The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-06-21
CHAPTER III.
Continued.

the game of matrimony l SnoulC
have preferred my own suitcase, but
it was not to be found, so I appro.
priated Casey's and sat down to watch
the hands of the clock. / wondered
whether Nancy also had packed and
was waiting for dusk; whether, after
all, her heart would not fail her al
the last moment, and whether-well
l suppose every one who has had the
same experience has watched the
clock and wondered what the book
of life will have in store for him
when he turns the leaf.
After a while Ferguesson came in
He tried several chairs, and finally
subsidized on my hat
Look what you're doing" rem
onstrated, but he paid no attention.
A red spot burned on either cheek
which ] credited to round of teas
or rather punch-bowls, but when he
rose and paced the room I noticed
an air of depressed excitement fol
which / was at loss to account. AT
the window he paused.
fBeastly night. Cold, sleeting
slippery, and dark as Egypt in an
hour. Beastly night"
I watched my opportunity, and
when Randy in his restless pacing
passed into the next room I seized
my hat, coat and suitcase and fled.
Our rooms were on the fourth floor
because the rent decreased in pro-
portion to the altitude. At the top
of the third fight / collided with a
stout lady tailoring heavily upwards
and wheeling audibly. / apologized
and before she could acquire breath
to reply was gone.
1t was beastly night. l shivered
as / pulled my hat over my eyes
and turned UP my coat-collar. In
my haste I had forgotten an um-
brella, and the sleet stung unpleas-
antly. / hoped Nancy would have
more foresight and not depend upon
me. She was to meet me around the
corner from Aunt Josephine's, even
as a cab was to meet me around the
corner from our rooms.
The cab lamps were a welcome
sight as / made the turn. To my ex-
cited Imagination, the street was alive
with red eyes that glared in disap-
prevail of my errand.
mo. 29,1S0?" I inquired, with my
hand on the door
"No, sir; number 26,175."
But was inside now and had given
an address.
Cab No. 26,175," repeated the
automaton on the box.
"All right; go on
I was glad l got there first, for /
did not want her to wait for me,
AS | waited, I suddenly realized all l
was asking of Nancy. l remembered
what she was leaving and what l
could give her in return, and the
thought was overwhelming. Suppose
she should ever regret it? Suppose
and then l saw her coming and
forgot everything else.
According to agreement, she wore
long, dark cloak and was closely
yelled, and l opened the cab door and
hurried her inside without giving her
an opportunity to speak.
Now, if Nancy has a fault, 1t is
being too reserved, and therefore /
was surprised when she precipitated
herself into my arms as we drove
away and pillowed her head upon
my shoulder,
ooh, Randolph" she gasped, I'm
80 frightened"
Randolph And the voice was not
Nancy's. Moreover, / could see the
back of her head where the veil
parted. Nancy's hair was brown,
with distracting little curl at the
nape of her neck, but the thick coil
that shone in the uncertain glimmer
of the cab-lamp had distinctly rudy
glow, and I gazed at it with fas-
cinated horror Meanwhile the voice
from my shoulder resumed huskily:
"Oh. dear! I'm so nervous. Why
don't you say something, Randolph
I do believe I'm going to cry"
This was alarming and indicated a
crisis.
please don't" I implored. I'm
quite willing to say anything. only
don't do that
felt myself suddenly released and
heard a stified scream.
I'm sorry" | found myself apollo
giving abjectly; I'm afraid you were
expecting some one else"
/ will not repeat what she said, for
perhaps she was excited and did not
mean 1t, but when / offered to stop
the cab and let her out she merely
made good her previous threat OF
tears.
II distrusted you" she sobbed;
when you didn't say it l distrusted
you"
"Say whatY" I spoke absently, for
I was thinking of Nancy and the
street corner.
"You-you should have said:
Light Of my life. are You waiting there.
With the CLINT of the sunset in your hair
And was g-going to answer
In sunset or sunrise, on hill, glade, OF
tree, M
Soul Of my soul, am waiting for thee.
What are you doing?p
For with my first glimmer OF COM
mon sense l was trying to attract
the attention of the gentleman on the
box and return to the corner and
Nancy.
When we turned ! was surprised
to see we were followed, for another
cab stopped also, wheeling sharply
when we did, and keeping close be-
hind us.