The Lambertville record., 1902-07-09
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sT Owe LAUGHS
/ IL LMLOCKSMITHS; At
I, BY MARTHA .
MCULLOCH-W WILLIAMS
BY MARTHA
( Copyright, 1901, by Nj. McC.-wnliams

"Wellt' Garcia answered without
looking up from her book.
Its 10 o'clock-high time you We're
dressing" came back, the tone more
acidstha ever.
'Why, I thought you had set the
wedding for O'clock" Garcia said,
turning leaf and not raising her eyes.
Aunt Sarah stamped her foot. "As II
you didn't know what folks arer' she
protested "You know they'll begin
piling In here around IL. or 1 at the
latest. The last ono Of 'em is crazy to
seeswhat'll happen"
''Howt stranger Garcia commented,
apparently to the book. Aunt Sarah
darted through the door. caught the
book, flung It across the room and
clutched Carola's shoulder. Angry
tears stood In her eyes, but still they
snapped vlciously you'll be the death
of me yetr' she gasped out. Lord,
Lord, If only had known what trou-
Bile you'd be l never would have had
you here, never In this worldl'
You mean really that you brought
me here so you could make trouble for
and edging away from her aunt's
grasp. "You know you would find
heaven dull IL you had not n grlev-
| ance."
''Stop! won't hear such sacrilege!"
| Aunt Sarah cried, shaking Garcia hard.
~ thought I knew what Ingratitude
| was-after all I've done for you-but
this caps the climaxH
You have done-many things" ca
rola said setting her teeth hard. First
you gave me name l hate and shall
hate TIL die You thought 1t sounded
finer than the name of any other baby
around. Right there you struck the
l1eynote-of everything. You are so
tyranically vain you want to show
everybody how much better you can
do everything. That is why you have
pitched OH johnson Blakely FOR my
husband. Poor fool l should be al
most us sorry for him MS for myself II
he had not n mans strength and n
| mans chance to run away. He does
| not really want me. Peggy MeMann
| suits him ever and ever 80 much better.
But you got him under your thumb be-
fore he left off roustabouts. He's
| worse afraid Of you thnn death or the
| Judgment, IL he is six feet two and big
| as an OK
johnson loves me like mother
He's good looking, as moral as-as n
baby--and will have 100000 when his
old uncle dies" Aunt Sarah broke in,
her eyes swapping harder. "And any
yes, every other girl around would
! jump ut mo cnHfce or UiDL WINE
you''--
"Iave had TO be locked up for two
months to keep me from marrying
somebody else" Garcia supplemented
as Aunt Sarah, otherwise Mrs. Wilson.
paused for breath. johnson knows all
about It," she ran on. "Nice. chival-
rous Johnson. TO want u wife who says
to his face: 4 hate you. I agree to
have ,he wedding day set only because
l am tired OF prison lIfe.' If there was
| one grain of manliness In all his hulk
Ing height, he would not take me-he
knows how helpless | am-with you
for guardian and not n penny of my
| own"
| "Yet you want to turn your back on
| IL good husband and Il rich one and
| throw yourself away on n beggarly
| lawyer who has never had case since
| he hung out his shingle year ago."
| Aunt Sarah snapped. Garcia laughed
II short, hard laugh.
Mrs. Wilson knew her neighbors.
They did come plling In before the
| clock struck /. Carola's love affairs
| had been the gossip of the countryside
| for six months past. Naturally there
was edged expectation OF some uncom-
mon climax to what had been 30
| strange. 10 the bueolIc mind It was
wholly unheard of that johnson Blake
ly had been cut out by II sprig Of
! lawyer with hardly second coat to
| his back The most part stanchly up
held Mrs. Wilson's strenuousness In
| keeping her niece from 30 throwing
herself away. Stili there were few
| softer souls who shook the head, say
Ing girl, as you might say, driven In
TO double harness would be mighty apt
before long to kick over the traces and
small blame to her II she did.
|
out of wedding feast and calling In
wedding guests. A simple marriage,
with only legal witnesses, seemed to
fit the cases complications better. A
few understood, but wisely held their
peace. The wedding was Mrs. VIII
sons triumph. She would not forego
showing to her world that In this her
hardest battle she had prevailed. But
even this wise few were something
amazed at one thIngshe had invited
among the rest Jack Harrison, the
lawyer lover whom two months ear
iier she had forbidden the place.
He would not come, OF course but
by o'clock everybody else was on
hand minister and bridegroom lnclud-
ed. Aunt Sarah was for setting for
ward the wedding ceremony There
was not the least use In waiting an
hour. with everything ready. That
brought on very pretty quarrel with
Garcia you'll come to the Judgment
bar an hour ahead OF time" she said
to Aunt Sarah, but you won't be able
to hurry st. Peter, and for once mean
to act the saint"
Stormlng did no good. Garcia was
recklessly gay. She had grown very
white, but her hands did not tremble
as she put on her veil and set knot
Of loose leafed white roses mt the
throat OF her white frock. She did ev-
erything for herself, yet, oddly enough,
made no objection to the presence Of
half dozen young women, each Of
whom thrilled with unconscious envy
of the bride. She even laughed out
right when one of them peeped into
the hall and said hushedly over her
shoulder. "Oh, my, Johnson has got on
full dress suit and does look so hand
somep'
'It's bad luck, laughin' In your wed
din frock Don't you know that?" an
other demanded. Garcia laughed
again. a laugh both mocking and mer-
| ry.