Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-17

bay to Willow Point, where the minis
ter will marry us"
ooh, won't 1t be romantic!" said
Marjorie. ut will be moonlight and |
will wear my white dress and my
white hat with the pink roses that you
like so we'll"
vines brought out the gold lights in
the girls pretty hair. On the hand
that lay in Phil's sparkled 4 little
ring. He reverently kissed her.
II wish your mother could attend
your wedding" he continued after a
silence, "but she will not consent, and
eight years Is too long to wait"
All the next day Marjorie Brant
sang as she worked. Upstairs, on her
bed, lay the white dress and white
hat. In the closet was the suit case
with her dainty belongings, packed
for the first time without her mothers
supervision. Now and then she ran up
and tried on the hat, laughing to her-
self in the mirror and picturing Pills
face when he should see her.
IF you are going upstairs again."
her mother called from the kitchen,
will you close the windows? There is
cloud in the west, which means
wind
But Marjorie, excitedly combing out
her curls in preparation for the we'd.
ding couture, forgot the injunction I'M
her out of her dreams.
did you shut the windows?" her
mother called to her.
mo, but will" answered the girl
Marjorie could hear the roar Of the
wind and the flashing Of the waves,
and knew that they could not cross
the bay that night. She slowly con-
tinued her dressing, wondering shoW
they would get to Willow Point.
She helped her mother with dinner,
but ate little.
Don't you feel well?'' asked her
father. l
Il am all right, but am not hun
gry," she replied.
Marjorie was to meet Phil at :
o'clock. At 1880 she went upstairs. In
the darkness she pressed her face
against the window. She could see
nothing; the moon was hidden behind
the clouds.
stealthily descended the stairs and
went out by the side door, Her light
figure bent to the wind as she sped
down the path.
"Phil," she called softly.
Then she felt his arms about her.
Where is your bag?" he asked. 1--WE
can't go in a boat; so we will drive. |
have brought blankets; you won't be
cold"
Marjorie slipped out of his arms.
II haven't any bag. am not going,
PHIL
'sNot going!' he exclaimed why
not?"
ooh, couldn't go on such night.
Who ever heard Of running away and
getting married on dark night?"
What has the weather to do with
cur happiness he asked gently.
Don't you love me. Marjorie?"
YES" she whispered, then falter,
ingly continued 1T was all going to
be SO beautiful. the moonlight and the
Water-and now there isn't any moon.
When it grew so dark and windy, ]
felt that even the elements were
against us and / was not doing the
right thing--running away from par
ents who have been SO kind; SO !
came out to tell you. Oh, Phil" sho
sobbed. II don't know what to do"
''My poor little girl" he said. Il
don't believe should run away with
you. am going into the house to ask
your father and mother to let me
marry YOU"
"Phil!''
II can't go home without knowing
something certain. Come
AS the two young people entered the
sitting room Marjorie's father and
mother stared at them in astonish-
ment. The girl, cold and wind blown,
slipped into chair. Phil walked up
to the table.
"Sit down, won't your asked Mr..
Brant, hesitating, as he looked at the
young mans stern face.
s'No,' said Phil, 'I'll stand Mar
1orie and l were going to run away
run away" exclaimed Mrs. Brailt
and her husbands fist came down on
the table heavily. But as Phil told OF
his love, the older man gazed at him
intently, visions of his own youth and
.courtship stirring him deeply. When
Phil had finished he said:
Il understand that if it had not been
windy tonight and Marjorie had not
thought it was wrong you would have
run away"
~ think so.'
"And what them"
The young mans gaze met that OF
the older mans squarely.
II should have taken care OF her ana
kept her safe. love her"
He was very earnest. The father
seemed stirred by his uprightness and
he turned to his wife. well mother
1T is out of the question" she far
ed. Marjorie is only twenty. / shall
not let her get married for eight
years
"Oh, mother"
Eyes, and by then, Marjorie, You
will know your own mind"
Il do know It," pleaded the girl.
-"You were married when you were
twenty"