Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-30

The Professors rtystsry
(epvibtlHlby Bdbl1srs (S
CHAPTER XXX-(Continued.
II found the trouble he said, and
fixed your pump, too. That didn't
seem to be coupled on just right.
worked on the thing myself to almost
midnight
And, indeed, for the first two or
three miles blessed him. for the car
ran with all It's first serene rapidity.
Then there came new sound, which
recognized with sinking heart from
the pounding Of the engine, and which
slowly increased, until some time later
we were forced to stop. A glance und-
er the hood told me what was the
trouble. The over-officious mechanic
in tampering with the pump had rem
dered 1t practically useless, so that
the engine had grown very hot, and
the water was boiling in the radiator.
There was nothing to do but to wait
until it cooled and we We're able to
run on agatn-to run on until the new
laboring of the engines warned me
that 1t was again time to stop. III this
hating way we made our journey. But
the nights sleep had refreshed lib all,
50 that we took our misfortunes cheer
fully enough.
1T does seem pleasant" Mrs. La
throp said, Ito be riding round like
this as IL there wasn't lick of work
to do in the whole world. Just the
same, l suppose you'd better manage
to go through Buckingham and drop
me on the way
Nancy leaned over and whispered to
me.
MRS. Lathrop," said, you are go
ing to have great honor. You're to be
the only guest at our wedding. Nancy
thinks that Doylestown Is the best
place to be married in, so If you will
come that far and be matron of honor
or something like that, you can start
with us on our honeymoon; and we'll
drive out to Buckingham after the we'd
ding and leave you there before we go
home. Even with the car acting this
way we should be In Doylestown by
one o'clock"
Mrs. Lathrop flushed quite unex-
pectedly
i
"but I'm not hardly what you'd call
dressed for wedding"
Nancy looked down at her own
striped bingham dress.
do you think this is pretty we'd
|ding-dress?" she asked.
mo, l don't" said Mrs. Lathrop EN-.
phatically, land that settles it. We
stop at Buckingham whether that
young man wants us to or not. II
doesn't make any difference how much
of hurry he is In. I'm not going to
see you married in that convict dress
Why" she went on, with rising 1ndig.
nation, that Mrs. Olsen wore one cut
off the same piece of goods. You're
q mite taller than am, but guess
can fix you"
And so It was arranged. To reach
Buckingham needed but slight de.
tour, and we drew up before Mrs. La
throp's handkerchief of lawn few
minutes before noon. / waited in the
car while Nancy and Mrs. Lathrop,
their arms about each others waists
like two girls, disappeared into the
house. After not insupportable time
they came out to the car again, Nancy
swathed In long rain-coat, with the
hood drawn up over her head, little
satin slippers peeping beneath the
hem, and Mrs. Lathrop bonneted and
shawled and in the conscious dignity
of silk dress.
The car had cooled during the wait,
and we ran to Doylestown without q
stop, finding the rector at his very
gate. He called his wife as our other
witness, and unlocked the door OF the
dim, lovely little church for US.
In the light of the vestibule Mrs.
Lathrop stopped Nancy, and unlock.
ing the rain-coat, carefully turned back
the hood and took it from her shout.
ders. with all the loving solicitude and
triumphant pleasure Of a true fairy
godmother. And it was indeed as If
she waved wand; for Nancy stepped
from the dark garment Ike new.
blown flower, her bride-veil a floating
almost impalable thing behind her,
which scarcely dimmed the luster OF
her hair, and fell In nebulous softness
to the sweeping, embroidered satin
train. There were tears In Mrs. La
throp's eyes as she kissed her.
my own dress, dearie," she said,
"and I never thought to see any one
so lovely in It,"
There were tears in Nancy's eyes,
think, too, happy tears as she stood
shyly proud before me; and halt
afraid, stretched out my hand to her
and together we walked up the aisle
to where, at the altar, the rector al
ready awaited US.
made my responses as we'll as
was able before the soft and glowing
wonder of her, and like swift dream
it was over and found myself once
more out again in the bright sunshine
with Nancy surely my wife. 1t was
in sort of golden daze that drove
the car back to Buckingham, where
Mrs. Lathrop waved US an au revoir
from her front gait. l was an IRE.
sponsible driver, am sure, for must
look constantly from the road to
Nancy sitting beside me, to assure my.
self ever and again that this was not
some dream.