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THE BEST MAN BY GOUVERNEUR MORRIS
(Copyrighted by Chas. Scribner's Sons.)
Stanislas Odeskalki, the best man,
and O'Gosh, the interpreter, helped,
as did old man Openta. But young
Orloff Openta and Olenka were really
married by the mayor. He made Or
ion; kiss Olenka; shook hands with
them; said that he hoped they -would
be a loving couple; made the remark
that everybody's name began with
O, and wished them good-day.
Orloff, 01enka, "Stanislas Odeskalki
and old man Openta' wernt up town
by the elevated, and hurried to the
rooms in East 123d street, near the
river, which Orloff had hired lor him
self, his bride and his' father to live
in. It was a bitter afternoon in Janu
ary. In many windows lights already
glowed. Old man Openta walked
ahead, giving his arm to Olenka, who
was so rosy that men turned their
heads to look after her. The best
man and the groom brought up the
rear. "The bridegroom's face was
brigh and smiling, and he kept his
eyes steadily on the bride; but the
best man scowled continually. Only
once did he speak of anything.
"You should have told me," he
said, "what a pretty girl she Is. You
must;look out 'or some fellow will
take her from you."
He cheered up when the four
flights of stairs leading to the Open
tas' new rooms had been sur
mounted. "Now we are "going to-feed," he
said.
Old man Openta unlocked the
door, and, motioning to the others to
wait, crossed the threshold, turned
and held out his hands.
"Welgub," he said. He affected the
English language with ostentation,
but the others clung to Polish.
Olenka hesitated and looked at her
husband, blushing.
"But go in," he said, and he pushed
her gently. "This is no time to hang
back."
Old man Openta embraced her
when she had crossed the threshold.
Openta pushed Odeskalki into the
room, followed and closed the door.
"Well, here we are," he said. "What
do you think of it?"
Odeskalki began to look around
critically. "It is easy to see that a
woman has not lived here," he said.
"You ought to have curtains. Mrs.
Openta will be lonely without cur
tains." Olenka went close to the stove and
spread out her hands to the warmth.
"I think a fire is so home-like," she
said.
"But the room is warming up,"
said Openta. "Don't stand on cere
mony. Let us all take our coats off.'
He started forward to help Olenka,
but Odeskalki intervened.
"No, let me do it," he said.
"All right," said Openta, "and I will
help father off with his."
In helping Olenka, Odeskalki press
ed her shoulders with his .hands, but
very slightly, so as not to give of
fense. "And now," said Openta, "It iff time
for Olenka to enter upon her firstdu
ties as wife." He.pointejl.to a large,
broad cupboard in one corner of the
room.
Olenka smiled over her shoulder at
the three men. At 'times she fairly
astonished by her -prettiness. J3be
was as out of place in that shabby
room as an orchid You, would not
haye been surprised to learn that she
was a princesseven a fairy prin
cess in disguise'. Her voice was ten
der! and hauntingt'Tlike the middle
register of a fine old 'cello when a
master is playing. Her feet moved
in and out under the hem .of her skirt,
timidly and gently, like two mice. If
you had been in the hall and had
heard her laugh, you would have said,
"Somebody is making a child hajpy
in that room."
Presently, with a great show of
courage, she flung Kpen the cup-
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