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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1940-12-19, Page 24PAGE SIXTEEN WiNGHAM ADVANCE-TIMES “Why, itfs Dot I’m marrying tonight,” Jpel stared blankly, “I seem to have missed out on something,” he said slowly. “The last I knew, you were going to marry Sue.” “Slight error on my part,” said Dus­ ty with a grin. “I just thought I was. Guess Sue never thought so at all. Neither did Dot, She knew that soon­ er or later I’d come to my senses. Twice before I almost did and then at the last moment some fool thing prevented. But this time there won’t be any accidents nor alibis. Dot and I are going to be married tonight!” “I see. Oh, I see!” Joel’s voice was a shout as he turned and jumped down the stairs three at a time. “No,” said Stephen, as Joel peered into the parlor where he sat with the Christmas tree and Jinny. “Sue hasn’t been in here. I hear sounds in the kitchen. Maybe she’s out there. As I was saying; all my girls turn me down sooner or later.” He laughed lightly. He had taken the blow philosophical­ ly, and now he was offering this pret­ ty little dark-eyed creative department of Joel’s a job in New York. Jinny’s eyes were glowing. “But I haven’t had any experience, Mr. Em­ ery, I would try awfully hard.” “Jinny, if you’re going to work with me you must learn to have more con­ fidence. Don’t be afraid to look things squarely in the eye and know, that you can do them. Just feel sure of yourself. Can you. do it?” “Of course. That’s the way I’ve al­ ways felt inside. But around here ev­ erybody has always stepped on me, Mr. Emery.” Stephen smiled at her. Jinny need­ ed to have her hair groomed, to wear a different sort of dress — something dark to bring out the lights in her hair and eyes, to cling to her softly rounded figure and give her longer lines. He had a hunch that Jinny would develop nicely, that she would do a good job. He would, he knew, be lost without Dot. He would be al­ so terribly, disagreeably bored, which was even worse. “And how soon may I start in, Mr. Emery?” asked Jinny. “Right away. The Tuesday after New Year’s.” He smiled down into her eager eyes. A little later he saw Dot at the foot of the stairs. The hall light shone on her face and her hand was white and slim on the polished railing. “Stephen, darling,” she beamed up at him, “can you ever forgive me?” Stephen realized that she had never before been so beautiful. “I only want you to be happy, my dear, which is as trite a wish as one could express,” he said. “If in any way my presence here detracts from your happiness, or if it stirs a single memory that will hurt you, I’d rather not stay." “No, Stephen, I — I want you From being one of my oldest, I want to make you my best friend.” Stephen reached for her hand. “That would make me very happy. What is a mere wedding between friends?” "Stephen! Your darling!” Dot rea­ ched up quickly and kissed him. At a ring of the doorbell she flew up-the stairs. * "Perhaps you’d like to have me give you away,” Stephen called after her. CHAPTER XXIX Standing before the mirror Dot said to Sue, "This is the way I’ve always wanted it to be—the way I’ve dreamed it. I’ve thought it might happen when I was least prepared.” She turned sud­ denly to Sue and took both her hands, “I hope you’re not going to be ter­ ribly unhappy over this, my dear.” “Unhappy!” Sue smiled. “I’m very strangely relieved. Suddenly I seem to have come to my senses. The only thing I do mind is not having realiz­ ed all this time that there, was any­ thing vital between you and Dusty. It seems so stupid—I must have been awfully preoccupied with my own af­ fairs,” “But you were sick most of the time,” said Dot. “Don’t give me another thought,” said Sue. “I’ll pull myself together in no time — although. I must say you’ve both rather taken my br.eath away.” She glanced out of the window. “Dot, it’s snowing white pussies, and do you know that the minister is here? Dar­ ling, .have you Something old and something new and all the rest of it?” Dot had a lacy handkerchief which Gran had carried on'her wedding day, a borrowed pair of stockings. from Sue, a blue bow pinned on her slip and a brand new dreSS Of white silk jer­ sey. She had, she thought, in no way flouted tradition. In the doorway Sue put both arms arotind Dot’s neck. “Darling- I hope you’ll both be deliriously happy.” Dot put her hand on the polished rail and went down slowly, Sue be­hind her, At the bottom of the stairs stood Dusty, his eyes devouring Dot, his hands full pf large red roses. The stairway had always seemed long, but never so long as it did now to Dot. She did not take her eyes off Dusty’s upturned face. There was to be no more twisting and turning, no more doubling back on her tracks. This time, she was walking straight in­ to Dusty’-s arms -— for the rest of her life. Always he had been the one, the only one! Sue was suffocated by mingled em­ otions. She had returned Dusty’s ring less than two hours ago and now she was to stand as attendant while lie was being married to another. “What he felt for me was no more than something that caught him on the re­ bound,” she thought. “It was not at all .lj.ke -the great hurricane that swept Joel and me off our feet the moment we came together. And heavens, we’ve forgotten the music!” Dusty took Dot gently by the arm and led her into the big parlor where the old prie-dieu stood ready and waiting in the alcove. Then Sue slip­ ped behind the piano and began to play, “Oh, promise me that some day you and I—” She had sung this at so many wed­ dings that now, without thinking, she rendered the words, softly, almost crooningly at first, and finally in the fuller tones of her natural voice, end­ ing on a long-sustained liquid note ’of the rich clarity she had always com­ manded before her illness. Scarcely anyone .in the room breath­ ed when she had finished. And when Sue rose to stand with the bride she caught sight of Gran, tears coursing down her seamed cheeks. She ,caught hold of her grandmother’s hand as she passed her, clung to it a moment, then bent over and kissed her. Rev. Ephriam Jones had not known that, there was anything particularly significant in Sue’s singing. It occur­ red to him as he took his place in'the alcove and opened his prayer book that the young girl had an exception­ ally lovely voice, and lie recalled vaguely that he had heard she was on the radio. He did not even look at her as she took her place, but profes­ sionally began the ceremony. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here—” He had decided, since there was to be no giving away, that he would use the ring service, passing the ring through the procession of hands em­ blematic of unity. In-a small wedding, it was a pretty thing to do, besides making all the members of the bridal party participants. So the ring, which had been hastily garnered from Gran’s jewel box, was passed through Joel’s hands to Sue, and on around the circle. To ,Sue the words of the service seemed incredibly solemn and beau­ tiful. She had never really listened to them before. And then that which was to last a lifetime was all over in a minute. After that came a great confusion of congratulations and Christmas wishes all at once. At the proper moment the doors were opened on what proved to be a surprise to the members of the house­ hold as well as to the assembled guests; for in the center of the well­ laden table stood a heavily frosted, two-tiered wedding cake, adorned by a miniature bride and groom standing •beneath a crepe paper wedding bell, with twisted white streamers of the same material running to the four corners of the table. Lucy Gilbert, the perpetrator, stood in the doorway, her cap a little crooked, as always, her usually sour face cracked into an unaccustomed smile. Lucy whispered, to Sue, when she saw what a sensation the masterpiece had caused. “We had it for my niece’s wedding last week, and I thought it would be a nice little surprise for Miss Dot. The cake’s two, you know, one on top of t’other.” Stephen shook with laughter when he saw it. “An authentic case of just retribution if I ever saw one,” he said to .Dot as she stood dabbing at tears which her own laughter had brought. “I never dreamed you’d run into a crepe paper wedding if you married Dusty.” Meanwhile Dusty was shaking Sue’s hand so enthusiastically that he failed to hear her congratulations. ."Your voice has come back! It’s more mag­ nificent than ever! We’ll have you back on the air in no time. Aren’t you the lucky girl!”( * “The funny thing is that it was all I Wanted for a Christmas present — remember? But it seems of no im­ portance to me now. To you both!” She lifted her glass. “Sue,” said Dusty, “you’re all wool and a yard wide. Outside of Dot, you’re the swellest girl I know. Ev­ erything all right with you now?” “Absolutely, One hundred per cent.” At this point Gran came between them. “Better stop all .this talk-and get to doin’ things, 1 ain’t a-goin’ to be able to set up all night. 1’11 prob’ly have to spend tomorrow in bed — weddin’s aren’t good for my blood pressure, but I’d like to have you open one or two of the presents under the tree while I’m still able to keep my eyes open. Now if you, Dot, can find that short envelope marked with your name—” So it was Christmas again, with all of them trooping back to the tree. Dot opened her present from Gran— a long envelope containing, a docu­ ment headed in Old English type, “Warranty Deed,” “But what is it, Gran? Oh — you did mean it! The little old farmhouse belongs to me!” Dusty said, “I didn’t know I had married a landholder. Now is our chance to sink deep into the simple life and get away from it all.” “You’ll have to make it do for a weddin’ present, too,” said Gran, “at least for the time bein’. My reason for havin’ you open it is—mebbe you could stay there for a little spell. It wouldn’t take long to get it in shape, and there’s a good big woodpile.” “Oh, Gran — of course — what an ideal place to spend,a honeymoon!” “I’ll go up( and put it in order for you,” Sue volunteered. “When will you be back?’’ Dot looked up at Dusty. “When­ ever my^—” “Say it, darling,” he smiled at her. “Sooner or later you’ll have to come to it.” “Whenever my husband is ready.” “Which will be in about three days.” Dusty glanced at his watch and whispered to Dot. Soon afterwards Dot was rushing down the stairs in her coat and hat, a taxi was at the door, and even Gran, leaning on her cane, was throwing rice. Sue noticed that everybody but Joel was there and she looked around for him. Lucy Gilbert sidled up to her. “You’re lookin for Mr. Joel, ain’t you?” Sue colored. “Why, yes, I suppose I am.” “Well,- you won’t see him. Not ar­ ound here again for a long time.” “Why not? What do you mean?” “Nobody knows it, but lie’s going away. My brother, who works for the railroad, told me confidentially that Joel bought a ticket this afternoon for. Boston.” “Boston?” “Yes, and he’ll be goin’ on the same train as the bride and groom, only they don’t know it!” Lucy burst into unrestrained laughter. CHAPTER XXX The bride and groom were just leaving in a shower of rice when Joel appeared from nowhere and tied a string of old shoes to the back of the taxi. “Oh,” said Sue, “I thought that you were leaving, too.” Joel took her arm and drew her in­ to the parlor. Jinny and Stephen went the steps and Gran’s footfalls on the stairs were growing fainter as she climbed up to bed. ‘‘Why — just why,” demanded Joel, “did you let me.think you were in love with Dusty?. Didn’t you know thaf I love you?” And with a gesture that was hungry0and a little ruthless, lie swept her into his arms, pressing his young’hard lips down upon hers. Sue reeled dizzily, and when she op­ ened her eyes the Christmas tree, glit­ tering, swayed above her.' “You’re hurling me—” she gasped. “Didn’t you know?” lie repeated. "Yes.” Sue’s voice was low and shaken. “I knew, Joel, but — you and Jinny —” “And why did you say that you’d marry Dusty if you knew?” “But you and Jinny—” slowly she was beginning to understand. Joel clenched his fist. “What a beautiful pair of complete nitwits'! Do you think for one minute I would have let you go — if it had been anyone but Dusty?”’ Joel’s hand on her shoulder was very gentle. Almost pleadingly he said, “It is true, isn’t it, Sue? You do love me?” “Oh, yes!” Sue said in a voice so full of joy and happiness that Joel was at once -assured. Then she turned around and ran her fingers idly over the keys, and began to sing. “Hark! the herald angels sing. Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! She finished on a clear note of tri- nttmph and satisfaction. She turned to find Joel sitting glumly, his chip in his hands. “Your voice,” he said. “Don’t you realize what this is. going to do to us? I wish to heaven it had never come back. Now you’ll go to NewwYork and everything will begin over again, and after we’re married I’ll rarely see you.” She was at his side,' “You don't un­ derstand, Joel. I don’t care about it — except of course I’m terribly thrill­ ed to have it back. I don’t care about being a great singer, or a success on the radio. I want to be wherever you are. Oh. Joe, please understand me!” “I’m glad it’s that way,” he said, looking into her eyes, “although it hardly settles our problems. Don’t you see, I can’t let you give up a car­ eer. It wouldn’t be right. Your voice is not just a nice voice, Sue, It makes evei-yone who hears it a little happier.” Sue had risen to her feet. “I wonder what that big box' is under the tree, Joel. Let’s snoop.” Joel said, “Here’s an envelope with my name on it — looks like Gran’s handwriting.” “Let’s open it. After all, it’s Christ­ mas — and tomorrow 'Gran will be in bed.” A blue slip of paper, obviously a check, fluttered out and.Sue picked it up as Joel read a letter. He gave a great whoop and threw his arms around Sue. “So that’s why she’s been asking me all those questions! The sweet old thing. Was there ever any­ body like Gran? I thought she wanted , .to know so she could sell Dusty, but she wants to go into partnership with me herself and encloses, a check to cover her share.” Joel looked at it again and said, “Wow!” ‘‘And that settles everything beau­ tifully,” said Sue. “We’ll stay in White Creek, both of us, and run the mills.” “There’s another envelope just like this one. It would be fun to see if it’s for you.” “It is fox- you! Now let’s see how Gran settled your hash." A sheaf of small papers fluttered out as Sue tore the envelope. “I think I’ve seen these before,” she admitted wryly’. “They’re my unpaid bills fol­ lowing me from New York?” “Unpaid?” shrieked Joel. “They’re all receipted, every one,” Sue read out loud from the spidery script on the small sheet of paper. “If you don’t owe anyone you’re rich.” Joel stood thoughtfully, “Does it ‘ occur to you, my dearest, that Gran has had a hand in all this? I mean, isn’t it mighty funny that that maxi reneged on the toy factory lease — and then all of a sudden Gran comes into the picture with a partnership? And Dot — and Dusty — •“Yes,” said Sue, “and that-time she scut Dot and me up to the’ farmhouse I wondered, because obviously no one has ever been near it. She said she thought it had been broken into. Only why—” "Why? To make us realize the depths of our own hearts. Oh, Sue darling, if it hadn’t been for Gran!” He bent over her to -ress his lips fiercely against hers. “Forever and ever,” he murmured. “Yes.” Sue echoed. “Foverer.” The old clock in the hall g'ave a stertorous whir, a premonition that it was about to strike. Just then the door opened and Stephen came in, stamping the snow from his feet. “Merry Christmas!” he called, simul­ taneously with the mellow stroke of the grandfather clock. "Merry Christ­ mas!” r Rubbing his hands briskly, he said, “That Jinny of yours, Joel, is a great­ find. She’s going to be mighty useful to me now that I must learn to get along without my right-hand man. I shouldn’t be surprised if in time she’ll be just as useful as Dot.” His eyes traveled curiously from Sue to Joel. “Stephen,” said Sue, "Stephen, can you bcai- anything more today?” “Well,” said Stephen smiling, “Christmas comes but once a 'year." ‘‘You see, since we’ve started this pairing off — rather differently, Joel and I th‘ought—” “We’d get married,” Joel blurte.d out helpfully. Stephen sighed in mock distress. “Do you think the Rev. Jones can be fetched again at this time of night?” . “Oh,” Sue’s laugh was happy, mus­ ical, not for ages, Stephen. Not un­ til June. But we could celebrate — there’s lots of eggnog still. Do fetch some glasses.” Upstairs in the big front chamber Gran rolled over on the sqeaky old springs. She wished those youngsters would go to bed. Still — it had been a Merry Christmas. A Christmas to ‘ remember. THE END ...The McClure Newspaper Syndicate,..