and then stopped at Elmer’s casket, to say goodbye, or a few words.  I kept wondering how the people in this small, close-knit town would take it when they found out who Elmer really was.  I hoped they understood he couldn’t tell them who he really was and they wouldn’t hold it against him.  Jimmy had turned his life around her, became Elmer Daplen here, not only in name, but in everything he did in his life.

     We spent two hours receiving their friends and neighbors, then went back to the house.  We fixed up some tea, talked about some of the guests we saw, for a little while, and went on to bed.

        ...

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