Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-10-01
FROsTBURG, Md. SATURDAY, OCTOBER /, 1904.

tonse.
Holding both her hands in one OF his
Swn, he slipped to her side and tipped
her head back against his shoulder.
His eyes sought hers in the gloom Of
the carriage, glorying in the revcla-
tious brought by the passing lights.
The right time of all the world
girl, of all the years that have been
for you and for me-the right time for
the seal of the promise for those that
are to come for us" he said with
quiet intensity, his lips closing on her
unresisting ones.
After moment she Strengthened
herself with Il happy little laugh.
Il think we must be nearly there"
'Yes. Wretchedly short drive. Oh,
grille, grille, l am so proud of YOU so
glad. What will they think OF us. to
be sure? l wasn't having a bit of II
good time, and now I'm ever 80 CRATE
full that Bob insisted OH maxim" me
best man."
why, but, dear" 1t was veri-
table gurgle of astonlshment. You re
not dreaming Of telling now: 1t
would never, never do. We've not
even been introduced. I'm to be here
several weeks, you know. and 1t must
come to pass very gradually"
II suppose so, bless your proper lit
tie heart. But isn't 1t wee bit more
unconventional to have 1t bari'eu thus
than that 1t should merely br known
of? Anyway l promise to he the most
persistently lovelorn of any swain who
ever aspired to fair lndy's hand. All.
here we are!"
Fortunately the avenue was we'll
shaded just before the blaze Of light
at the steps was reached.
Diclsie greeted then-how he had
managed to pass them II certain team
might have borne bren thlPss testimony
In an agony Of contrition. his very
first blunder. He supposed. of course.
they'd met Clnrissa had come alone,
Madeleine had been Investigating and
wrenched from him the whole sad tale.
Clarissa wouldn't say II word. They
sweetly forgavs him and We're smiling
ly introduced.
During the ensuing hours Of the re-
ception Harrington. ingenious to the
point Of bluntness found use for all his
skill as O dissembler. The auburn head
WAS an irresistible magnet, and his
telltale eyes followed where his feet
were forbidden to tread. Again and
again he dragged himself back to the
daffodil maid and his proper duty. to
find her always mySteriOusly smiling
at him out Of n quiZzical face. 1t was
hard that the first mndly happy hours
of ones life should be mace to speed
so slowly, but at last the bride and
groom were off in a shower of rice,
kisses and merry cries.
Then quoth the maid of the daffOdils
to Dickie, do look Mt Joe and Ethel
There they stood on the top step, hand
in hand, placidly and abscntly waving
after the disappearing carriage with
their disengaged hands. The other two
members We're clasped.
1t was three interminable months be
fore Harrington was permitted to In
nOunce farewell dinner to his bech-
elor friends. When he reached the
club on the memorable" night Il letter
awaited him bearing the familiar for
eign postmark of Mr.. and Mrs. Blake's $
honeymoOning nest. Over the sigma
ture Of Madeleine Blake he read the
following:
Bless you, my children. Nothing
could delight me more, especially when
it's my own particular little pie. Joe
the woman hater. Joe the celibnte!
Clarissa was already engaged. you
know, so made a willing martyr on the
altar of my schemes. And my Ethel
had to play instead Of standing by my
side, where she belonged. If she had
Motif you'd thought you belonged to
her by custom, Joe, JOe-my beautiful
grille, instead of becoming the happy
Mrs Harrington shortly. would have
shared the sad, sad fate of the dafTodil
maid"
"And thus" observed Harrington,
with charitable grin, do some peo-
pie fatter themselves"