Guilty
By: Stubby the Newsgirl
Chapter Ten: A Sunday Kind of Love

After the Eucharist, which Jules successfully faked her way through, she followed Morris, but she could still feel Kloppman's eyes on them.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Morris asked looking at Jules who still seemed worried.

"No, it wasn't bad at all," Jules said.

"Then why are you still nervous?" Morris asked.

"Someone I know saw us," Jules said.

"A newsie?" Morris asked. He wasn't afraid of newsies.

"Not quite," Jules said.

"Who, then?" Morris asked, as he began to lead her out of the church.

"Ah… Jules Caplan. I thought that was you!" Kloppman's voice sounded out.

Jules and Morris turned around to the see Kloppman in his Sunday best.

"So you wanna introduce me to your friend here?" Kloppman asked presumptuously.

Jules scowled at him.

"Morris, this is Mr. Kloppman. He runs the Newsies Lodging House," she said.

Morris recognized Kloppman, and knew he ran the lodging home, but had never been formally introduced.

"Hello, I don't think we've had the chance to really meet. I'm Morris Delancey," Morris said, politely, tipping his hat.

His voice was foreign to himself. He'd never really been the type who talked politely.

"Yeah, I know who you are. I am surprised that we're meeting in church," Mr. Kloppman said.

"Kloppman, did you trail me here?" Jules asked, ending the niceties, and getting to the point.

"I got better things to do with my time than follow you around, miss priss. I've been going to this church since it opened in 1899, I'll have you know," Kloppman said defensively.

"But aren't you Jewish?" Jules asked.

"Aren't you?" Kloppman asked back.

"Not by faith. Anyway, why are you really here at a church?" Jules asked.

"My wife, God rest her soul, used to force me to go to church. And now that she's gone, I go willingly," Kloppman said.

Jules found it so strange. She knew nothing about Kloppy. She couldn't imagine him married.

"Anyway, enough about that," Kloppman said, then turned his attention to Morris, "I oughta ask what your intentions are for this young lady," he said pointedly.

"Kloppman, you have some nerve!" Jules exclaimed.

"It's okay," Morris said calmly. "Mr. Kloppman, I was planning on spending my life with Julie," Morris said as he got down on one knee.

"And how do you—" Kloppman began to speak, but stopped.

Morris got down on a knee, removed his hat, and pulled out a ring from his pocket. "This ring was my mother's. Julie Caplan, will you spend the rest of your life with me?"

Kloppman and Jules were both equally surprised.

"Well, I'll be…" Kloppman said.

"You don't have to answer right away," Morris began to say.

"Yes, of course!" Jules answered, as her heart filled with joy. She threw herself on him and kissed him, well aware of the crowd watching.

Morris lifted her and stood up, swinging her in a circle. Jules squealed with glee.

"You've made me the happiest man alive," Morris said. When he set her feet back to the ground, he took her hand, and placed the ring on her finger.

Jules had never had such a pretty piece of jewelry before.

"It's beautiful," she said, holding up her hand for Kloppman to see.

"Mr. Kloppman, will you be our witness?" Morris asked.

"What?" Kloppman asked.

"I've already arranged for one of the ministers to marry us," Morris said.

"You did?" Jules and Kloppman asked together.

Morris nodded his head "yes."

"So will you be our witness?" he asked again.

"Uh, sure, yeah," Kloppman answered.

Morris took Jules' hand and led her down to one of the smaller chapels in the cathedral. Kloppman followed them, still unable to believe what was happening. There, a minister met the couple, Kloppman stood as witness, and a few "I dos" later, the two were married.