Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-05-16

She pushed his encircIlng al
] COPYRIGHT 1911 y, H.k.FLT CO

aside. Il don't love you, ana lnaI
why I'm going to marry you"
but | don't understand
"Of course not" she sneered, as II
she We're a thousand years old, you're
only man-and a very young man.
you've ceased to love me" he pro-
tested, Just because of little affair
had before | met you?"
Marjorie answered with world-old
wisdom: "A woman can forgive a
man anything except what he did be-
fore he met her"
He stared at her with masculine dis
may at feminine logic: IF you can't
forgive me, then why do you marry
me?'
For revenge!" she cried. You
brought me on this train all this dis
tance to introduce me to girl you
used to spoon with. And don't like
her. She's awful"
''Yes, she is awful" Mallory assent
ed. Il don't know how | ever"
"Oh, you admit it,"
mo"
"Well, I'm going to marry you-
now-this minute-with that preach
er, then I'm going to get off at Reno
and divorce YOU
Divorce me! Good Lord! On what
grounds
"On the grounds OF Miss Kitty
Katty-LlewelIin - or whatever
her name is
Mallory was groggy with punish
ment, and the vain effort to foresee
a woman that way he pleaded, tor
just being nice to me before | ever
met YOU"
That's the worst kind of unfaith-
fulness," she reiterated. You should
have known that some day you would
meet me- You should have saved
your first love for me-"
but last love is best" Mallory in
terposed weakly.
"Oh, no, it isn't, and if it is, how do
| know I'm to be your last love? NO.
sir, when I've divorced You, you can
go back to your first love and go
round the world with her till you get
: dizzy"
"Rut | don't want her for a Wife,"
Mallory urged, II want you
You'll get me-but not for long.
And one other thing, want you to
get that bracelet away from that
creature. Do you promise"
How can | get it away?'
Take it away! Do you promise?"
Mallory surrendered completely.
Anything to get Marjorie safely into
his arms: Il promise anything, II
you'll really marry me-
"Oh, I'll marry you, sir, but not
really"
And while he stared in helpless awe
at the cynic and termagant that
jealousy had metamorphosed this tim
id, cinging creature into, they heard
the conductors voice at the rear door
start"
! They heard Lathrop's protest:
Hold on there, conductor and Sell
by's plea: ION, | say, my good man,
wait moment, can't you?"
The conductor answered with the
gruffness of a despot Not minute.
I've my orders to make up lost time.
All aboard"
While the minister was tying the
last loose ends of the matrimonial
knot, Mallory and Marjorie were
struggling through the crowd to get
at him. Just as they We're near, they
were swept aside by the rush OF the
bride and groom, for the parsons Il
pronounce you man and wife," pro-
nounced as he backed toward the
door, was the signal tor another we'd
ding riot
Once more Ira and Anne were show
cred with rice. This time it was their
own Ira darted out into the corridor,
haling his brand-new wife by the
wrist, and the wedding guests pur-
sued them across the vestibule,
through the next car, and on, and on.
Nobody remained to notice what
happened to the parson. Having per-
formed his function, he was without
further interest or use. But to NAL
lory and Marjorie he was vitality
necessary.
Mallory caught his hand as 1t turned
the knob of the door and drew him
back. Marjorie, equally determined,
caught his other elbow:
please don't CO." Mallory urged,
until you've married u.s."
The Reverend Charles stared at his
captors In amaZement:
But my dear man, TIE trains mov-
ing"
Marjorie clung all the tighter and
invited him to Come on to the next
stop
But my dear lady," Selby gasped,
its impossible"
You've just got to-" Mallory In
sisted
Release me, please"
"Never!"
How dare you!" the parson
shrieked, and with a sudden wriggle
writhed out of his coat, leaving 1t in
Marjorie's hands. He darted to the
door and flung 1t open, with Mallory
hot after him.