The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-06
A JUNE WEDDING.

linking her arm into that of Will Tavers,
the best man, she said, For pity sake,
get me out of this room or III faintI'
Have an ice?'' he asked.
Eyes, III take anything-air especial
~, she answered.
''Then you ought to have taken Jimmy
Long when he proposed, I" he said banter
Angly. Hes mostly wind, you know. "
Hes always polite, though" she an
swered pointedly 81 never heard Of him
making personal remarks"
Nobody ever heard of him making
anything" said TaYers.
81 know that Fred Dent IS your best
friend and that you'll stick up for him.
But so was Lu my chum, and your friend
got more charming girl tt. - he deserved.
oh, I've heard lots about hiIn, - she added
knowingly.
"You didn't tell Lu anything, I hope
he said quickly.
mo, - answered the girl slowly, IT new
er told her anything. 1t doesn't pay for
any one to tell a girl anything that is det-
rimental to the man she loves. OF course
I think she's too good for him. I've told
her that often enough, but she only an
swered with a laugh that no one was too
good for him. -
A little while after all the bridesmaids,
headed by the maid Of honor, trooped up
stairs to help hinder the bride put on her
travelling gown. The groom and best man
also went up stairs, and the happy man
threw off his coat and waistcoat in jiffy,
and, throwing himself on the bed, lighted
a cigarette.
Everything went of smoothly, WHIP
he asked.
'Superbly," was Tavers' response.
'.The only unpleasant thing about the
whole affair took place outside the house. -
What was that?''
"Oh, a number of girls that you and
once knew were hanging around the avn
ing Doubtless they wanted to see you as
a Benedict. Officer Smith ordered them
away. I told him to do so.''
There was a silence for a few minutes.
Then the groom saids Don't you think,
Tsvers, that after mans married he can
live down the old life-isolate it, make
it a thing apart, so that it will never crop
up again?''
1.-THE man can do it better than the girl
can, was Tavers' sentient answer.
Dent flushed to the roots of his hair
Then he rose from the bed, gave Tavers
his dress suit to take over to the brides
room to be locked in her trunk and put
on his travelling suit.
Then he waited for the bride a little
space. When she came from her room, he
kissed her, and together they ran through
storm of rice to the carriage
Dent helped the bride into the carriage
and pressed Tavers' hand. Then, just as
he was on the step, the horse gave a lunge,
"
hurled against the front wheels.
Quick as a lightning stroke Dent was
under the vehicle and pulled the woman
out from beneath the horses hoofs. He
gave a quick cry as he saw her face, and |
Tavers, right behind him, said, My God, |
it's Gracel''
Jump into the carriage, Tavers, with |
my wife, - said Dent huskily, his face /
white as marble. "Be quick, be quick I
and tell her that woman has Just been |
knocked down by the horses; that III be /
with her in a minute. -
With the aid of a policeman the groom |
carried the woman to the sidewalk. She I
was little thing, pretty and not without |
some little facial evidence of refinement, |
but her mouth had grown coarse; her eyes |
were penciled.
There were two ugly gashes in her fore |
head-twO sunken bloody marks, as if red !
hot hOrseshOes had been branded there
She opened her eyes for one brief second, !
and they caught those of Dent The grave /
was snatohed of its victory for an infin- |
itesimal space of time, and then the blood |
gushed out of her mouth. Dent bent down /
to grasp her hand in a mute and everIast-
ing farewell, and as he touched the moist |
and limp palm his fingers olasped on an
object-a lOcket.
He drew his hand away, and with it
came that little bit of oddly shaped gold. |
He knew what it was. He did not need |
to look at it, for he remem bered a golden
ingot, followed and with tiny clasps, and !
on one side was her picture and on the
other was his.
'There'n be an ambulance here in a
second, said the policeman. 81 think |
she's dead, but the hospital will be given
the chance. 1t wasn't the coach mans
fault. She ran right into the horses
seemed to do it on purpose"
Dent turned and went to the carriage.
"An right, Tavers, he said. And the
best man jumped out, the groom jumped
in, and the horses once more started.
Mr.. Tavers wouldn't tell me what the
matter was, said the bride, "but I saw
much hurt?''
She hasn't even the tiniest pain now,"
answered Dent.
''Oh, I'm so glad p said his wife.
The carriage had not gone half mile
when the sharp clang of an ambulance
bell rang out. Nearer and nearer it came,
and at the next electric light carriage and
ambulance were abreast
Two women and one man whom fate
had meshed together were riding within
ten feet of each other. Two vehicles there
were abreast One was carriage, the
other hospital ambulance. Two women
there were, and one was living and one
was dead. One was the wife of the man
who rode beside her; the other should have
been.
What are you thinking about so ear
nestly, Fred?' said the little wife.
y was thinking of the woman loved"
ne answered, and his hand unconsciousIy
touched the locket in his pocket
Well, then, kiss her, said the little
bride archIy.
He drew her to him and kissed her.
And from the distance came the faint
sound Of the ambulance bell. Exchange.
Naming the Tiger.
On the overthrow of the monarchy of