The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-06-17

J
two to one they try to divorce US next.
"Oh, can think of anything, Fred
ericka declared joyously ''but how happy
| am that those two young people are safey
married. Isn't it romantic? ? Isn't 1t
charming? Don t. you positively glow with
the consciousness of worthy action done,
and all that sort of thing? | just do,
Wash she sweet and dear 2
"Very charming girl, Bennett said per-
functo-ily.
And ike him quite as well, too.
They re married They re married. Think
of that They re married. y
''Of course, they re married, Bennett
asserted morosely. Everybody married
but me. Nobody'll marry me. Nobody
wants me. They repudiate me at the very
altar They take me away to all the
churches in town and fash these runaway
matches before my eyes, but, marry me
never. know III doomed TO die lonely
old bachelor.
I'm still trying to think up story,
Frederieka announced demurely ga story
that will take Don't you know one? A
perfect love of a story, little jewel of a
story, delicious bon bouche of story
Didn you ever have some sort of romantic
adventure Didn' you ever see a ghost :?
Didn' you--
See here, he interrupted, you were
going to tell me story just before the
weddiug-the last one-not ours. Won t
YOU tell it now ? That a good child. y
,'Ir ever anybody deserved a story,
Frederick said sweetly. ''Well listen
Once upon a time
She told the story to the very end.
During the process, they visited all of the
remaining churches, and not one of them
was To have an entertainment that night.
We'll, the situation does look serious,
Bennett admitted .'Now, let me see.
EVERYBODY we We asked swears that there
are only six churches in the town. There 5
no reason why they should deceive US.
There nothing to be ashamed of in a
church Ii isn't ike family skeleton.
Are YOU sure YOU didn hear the woman :
name
Freiericka shook her head.
Are you sure she said Walden Ben
nett pursued her "Wasn' t it Maiden?
Fredericka thought a minute Then
she hung her head. Il don't know,
she faltered. I'm an awful goose, she
acknowledged meekly; "but it's taught
me a lesson. IN be businesslike enough
ia the future, you may be sure.
Perhaps they'r re sending down to the
station to every train, Bennett suggested
suddenly; there one due about I. 30.
/ suppose we get down there in time to meet
I il. and then if there nobody there--'
Il can catch the s. Is back to Boston,
T lredericka finished for him.
/ No, we u auto back To town and gel
something to eat, shall wet
oh. no, Frederieka demurred family
II couldn do that,
"Well auto into town, he promulgat-
/ ed -teruly, pick up Bob, and get some
,hiug to eat Remember, you re almos
/ my wife. You came very near to prom
/ ising to love, honor, and obey. You ov'
me something for throwing me down like
I chat before Mary and Ann lie waited
She did not again dissent Here
here's a mad that viii take Us to the sta
tiou. Ii look like a pretty road, too
/ They turned into il.
II was a pretty road. There were on i
biz comfortable houses, set At comfortable
/ intervals from each other There wert
lawns Of velvet in front and beautiful gar
lcns at the back. Behind these there
were groves Of trees running up to the TOT
/ Of low range Of hills People were com
iny out OF all the houses, the men in cool
/ looking ducks and fannels, the women il
/ lnffy muslin and delicate, rtlstling silks.
/ They were all going in the same direction
/ and they laughed and talked with each
other as they went
II think there must be some merry
making round here somewhere, Freder
ieka observed sadly.
a dance, fancy, Bennett said.
''Oh, there it Is
The curve in the road had Slunk away
In front of them was big house, set ii
stately horse -ehestnuts. 1t looked as if
conflagation were proceeding within; ever,
one of its many windows was bursting will
light. The broad piazzas, the paths aus
driveway were strung with Japanese Ian
terms; aud circles and squares and triangle
Of them made geOmetrie treasure -trove q
the trees. Boys, mounted on ladders
were lighting them They looked hk
bubbles Of fire. smeared, in patches 0
strange color, with the stranger symbols Q
the Orient. Even the vivid splendor Q
the afterglow could not pale them Tn
lawns were dotted with people. Ther
was steady stream of them proceeding u
the driveway. A very pretty woman, i
floating ruffled gown, walking briskl
down a side path to meet group Of your
people reached the gate as Frederieka an
Bennett approached.
Is that you, Hilda?' she asked, lean
inc her round bare arms on the wall top
"Onlv fancy that Miss CASTOR has ne
come. sent over to the train, but sh
WASH I there. Edna said she was littl
late in getting to the train, but she wa
sure she could not have missed her becaus
she met nobody walking from the station
Isn't it strange? We've telephoned heI
aud telephoned her, but we can get any
body. We're awfully disappointed.
Fredericka involutarily gripped Ben
nett 5 arm. Il am Miss Castor, sh
said in her clear little voice.
"Oh, Miss Castor, how glad | am Il
see YOU. am Miss French. Do com
right in. You didn't come on that 6. |.
train, did your
HOh, yes, | came then. Frederick
plunged into her explanation. "And We Y
been all this time trying to find out at wha
church the affair was to be held, sh
concluded,
..Oh, | see what the trouble is, Mis-
French said. Il didn t say church.
said at the home of Mrs. Church. Thi
is Mrs. Church house. Oh, | am $
sorry. You must have had dreadful
time. Come right into the house. Won
YOU come too, Mr. Bennett? Mrs. Churc
will be delighted to have you stay, | know
There going to be dancing afterwards
You must be nearly starved, both Of you
TN oct Won some coffee and sandwiche