The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-06-24

For fully an hour they conyersed in
low tones, he pcrsuadinS, she half re-
InonstratinS, occasionally both laugh
ing, until at last she said in n tone of
wedding. Il suppose it is all right, but
1t does look ridiculous for
Sh-sh. Here comes Iilda," eau
toned he
her mother was sewing busiIy and
Zen was smoking very contentcdly
"heh she entered. AS neither made a
remark of any kind, she seemed to feel
uie urgent need of an explanation of
something within her own mind and
commenced In the most voIublc man
ner: Did you think | was going 10
stay all night, mother? We had such
lot of things to talk about, Ncttie
and r.
"Who:" interrupted Ben. The tone
was so dcrisive that IIilda cried out
anGrily:
Perhaps you do not believe me.
You are always laughing at me, and
mink it's awful mean of you"
Ben smoked placidly and made no
reply, which angcrcd IIilda all the
more. She looked toward her mother
as If craving support, but as she ap-
pearcd absorbed in her occupation the
enraSed girl bounced out of the room,
slamming the door vigorously.
1t lacked only n week to the date set
for the wedding. The evening was
coidiy clear. but guSty, and the few re-
mining leaves We're blown from the
bushes and scurricd down the street
like droves of frightened fairies. Hill
da stood in the cmbrasurc of the win
dow drumming rcStlcSsly on the win
dow pane.
y In1 tod I.,. tI,a
but well in the shadow of the trees
She turned, as if tired of her amusc-
ment. and sauntcrcd up to her room
1t was but very few minutes until Il
soft frou-frou through the hall and the
cautious opening and closing of the
front door betrayed her departure.
Ben came from an adjoining room
laughing glcefu!ly. Hurry up. Lottfc.
If they get there before us it will spoil
al the fun"
You are sure that it is an clope-
ment, Benz"
Certainly. I heard them planning
it. Come on, come on" he urged, TAX
ing her by the arm. They hurried out
by the rear entrance, and before the
others We're under way they were fly
ing down Il side street to the parSOn-
age.
~ lue SlOItcTS iTTlNetl IneN were
conducted ut once to the study by the
parson himself. AS they placed them
selves in readiness fog the maria c
ceremony The parson remarked: You
must excuse me- but the law requires
two witnesses. / suppose you do not
object" And without waiting for 4
reply he opened side door and ad-
mittcd IIilda'S mother and Ben.
oh" brcathcd IIilda. frightened
But Ben said nothing. The minister
went on with the ceremony. and IIilda.
having caught sight of Bcns dcrisive
smile, did not lift her eyes again till
the final words were spoken.
The ceremony concluded. her mother
congratulated her calmly. Bcn's eyes
twinlllcd mockinGly as he held out his
hand 10 IIilda.
Receive my hearty congratulations.
Mrs. Dupont. You rushed things Il
bit. and Yet we We're ahead of YOU.
came here to marry. l thought you
were to be my bride. but YOU were Il
little cheat. l overheard You planning
with the man who wore Il better coat
than l. and. listening to your very
amusing comments on my personal
pcculiHritics, l acknowledged to myself
that the union would not be very sat
iSfact0ry on either side. But the sit
uaifnn was not rs unpleasant rs II
might have been. | had been mistaken
as well as YOU. and the more | saw
of your mother The better satisfied ]
WAS with the way things were coming.
really wanted You to be honest
enough to speak out, mt when you
wouldn't. why. we made first inning
and We're married less than five min
utcS hcforc Your arrival here.
IIildu'S look of establishment changed
Ia one of dCmurc mockcry. Il trust !
papa. dear. that YOU enjoyed my sum
mary OF your very mature charms
she said.
1T didn't hurt my feelings Il little
bit. daughter. l knew my age To =
day ana all about the skating rink
ana rs to r.ly coat. if Mr.. Charlie had I
worn it You wouldn't have known it
from broad"loth.''
II;lda laughed saucily ana gave her |
newly made husband an adorinG look. .
$50. Won soc it wasn't the coat: [
twas the man in the coat" philoso- .
phiz"d Ben.
at was Just little game of tit FOR |
tat. IN which we are all winners re /
marked Mrs. IIildrcth happily.
Counting In CordcVa.
At night CorGova sleeps carly. y (
Few central streets are still busy with /
l.. l.,sN L.