to have this big wedding it
would cost a good deal. l can't af-
ford it, darling, and," he added So
berly, neither can your father"
"Oh, Gerald" cried Rosalind, her
blue eyes filling with tears, "you
don't understand. All my girl
friends have had big weddings with
writeups in the papers and Won
derful presents and I'd be ashamed
if we just got married quietly" She
saw him frown Slightly and added
quickly: "Of course that's not the
real reason, honey. It's because l
want every one to see what a splen-
did man I've got"
But Gerald did not soften to her
fiattery as she hoped and she went
on pleadingly: Don't worry about
daddy. He always gives me what
| want and the money comes some
how"
Gerald thought of the pale, care
worn man who was Daddy" and
tried to steel his heart anew against
Rosalind's Establishments. If he
weakened now he might expect the
same dull, money-grubbing future
for himself. He was lost for a mo-
ment in deep thought, then turned
to the waiting Rosalind and put his
arm tenderly around her. Dear
est" he said, you know I love you
and if you can't be happy without
this big wedding, I'll have to see
what l can do. Well have to post
pone it, though, because I'll have
to save more money"
Postpone our wedding, Gerald?"
Rosalind faltered, her eyes widen
ing in dismay. ''Why, I've made all
my plans for this fall. I've told Mr..
Raine l was leaving the fifteenth
and he's engaged another stenog-
rapher in my place"
perhaps l can get some night
work." said Gerald. 81 won't be
able to spend as much time with you,
but in that way can save enough
extra money by spring. l think I'll
go over and see Tom McArdle about
it now"
Before Rosalind could realize it.
she was alone, rather puzzled and
forlorn at the turn her affairs had
taken. AS she was kissing Gerald
good-by, she had murmured some
thing to the effect that they might
live with her parents for a while.
Nothing doing, honey" Gerald had
answered. "When we're married
we're going to live in our own home
by ourselves" "
Time lay rather heavy on Rosa
lind's hands after that. The only
evening Gerald was able to spend
with her was Sunday, and Sunday
evenings seemed far apart. She
was delighted when Gerald phoned
one Saturday afternoon saying he
had to drive out to Hixton and asking
if she would like to go along.
isn't it a gorgeous day, Gerald?"
she bubbled happily, smuggling up
to him in the roadster.
''This was to have been our we'd
ding day, DEAR" said Gerald sober
ly; "do you remember"
Did she remember? Could she
forget? A sudden pain clutched her
heart with a sense of tragic loss. But
Gerald was talking now of some
business deal and she listened alb
sently, enjoying the heady autumn
weather. Suddenly Gerald stopped
before a small, dingy house. "You
are now in Hixton, Rosalind," he
announced, smiling. The man /
came to see lives here. Come,