Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-12-01
The Lion and the Lamb
By ANNA PHILLIPS SEE
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary Press

the faculty. No one knew exactly
how It had come about. The fact was
affording him great satisfaction as he
sat one afternoon on a 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 a pink dress
he sprang forward
Dearest" he cried to Mary Ar
mltage, taking her hands.
ooh, Billy, bad newsl Father Is
coming to take me home" she en-
claimed almost tearfully.
Jerusalem! and my dad arrives
this evening to make sure of my d.
ploma."
What shall we do, Billy?'
He kissed her again as an aid to
thought. After a time he announced:
well, guess your father has forced
my hand. Mary, Wen be married this
afternoon and get ahead Of the game"
This afternoon! Oh, l couldn't"
she faltered.
Billy looked at her sternly and de-
manded: do you want to be thrown
to the Lyon?"
mo, no. But don't you have to get
| banns or something before"
"a license, you mean? Certainly. 1
thought we might need one in hur-
ry, so here ii 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 Mr.. 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
SIOuLSI mdll' III NOiSS hhO q hhS5"
| phone.
Billy stopped. We'll, if there isn't
the governor" he cried joyfully. Hop
in, dad. 1 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 seyenty-mile
| gait. His father opened the conversa-
ton. "Armitage and l are very old
| friends" he remarked. Il stumbled
on him coming'up here"
Dad" said Billy, cOnfdentially as
man to man, you've always been
good to me and you mustn't go back
on me this time"
What scrape are you in now?" in
! quired his experienced father.
Miss Armitage and were married
about an hour ago. That's all"
Mr.. Lamb faced about toward the
father and daughter behind him and
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 a 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 had
picked out for you'll"