Charlevoix county herald., 1904-10-15
Jobn read II and slapped his knee.

that I didn't care for him enough. My
sister is cross with me. She says this
comes of putting off everything till the
last moment"
1.-THE harm comes In putting 1t of
later than the last moment"
II know that everybody will blame
me, and 1 know how good Mr.. Jack
son was to father. But l don't care"
she said sturdily, II won't marry until
/ find some one / really like"
"And that encounter"
"Please give me Mr.. Jackson's mes
sage" she said.
The elder sister had to be called
down and invited to join in the general
congratulations and to observe the
wise and ingenious workings OF Provi-
dence, and this she did, pointing out
somewhat frostily that whatever might
be said her day was thoroughly and
completely spoiled. But John, declar-
| ing that this was n hasty anticipation
of events, remarked that the mission
over his day was now free and asked
| to be informed whether the ladies, UNI
der the altered condition of affairs,
would care to see the procession. Elder
sister replied that she for one was not
going into the crowd to be torn into a
| thousand million pieces, and John said
| that being q man with some influence
| he had the right TO three most admir-
able seats just on the other side of
London Bridge, and-looking at his
watch--if they could be ready in eight
minutes he would gladly undertake
the responsibility of conducting them
to the point, looking after them while
there, and eventually seeing them home
again. Elder sister had quarter of
an hour since determined to stay at
home and have a good cry, but Rowena
answering for both said that If Mr..
Walmer was quite sure he did not
mind
London Bridge was closed, but John
knew his way about too well to be
baffied by this. How it was done the
ladies never knew; what they did real
ize was that they crossed the river
somehow, and crossed it by bridge
of some sort, and there they were, up
a temporary wooden staircase, and in
the division marked L and finding pres
emily their numbers. The day was
warm. but they had brought their
parasos, and friend of Johns
brought to the lady tumblers of some
cool beverage with Jumps of ice dane
ing atop. The elder sister expressed q
hope that it would not get into her
head, but the day being special and
| Al, 4o faI hf
risk.
And after what the elder sister an
nounced as two hours of solid waiting,
but appeared to John as two fleeing
moments, the barrier at the city end of
the bridge opened, the band nearer
stopped playing, and Johns friend
called from his seat below that the
across the bridge came mounted sol
diers, mounted representatives of for
eign countries, marching men from
every land that owned Victoria as
Queen, and presently through n wild,
long boom of cheers, in an open car
rage. little old person, in her eyes
tears of thankfuness.
'The dear soul"' cried Rowena. John
lifted her up by the elbows that she
might see we'll over the heads of other
people in the stand. "This is better
than any wedding
Bells changing out from st. Saviour's,
engines on the railway shrieking con-
| gratulations, folk from Horsleydown
and Rotherhithe at the top of Tooley
street cheering everybody, from a pop
uar British general on a white horse to
the black police from the West Indies.
It did seem TO the ladies that town
had no secrets from John. At Cannon
Street Hotel he warned them that they
might have to wait their turn for
lunch: lie would do what he could.
AS Il matter of fact. there was plenty
of room ut the tables, and when John
asked the head waiter whether they
could have cold fowl the head waiter
replied that the supply was so much in
excess of the demand that he would let
John have forty cold fowls. They took
it quietly after lunch. Had a rest first
and then strolled out into the city to
see the decorations. John showed Ro-
wena the office where he had once been
n junior clerk: she said it was very
interesting place. He told her how
remarkably well he had been getting
on the last two years.
"It's been much happier day" she
said at Highgate that evening, ethan l
thought it was going TO be. can't
think of anything being jollier."
81 can said John.
Excuse me, Mr.. Walmer," inter
posed the elder sister. "but-if it isn't
a rude questiOn-are you by any chance
enga ged? Engaged TO a lady, mean
Dear me, no.
Then" announced the elder sister
impressively. were always at home
on Sunday afternoons"
John Walmer looked down at Ro-
wena with question in his eyes.
"Please!' said the girl.-London Tat.
Ter.