Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-20

military superiors. An hour ago they
| were young lovers in all the Tilt and
thrill of elopement. She had chung to
him in the cleaning OF their tax1cab,
as 1t sped like genie at their 'whim
to the place where the minister
would unite their hands and raise Ma
own in blessing. Thence the new
husband would have carried the new
wife away, his very own, soul and
body, duty and beauty. Then, an,
then in their minds the future was an
unwaning honeymoon, the journey
across the continent, stroll along a
lovers lane, the Pacific ocean a gar
den lake, and the Philippines chain
of Fortunate Isles decreed especially
for their Eden. And then the taxi
cab encountered lamppost. They
thought they had merely wrecked
motor car-and 10, they had wrecked
3 Paradise.
The railroad ceased to be lovers
lane and became q lingering torment;
the ocean was a weltering Sahara,
and the Philippines a Dry Tortugas
of exile.
Mallory realized for the first time
what heavy burdens he had taken on
with his shoulder straps; what q dis
NAL life of restrictions and hardshlps
an officers life is bound to be. 1t was
hard to obey the soulless machinery
of discipline, to be brass-buttoned
slave. He felt all the hot, quick re-
sentiment that turns faithful solder
into O deserter. But 1t takes time to
evolve a deserter, and Mallory had
only twenty minutes. The handouts
and legirons of discipline hoDbled
him. He was only little cog in a
great clock, and the other Wneels
were impinging on him and revoiV-
ing In spite Of himself.
In the close-packed seats where
they were jostled and stared ct, the
soldier could not even attempt to ex-
plain to his fascinated bride the war
! of motives in his breast. He could
not voice the passionate rebellion her
beauty had whipped up in his soul.
Perhaps if Romeo and Juliet had been
forced to say farewell on Chicago
street car instead OF Veronese bal
cony, their language would have
lacked SAVIOR, too.
Perhaps young Mr.. Montague and
young Miss Capulet, instead OF wall
ing, mo, that is not the lark whose
notes do beat the vanity heaven SO
high above our heads" would have
done no better than Mr.. Mallory and
Miss Newton. In any case, the best
these two could squeeze out was:
Its just too bad, honey"
But | guess it can't be helped,
dear"
Its mean old world, isn't it?"
Awful"
And then they must pile out into
the street again 80 lost In woe that
thew did not know how they were
trampled or elbowed. Marjories de-
spair was so complete that it paralyzed
instinct. She forgot SnooZleums! A
thoughtful passenger ran out anu
tossed the basket into Mallory's arms
even as the car WOVeu Ou.
Fortune relented moment ana
they found 81 taXicab waiting where
they had expected TO find it. once
rore they were cosy in the hylng
twilight, but their grief was their
only baggage, and the clasp OF their
hands talked all the talk there was.
Anxiety within anxiety tormenteo
them and they feared another wreck.
But as they swooped down upon the
station, a kind-faced tower CLOCK
beamed the reinsurance that they
had three minutes to spare.
The taxicab drew up and halted,
but they did not get out. They were
kissing good-byes, fervidly and nu'
merously, while grinning station
porter winked at the winking chaul-
feur
Marjorie simply could not have
done with farewells. :"
I'll go to the gate with YOU" she
said
He told the chauffeur to wait and
take the young lady home. The lieu
tenant looked so honest and the girl
so sad that the chauffeur simply
touched his cap, though 1t was not
his custom TO allow strange fares TO
vanish into crowded stations, leaving
behind nothing more negotiable than
instructions to wait.