The Washington times., 1910-03-04

4
v v red auto chuS its way up the
incline OF the pier and out
through the gate. Eliza beth had turned
about and blown a farewell kiss, then
wiped her eyes with "A little lace hand
MI Warren had half turned about.
as though himself 10 wave a friendly
good-by- But he had seen the cur
lous eyes Of Mrs Dolly Parker study
ing Jne machine while she TtSked miss
ing the last train. standing behind the
shelter of one OF the iron pillars that
supported the station roof
Slowly the young man retraced his
steps TO what was now the front Of
the boat and sat down on the seat
I opposite the one he and Elizabeth had
lately occupied. He lighted q cigar for
consolauon-then forgot ii and let 1t
so out.
The boat remained some time in the
pier, for the hours Of hurried traffic
we've over, and the ferries run on slow
schedules at night. Wallace did not no
tice whether il stayed or went
4 gateman had seen him return and
came pack TO him TO demand payment
Of his fare. He handed I'D quarter
and was surprised when the man re-
turned change
Two belaled drummers came out
and joined him on the deck bench.
Their lively conversation and the merry
story, which one began in return for
another Just fnished by his companion,
grated on Mallaces ears. He started 10
move away, then concluded that one
place was as bad as another. He heard
the rafting of The windlass behind, -
bell rang back In the ferry house.
Then came the laughter and scurry-
ins OF a party OF young people, almost
came through the cabin on the opposite
side and out into the open.
Gee, that was a narrow squeak" a
feminine voice seemed To sputter over a
lump Of chewing gum as they came out
She led the others through the door to
whore Wallace could see that they
4 formed most obviously bridal party
I The couple which followed her OF the
chewing gum and the slang wore no
dlsuncuVely wedding garments They
did not need to, so far as publishing the
marriage was concerned.
4 young man followed the other three
and took his place beside the slanEy
maid.
But that wasn't uothin' 10 the squeak
/ thcrcu be when you tell papa he
laughed hilariously. "ThatU. come pref
" near bein' a howl"
Don't YOU care, the bride ChUckled.
IT'S done now. But he sure viii be
some sore"
''T reckon ne can get over it," the.
groom spoke with words more reckless
! than his tone.
Coin straight home, nowZ'' the chew
ing-gum girl asked
Not much" the bridegroom replied
apDrehensiyely Wen stay to A hotel
tonight. TIN give the old man time to
Here their conversation sank TO low
or tones The bridesmaid and the best
man seemed 20 have matters Of their
own 10 discuss. The happy pair seemed
content 10 let the others discuss them.
In spite of their evident vulgarity, the
party fascinated Wallace. He could
catch occasional glimpses Of the big 10y
| on the rough face of the groom. see the
Z Hs.H n fnsaH# il
I laid her coat over her shoulders
And the bright gladness in the new
WifC.S eyes as she EdZed IN 10 those Of
I her husband. all uuabashed by the pres
/ ence of Okers-On-Deminded him OF
something he had seen in Elizabeth's
Z eyes when she had declared. I'm more
/ tlau thankful that Mrs Parker did see
All was over forever between them.
Z That bright past In which they had
( known and loved each other from child
I hood, instead Of leading I'D to a cul-
mnatlon stil brighter, was becoming
q mCckinG memory 10 contrast with
/ He had said to her father that he
/ hoped she would be able 10 forget him
He knew now that he had lied.
Bravely as he might wish that he
could nope Tor that, II was more than
flesh and blood could contemplate with
out lutensifylng the sorrow that already
IcEed within him.
a
some DAY another might take the place
lie had held i'm her affections was un-
beErabIa- Yet il was hardly less tO!er-
able 70 think Of her suffering for him,
as he knew he must always suffer for
her.
No. mo-, His heart rose up in rebel
lion against the fate that was sealed
against him. He would not have things
as they were.
Somehow ne would break the bonds
Of circumstance He wOuld--he must
Once mere his thought turned to the
possibility Of proving his fathers limo
ceuce of crime. once more the hope
lessness Of the task snote him with
despair.
And vet ne had money enough TO live
on for a while. His business interests
in Erceuville were shattered by his pres
ent position no less than his affair Of
heart
From a business standpoint il might
not be a good venture. But from the
standpoint Of making a life worth living,
and feeblest chance that might lead TO
placing him in a position to claim Eliza
beth as his bride was worth his time
and money
At all events. he would have a look
A. the evidence He would hire A good
lawyer to examine all the testimony
with him.
CHAPTER Xxx.