The Press., 1905-03-29
10 the bishon,s In time"

"You and Miss Cordelia," she re
marked sedately, "seem to have the
bishops impromptu quite weighing or
your minds"
"0h, it's no great matter to her." said
Bert.
"But a great matter to you"
"Well, they're-bride roses, you see."
"a wedding!" cried Mike alertly.
''Was that what Miss Cordelia meant
a weddingf"
eyes," 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 mel" 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."
"It is my wedding" said Bert and
set his teeth.
$50 kind of you to mention it. Has
Miss Carl come yetT'
ST don't know"
Shouldn't you be finding out?'
But here there came diversion-the
swish of skirts, with chatter and laugh
ter, going down the hall.
Oh" said Mike, they're going in to
dinner"
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,
chat you've been telling me, and
they'll try not to stare and not to SMILE
and it will be horrid, horridv'
Don't CO." said Bert.
She gave a nervous laugh and slip
ped her hand within his arm, but he
stood still.
1--WE must CO." she said and gave a
little pull and set her mouth in as firm
q line as she could. "It's too late not to-"
Its rather late to CO." said Bert.
They're all seated by now. If Miss
Cordelia has given US the places that
she used to give u.s.
"we'n 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
" drawing away from him, sis Nellie
Carl?'
81 think" said Bert. astutely bend
ing his head to listen, that they're
sending for u.s." Truly step came
down the hall.
"Oh," gasped Mike, $50 they are!''
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 hurried little flutter
Of excitement went to her throat. The
other Bert held and felt it trembling.
"Come on" he said, joyously facing
the snowy night, "come on!'
"Come where? The dismay of it was
bat Bert laughed.
ITO the bishop" he explained. ''The
"But 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"
through the darkness he tried to search
her face.
Let me carry you to the sleigh"
Bert entreated, $50 that your little feet
will not get wet in the SNOW"
"Your sleigh is waitingT'
"At the curb"
"And Nellie Carlp'
He laughed triumphantly and, snatch
Ing 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 Cordelia guess?"
laughed Bert as he drew it about her,
'or did you tell herT
you are two wicked plotters," re-
turned Mike Indignantly. II shall go
back to that dinner"
But the groom had stepped back from
the horses head.
Its great!' cried Bert, as they dash !
ID down the street with the soft, cold |
peat Of the snow in their faces. "And
can't stop the horse unless
''Well, unIess?"
"Unless you want him stopped, Nix |
e."
"Do you know" asked Mike demure-
y, 'if either of us has told the bishop,
because it would not be respectful to |
iisappoint him?"
"But there's one thing, Mike" This |
later.
"Oh, is there"
"You haven't your mind at all on Mel |
lie Carl. have your
WELL" said Mike, and softly laugh
ID, 81 don't see why you should kidnap
he wrong girl"
So they dashed on toward the bishop.