The Green Forest tribune., 1910-12-02

ed so far as Mrs. Veriton was con- cerned.
 The June days passed in a gay round. in which Billy Lamb saw from afar his adored one always guarded by her cousin and Reginald Lyon. This vouth was paying Miss Armitage such attention that the boys christened her the Lyon-Tamer." No girl, or any one else had ever before charmed the dollars from this rich-but stingy- young man.
 Commencement was at hand and Will liam Lambs name was in the list of graduates, much to the surprise of the faculty. No one knew exactly how it had come about. The fact was affording him great satisfaction as he sat one afternoon on log in the woods near the golf links. He seemed to be expecting some one, for he kept his eye on the path that led to the town. At the glimmer of pink dress he sprang forward.
 Dearest" he cried to Mary Ar mitage, taking her hands.
 "Oh, Billy, bad news! Father Is coming to take me home," she ex- claimed almost tearfully.
 Jerusalem! and my dad arrives this evening to make sure of my d1- ploma."
 What shall we do, Billy?"
 He kissed her again as an aid to thought After a time he announced: Well, I guess your father has forced my hand. Mary, we'll be married this | afternoon and get ahead of the game.
 This afternoon! Oh. I couldn't" she faltered
 Billy looked at her sternly and de- handed: Do you want to be thrown to the Lyon?"
 "No, no. But don't you have to get banns or something before-
 "A license, you mean? Certainly. thought we might need one in hur- ry, so here it is" He waved a paper before her eyes.
 Now, Mary, I'll have my machine at the crossroads in fifteen minutes. In fifteen more we'll be In Wilton looking for an accommodating minis ter. Brace up, dear. Everything will be all right as soon as we are mar ried"
 One hour later the deed was done, and Mir. and Mrs. William Lamb were dashing down the main street of Will ton, lodging trolley cars, vehicles and pedestrians. The bridegroom was in toxicated with happiness. This was truly a joy ride with the only girl, now his, sitting beside him. At the sharp turn by the railroad station, where travellers for Athens take the trolley, he nearly ran down two elder ly gentlemen, who cast wrathful glances at the speeding automobile.
 Why, hello, Sonny?" yelled the stouter man, in a voice like mega. phone.
 Billy stopped. Well, if there isn't the governor" he cried joyfully. Hop in, dad. I didn't expect you so early"
 Father" gasped Mary in fright ened voice to the thin, elderly gentle man. At that word William Lamb knew that a crisis was approaching in his affairs.
 The fathers climbed into the auto mobile and sat each by his child. The chauffeur drove the machine at pace pleasing to elderly parents, but his mind was racing at a seventy-mile gait. His father opened the conversa- tion. "Armitase and I are very old friends" he remarked. 'I stumbled on him coming up here.''
 Dad" said Billy, contidentially as man to man, you've always been good to me and you musn't go back on me this time"
 What scrape are you in now?' 1n- | quired his experienced father.
 Miss Armitage and I were married about an hour ago. That's all" MT. Lamb faced about toward the | father and daughter behind him and 1 roared: "Armitage, what do you think | these young idiots did this afternoon? Ran away and got married!"
 Mary turned pale and shrank into the corner of the seat. Her father looked at her without word, his stern face becoming red, then purple, with suppressed emotion. Suddenly he seized her trembling arm. How dare you, Mary Armitage!" he cried, burst | ing with laughter. How dare you run away and marry the man 1 had picked out for you!"