The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-04-24
TUESDAY

can count Tor certain on your rather
forgiveness"
"Oh. yes. We can! He'll welcome Us
back with open arms"
"pm pretty sure we won't deserve it.
But 60 on"
"Well, I'll put on my new dress and 60
over to Name Holidays In the after
noon. I'll manage to smuggls over a lot
Of things In paper parcel, and you must
come up with q new travelling bag, and
we'll pack them all in that. Then yon
can order the carriage to call for us ut
o'clock, and we'll take the train over to
Craigsvills and be married there"
"And you prefer this way to being mar
ried comfortably at homeT'
Don't talk nonsense, dear. You know
! couldn't be married comfortably at
home, at least not to you-unless you dis
guised yourself and married me under
an assumed name. Wouldn't that be TO.
manticW
"One romance at time, dear"
The days passed rapidly, especially the
ever to be remembered Thursday.
1t was not pleasant day. The sky
was oercast and late in the afternoon
dreary drizzle set in. 1t was anything
but an suspicious brides day.
Fred came over early with the new
travelling bag, which was speedily packed
under the friendly direction of Miss Hol-
liday, who was an expert in the packing
line, as well as a very discreet and close
mouthed person who was generally un-
derstood to have been in love and dis
appointed.
Promptly at 7 O'Clock the carriage ar
rived, and after fervent exchange of
kisses the would be bride broke away
from Miss Holiday and was tcnderly
handed into the carriage by Fred, and
they were soon on their way to the rail
way station. When they reached the
platform, Fred got out to see if the coast
was clear. He came back almost i'm
mediately.
I'VE can't stop here, DEAR" he whs-
pered. "There is detective on the plat
form. wonder if your father suspicion
ed your purposeY'
well, what are we to do?"
Drive over to the up town station.
The train isn't due for Is minutes vet,
and it stops here ten minutes longer"
So they drove over TO the up town sta
ton and again Fred alighted lie came
back in half hysterical way.
There's another detective waiting on
the platform"
well, what Of it?"
Nothing, save that we can't leave
town by rail for Craigsyille until tomor-
row morning."
"Thcn what will we do? left them a
note, you know, and Of course l cant 90
back"
Elsie's robe of romance was frayng
little at the edges. She looked out of the
carriage window at the damp and chilly
night and shuddered.
Il know Of an eminently respectable
home where you can remain tonight"
said Fred, "and will 60 to a hotel"
Take me to the house, Fred"
The young man gave the driver the
name of the street and the number in Il
low tone and then rejoined Elsie on the
rear seat of the closed carriage.
1t seemed like long and confused
drive The night was very dark and the
rain fell steadily. Elsie leaned back in
the carriage and answered Fred's re-
marks in monosyllables. The flower of
romance was dropping sadly amid these
discouraging surroundings.
Erred" she suddenly said, "I'm afraid
1t wasn't right to treat papa in this way"
Its n little late to look at it in that
light now," said Fred.
Then the carriage stopped.
Wrap your veil closely around your
face and take my arm," said Fred, as she
followed him from the carriage.
They hurried up the steps, the door
was opened for them, they stepped into
the brilliantly lighted hall, and there,
holding out both hands, was Elsie's ia
Their!
"My dear Children" he cried. "you are
just in time" And he clasped Fred's
hand and kissed Elsie.
Before she could ask what it all meant
her wraps were whiskcd away by a
maid and she was led into the parlor.
She noticed in n bewldered way that
there were many flowers about the hand
some room, and that it looked unusually
attractive. Then she found herself stand
kindly faced man, who, almost before she
realized what was happening, had pro-
nounced them man and wife.
Fred kissed her, and her father kissed
her, but she said never a word.
And when the kindly faced man, plead
ing another engagement, had hurried
away, her father came and sat by her
side and said:
"Well, my dear child, this was roman
tic enough, wasn't it,"
The tears welled up in Elsie's eyes, and
she cried:
Father, have been very undutiful."
The old man took her in his arms.
"Here, here" lie cried. "This will new
er do. Tears on your wedding day! File,
fe. Everythng's all right now, my |
dear. Here you are with doting father
and the best young husband in all the
land"
"But thought you were SO opposed to
him"
"Never. He's the young man Of all |
others whom l should have picked for
you. This isn't news for Fred"
Elsie looked at her smiling husband.
IL think you two plotters," she slowly |
said, "have made ridiculous goose Of
me-"
1--WE only plotted to let you have your
own way" said Fred. "YOu surely can't
object to that"
"There, there!" cried the old man. "By-
cones are bygones. This is certainly bet
ter than being married in the stuffy front
room Of some country parsons home,
with your deserted daddy worrying about
you so miles away. Now you'll stay here