The Prescott daily news., 1912-04-01

brellas and other equipment. He ran to the corner to call after the owners. They were as absent of body as they had been absent of mind.
 He remembered the street-number they had given him as their destina- tion. He waited til at last a yawning policeman sauntered that way like a lonely beach patrol, and left him in charge while he went to telephone his garage for a wagon and a wrecking crew.
 It was close on midnight before he reached the number his fares had given him. It was parsonage lean- ing against church. He rang the bell and finally produced from an up per window a nightshirt topped by frowsy head He explained the situ- ation. and his possession of certain known except by their first names. The clergyman drowsily murmured;
 "Oh, yes. l remember. The young man was Lieutenant Henry Mallory, and he said he would stop here with young lady, and get married on the
 Wouldn't 1t be terrible, Harry, if, just as We got to the minister's, we should find papa there ahead of us, waiting to forbid the bands, or what ever it is? Wouldn't it be just ter rible?"
 Yes, it would, honey, but it doesn't seem probable There are thousands of ministers in Chicago. He could never find ours. Fact is, l doubt if we find him ourselves"
 Her clutch frightened till he would have winced, if he had not been soldier.
 What do you mean, Harry"
 Well, in the first place, honey, look what time it Is. Hardly more than time to get the train, to say nothing of hunting for that preacher and standing up through a long rigma- role"
 Why, Harry Mallory, are you get ting ready to jilt me?'
 Indeed I'm not-not for worlds, honey, but I've got to get that train, haven't I?"
 Couldn't you wait over one train. just one tiny little train?"
 My own, own honey love, you know it's impossible! You must re- member that I've already waited over three trains while you tried to make up your mind"
 " pd VOI, T1I1St rpr,op1b br- Jo that it's no easy matter fer girl to decide to sneak away from home and be married secretly. and go all the way out to that hideous Manila with no rousseau and no wedding pres. ents and no anything"
 "i know it isn't, and l waited pa- tiently while you got up the courage. But now there are no more trains. l shudder to think of this train being late We're not due in San Fran cisco till Thursday evening, and my transport sails at sunrise Friday morn ing Oh. Lord. what if l should miss that transport What if should!" What if we should miss the min. ister?"
 Tt begins to look a great deal like it."
 But, Harry, you wouldn't desert me now-abandon me to my fate?" Well, it isn't exactly like abandon ment seeing that you could go home to your father and mother in a taxi. cab"
 She stared at him in horror. So you don't want me for your wife! You've changed your mind! You're tired of me already! Only an hour together, and you're sick of your bargain You're anxious to get rid oi me! You"
 "Oh, honey, l want you more than anything else on earth, but I'm a soldier, dearie, mere lieutenant in | the regular army, and I'm the slave | of the government, I've gone through West Point. and they won't let me re sign respectfully and if I did, wed starve. They wouldn't accept my | resigHs ton, but they'd be willing to courtmartial me and dismiss me from | the service in disgrace. Then you wouldn't want to marry me-and shouldn't have any way of supporting you if you did. l only know one | trade, and that's soldering"
 Don't call 1t a trade, beloved, it's | the noblest profession Tn all the world, and you're the noblest soldier that ever was, and in a year or two you'll be the biggest general in the army"
 He could not afford to shatter such a devout illusion or Quench the light of faith in those beloved and loving eyes He tacitly admitted his ability