The San Francisco call., 1904-09-04
Ole
BISHOP s
IMpROMPTU
BY Z. z. GawneGG.

himself. but a kind OF sInoldering fire
WAS in his e:es.
VIII YOU snow Mike ny new or
chids?" suggested Miss CoIdelia. Il
must stav here 10 receive The other
guests. And, 5ert, tell her about the
impromptu-the Bishops impronptu.'
Mr.. Jordan boWec. AiXie leu Out with
a graceful nonchalance.
They at once forgot the new orchids,
though q whole end of the conservatory
was a cascade with their weirG, rain
bow bloom. A light swung over them
not an aggressive light. In the dark
ness OUTSIDE they could see the soft
fiuttering of the snow against the glass.
After silent time Mike pOu.ed.
You needn't sulk," she told him.
Il didn't mean TO-" Bert DIotGsted in
iOus about-about some roses that I've
ordered
"Oh, indeed"
Yes. ! was wondering if they'd get
to the Bishops in time"
You and Miss Cordelia." She re-
marked sedately, seem to have the
Bishops impIomptu quite weighing on
your minds"
oh. it's no great matter to her"
said Bert.
But great matter to you
We'll, they're bride roses, you
see"
"A wedding" cried Mike. alertly.
Was that what Miss Cordelia meant
"a wedding?"
Yes" he admitted. that is what
she meant" And he was white as
his rosebud.
She looked at him and suddenly
the battle was again in her eyes.
How stupid of me-" she said, and
made a low bow TO him. 'Of course
only the bridegroom sends the bride
roses. Allow me to congratulate
you. You've been breaking it to me
gently am so much obliged to you
that you are the happy man"
1T is my wedding said Bert, and
set his teeth.
$50 kind of you to mention it. Has
Miss Carl come YETI"
Il don't know"
shouldn't you be finding out?'
But there came a diversion. The
swish of skirts with chatter and
laughter going down to the ball.
Mr.. Jordan gravely offered his arm.
The girls lips quivered. She looked
up at him in swift appeal. in the way
Of the days before the quarrel
They'll all know" she faltered.
that you've been telling me. and
they'll try not to stare and not to
smile. and it Will be horrid. horrid.''
Don 60 SAID Bert
She gave a nervous laugh and
slipped her hand within his arm. but
he stood still.
Wen have to walk the whole length
OF the table" broke in Mike, and gave
a little sob. "I'll never forgive Miss
Cordelia, never. And where" sudden
ly drawing away from him, ''is Nellie
Carl?"
Il think" said Bert. astutely bend
ing his head to listen, that they're
sending for US" Truly a step came
down the hall.
"Oh." gasped Mike, $50 they arei"
Lets cut and rum" said Bert. :
In another instant they had whisked
out among the stray flakes of the piaz-
"a She leaned against one of the pill
lars. One hand in a hurried little hut-
ter OF excitement went to her throat.
The other Bert held and felt it tremb-
ling.
Come on" he said, joyously facing
the snowy night; come oni"
Come where?" The dismay of it
was touching, but Bert laughed.
ITO the Bishop" he explained. "The
impromptu"-
But 1 don't want to go there now"
why not? You always intended,
didn't you, to be married by the Bish-
op? Why not now?"
lnere WAS a pause wherein Va1nly
through the darkness he tried to
search her face.
Let me carry you to the Sleigh"
Bert entreated, so that your little feet
will not get wet in the snow"
Your sleigh is waiting?"
AT the curb.'
And Nellie Carl?"
He laughed triumphantly and
snatching her up in his arms ran out
into the street and ready under the
great fur robes of the sleigh was the
hooded cloak.
How ever did Miss CordeIia
guess?" laughed Bert as he drew it
about her, "or did you tell her?"
You are two wicked plotters," re-
turned Mike Indignantly. Il shall go
back to that dinner"
But the groom had stepped back
from the horses head.
Its great" cried Bert as they
dashed down the street with the soft.
cold beat Of the snow III their faces.
And can't stop the horse unless"
We'll, unless ?"
Unless you want him stopped,
Mike"
do you know" asked Mike de-
murely, ''if either of US has told the
Bishop? Because it would not be re-
spectful to disappoint him"