Okolona messenger., 1912-05-09

proclaim that he and MafJOfie' were
mot married-just friends
And now the passengers had ac-
cepted them as that enormous fund Of
amusement to any train, newly we'd
ded pair To explain the mistake
would have been difficult even among
friends. But among strangers-welL
perhaps n wiser and a colder brain
than Harry Mallory's could have
stood there and delivered brief ora
ton restoring truth to her pedestal
But Mallory was IN no condition for
such O stole delivery.
He mopped his brow in agony, lost
in a blizzard OF beWtlderment He
drifted back toward Marjorie half to
protect and half for companionship.
lie found Mrs Temple cuddIing her
close and mothering her as If she
We're a baby instead of bride.
did the poor child run away and
get marred?"
Marjorte's frant1c' "Boo-hoo-hoo"
might have meant anything Mrs.
Temple took It for assent, and mur-
INJURED with glowing reminiscence:
Just the way Doctor Temple and l
did"
She could not see the leaping fash
of wild hope that lighted UP MaIlory's
face. She only heard his voice across
her shoulder:
Doctor? Doctor Temple? Is your
husband reverend doctor?"
"a reverend doctor?" the little old
lady repeated weakly.
( "Yes-a-a preacher"
The poor old congregation-weary
soul was abruptly confronted with the
ruinatioa of all the delight in her lit
tie escapade with her pulpit-fagged
husband. II she had ever dreamed
that the girl who was weeping in her
arms was weeping from any other
fright than the usual fright Of young
brides, fresh from the preachers ben
ediction, she would nave cast every
other consideration aside, and TOLD
the truth
But her husbands last behest be
fore he left her had been to keel
their precious pretend-secret. She
felt-just then--that womans first
duty Is to obey her husband Besides
what business was 1t Of this youne
husbands what her old husband:
business was? Before she had fairly
begun to debate her duty, almost auto
matically, with the instantaneous In
stinct of self-protection, her lips hat
uttered the denial
"Oh--he's-just a--Dlain doctor
There he ts now"
Mallory cast one miserable ganct
down the aisle at Or, Temple cominl
back from the sI1ohng ROOM AS tn
old man paused to stara at the brida
berth, whose preparation he had no
seen, he was Just enough befuddLe'
by his first cigar for thirty years Il
look trife tipsy The motion Of tn
train and the rakish tilt Of his ur
wonted crimson tie confirmed tn
suspicion and annihllated Mallory
newborn hope, that perhaps repentan
fate had dropped a parson at thei
very feet.
He sank into the seat oppOsit
Marjorie who gave him one terrific
glance, and burst into fresh sobs:
-oh-.boo.noo--I'm SO unhap-
happy"
: Perhaps Mrs Temple was q httl
miffed at the couple that had led he
astray and opened her own hone,
moon with a wanton tlb, in any cas-
the best consolation she could otfc
T. Marjorie was a perfunctory pat, and
E cynicism;
There, there, dear! You don
know what real uuhaDpiness is ye
Wait till you've been married
while"
o And then she noted a startling Lax
S Of completeness In the brides hand
y "Why-my dear!-where's yol
o wedding ring?"
L With what he considered gre
: presence Of mind, Mallory explained
TIT slipped off-l-I picked It u
a have it here" And be took Il
4 little gold band from his waistco
= and tried to jam it on MariorieB rig
!, thumb
0 Not or the thumb" Mrs. Tenn