The Washington herald., 1907-04-18

The special ear for New York;" de-
| manded Margaret
"Tracks twelve" came the response
| Hurry up. They're just closing the
gates"
! With a little shrek of excitement Mar
gaTet dashed down the coneourse and
slipped through the gate just in time
/ She paused uncertainty. looking for the
/ private car. A brakeman darted forward
half pushed her upon the rear platform
and the train began TO move There was
| elamor at the gate. evidently from the
people who had missed the train and
/ Margaret smiled contentediy as she
/ realized by how narrow a margin she had
/ caught the train herself
/ The friendly brakeman looked puzzled
/ when she spoke Of special car, but at
/ last light dawned upon his face,
! That was 10 be attached TO the Wash
ington Express" he explained "The train
| is twenty minutes late"
/ And I'm on the wrong train" she
cried.
ITS all right. If you want to go to New
York. Wen get there about the time
! they do.
Then l may as well stay on" Mar
garet moved forward 10 the Pullmans
/ still attended by the brakeman. She had
/ Just entered the first of the parior cars
when she felt a tug al her sleeve
Jimmy she cried in establishment
! What are you doing here2'
Bearing defeat back to New York" he
explained. I got the license, and tried
1 TO get word TO YOU but ii seems that
your father took the precaution 10 put
! gnUnla ~ Tsrfysa dpfaoff4-.e ~, oy,t4-l F,r
of them had me arrested for disturbing
/ the peace when ] tried 10 see you. / Just
got out in time 10 learn that YOU were
on your way back home"
THAT was hoTTid. said she 1T was
not like father"
But you see he's worked SO hard that
he wants 10 land the match"
Meg frOWned. as she always did when
reminded of her approaching marriage.
An English duke with vast estates and
an inhnitesimal income had asked her
hand in marriage. and her father had
given assent in her name.
Francis CadmUs had been ambitious
for his daughter. lie had always frowned
upon Jimmy DOryals suit, even while
admitting that he was a fine young
fellow and bound to make his way in
the world
Ben Tibbettson's daughter had married
"A barOnet Here was chance TO adj
minister a final coup 70 Tibbettson. who
had boosted of his titled s0n-in-law ever
since So when young Dorval began 10
show signs of INSTRUMENTATION. Cadmus
had hired private detectives The events
in Philadelphia had proved the value
OF this move. for Dorval and Margaret
had planned an elopement
Meg's mother came from one Of the
old Philadelphia families, and her aunts
had insisted upon a visit, that they might
shine in reflected glory OF her engage
ment to the duke Cadmus had sent her
over i'm a private car and had arranged
that she should come back the same
way. The gateman had not caught her
reference to the private ear when she
came back from the telegraph Office and
bv mistake had directed her 20 the regu-
lar train Just pulling out.
It's a dispensation of Providence,
declared Dorval when she had explained
The situation. There are his dukelets
the detectives. and Your respected parent
cooped up waiting for the other train;
and here we are together, and with a
Pennsylvania license in my pocket II
W. can be married before We cross the
State line-Rill you, dear2'
'Of course I viii" she declared briskly.
II don't want 90 marry the duke. and |
do want to marry you. Is there a clergy
man on bOdTd2'
I'm get you one. offered the brake
man, who had been standing at hand. in
expectation Of a tip There's an old guy
with white whiskers two cars back"
He darted out, while Jimmy gave Neg
his seat and stood beside her The train
slowed up for West Philadelphia. and a
boy in blue and brass came through the
car calling her name. She held out her
hand for the telegram.
Father says to wait here" She smiled
as she read it through. Dorval hshed out
a bin and handed il to the boy, together
with the message
you could not find the lady under
stand?
I'm wise, agreed the boy. 'Nebbe the
lady didn hear me-"
He passed out and just as the train be-
gan to move Mes saw him moving leis-
urely across the platform, the envelope
still In his hand
''Th' Old guy was a drummer" explained
the brakeman, returning with q young
and very nervous person with a, flushed
face lie says he's a minister"
IT have just begun my pastorate," ex-
planned the nervous man, but I am a
regularly ordained clergyman r leave
the train shortly, If you can satisfy me
tilett ttciH - no tSf f1Ebdid
advise celerity.'
Rapidly Dorval explained the situation.
The drawing-Fooms were all engaged. but
there was a cafe car on the train and the
tiny pantry was empty The porter
mounted guard TO keep out tbs curious,
the simple ceremony was concluded and
a certificate made out long before the
minister reached his stopping place.
1T was my first marriageb" he said
Hervously, as his slender fingers closed
over the yellow backed bill. CT am sure
that I wish YOU all happiness.f He pecked
Megs cheek much as bachelor kisses a
baby and returned to his own car to hide
his confusion
The passenger in the seat adjoining
DOTval's. who had been IMPRESSED as a
witness. expressed an overwhelming de-
sire for a smoke and went forward that
the young couple might not be separated.
Are you sorry now that it's over. /
dearg he asked as he leaned forward /
and placed his hand over hers
shan never be sofTb, she said,