The Washington times., 1910-03-03

thought Of being cut by 50 in
significant a social asPirant as
Mrs Parker turned quickly 20 looks Of
dire CONSERVATION as botE Of them real
lied The consequences of this unfortun-
ate meeting.
They had kn )wn the gossip from their
childhood. Both had hated her as a
girl much older than themselves in
school who told tales on every pupil
She had, in those days, dwelt with her
parents In a little frame cottage on an
acre OF wretched land that separated
the frontages OF their parents farms.
A lucky marriage. brought about so
people said, by doubIe-bundfoldiLg the
already blind god OF love. had placed
her in position to move about and
gossip with the wives OF the commut-
ers who had bought the houses Of
Greenville
Well enough they knew that. by 9
o'clock tomorrow morning, she would
have started the six next best news
mongers in the village 10 spread the
tale Of her having seem these two young
people together at late hour in New
York.
Whether she had seen Green passing
the money to Elizabeth or not. they
could not be sure.
But they could be quite certain OF the
construction she would put upon their
being there. She would undoubtedly
come forth with the positive assertion
that they had made a second attempt at
eIopement and succeeded
Elizabeth knew. and Wallace sur
missed. that her father had been at
pains TO spread the story that he had
fOiled the first attempt
To bear the first tidings OF any elOpe-
ment would seem TO Mrs. Parker an
achievement worth having lived for.
But-when 10 was an elOpement OF such
important citizens, when II had been
once stopped, when the young man in
the case was now on plane where she
felt warranted !u deliberately cutting
the pair-weN, there was no question
but that she would publish it-if she
did not die OF Joy before she could reach
home.
"Oh, wallace" Elizabeth whispered
tragically Gone with me 20 the wait
ing room. Say something that VIII
throw her off the track"
But what in the world shall I sayT
Wallace asked hOpelessly.
"Oh, think Of somethinS-anythinl
just met by chance"
I'VE couldn't make her think it She
would not want 10 think IT,"
But. Wallace She'u be telling every
one that we've elOped-'
She won't If she sees You 90 home
on the train alOne,' he spoke more
hopefully.
''N-no. That's so. But
It was not necessary for her &c 90 on
Wallace's hopeful look had faded II
dawned on both their minds at once
what Mrs. Parker would tell when shC
found that Elizabeth Warren went
home alone.
They stood gazing at each other IN
Wdde-eyed horror at the thought
Wallace said something very much
under his breath. It sounded distinctly
like Damn MIS- Dolly Parker any
how"
Elizabeth whispered something under
her breath Il sounded Ike Amen
but cUssiug her won't do any good.
! Wallace said out loud we must dC
''Yes, quick. Do something" Eliza,
beth urged
"BuL. What2'
That's t. Wha5p-
Again they relapsed into silence
After a couple OF minutes Wallace.
frown Of perpleXity gave way 10 q
froWn of the sort man might Weal
IN choosing TO have his feet cut of
instead Of his head.
elizabeth he addressed her very
solnmnly, even though he spoke in {
hurried voice
''WeU, yhat Is it-quick?-' -he asked
Have YOU thought what il would
have meant if we had really got mar
Tied at NOrrlsburg this morning."
Elizabeth looked so uncomprehendire
that he went on without waiting 70!
her 10 get around 20 asking what h'
meant.
Have you thought how all your
friends would say that you had mar
ly-Fr T.ar7nlrh rvfnH rlr
son of q wifC-murderer2 Have YOU
thought how many Of them would fol
low the example Of Mrs parker In cut
ting YOU from the number Of their ac-
uuaintauCes2 Have you considered the
way they would talk about you and look
at your
81 have thought a lot more Of The
fact that I would have been married
to the man / chose 70 marry, sne
The tears at the thought of their not
having been welded.
I'm afraid your judgment IS warped
inst now" he smiled in return: I'm
afraid you will feel nightly different
about IL later on. But
But What2" she asked. almost i'm
/ patiently. for she could hear the open
ling of ihe cate TO the ferrybOat from
1.-The waiting room and she knew sht
must make the train
! I'm going To elope with you jus
| the same-right away, immediately
/ because
lie stopped again, and again sht
urged him TO finish.
! Because what?" 4 light Of earnes
Ieacarness shone behind the smile tha
! plaved over her face
! because. bad as it's going to b
/ for YOU TO have to own up to me a
your husband. IT would be a whole 10
worse for you to 90 home now -withou
ne for a husband
Come on. now" he said, well hav
to eaten this boat for Jersey. There
a license law in New York nowadays
! Besides, ! know a minister here VIII
will be willing 10 supply US with wit
luesscs."
CHAPTER XVII.
Out Under Bail.