Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-07-04

er than the romp1ng tormentors
When the assailants had exhausted
the rice and shoes, they charged down
the aisle for the privilege OF kissing
the bride. Mallory was dragged and
hunted and shunted here and there,
and he had to fight his way back to
Marjorie with might and main. He
was tugging and striking like demon,
and yelling, Stop it! stop it,"
Hudson took his punishment with
uproariOus good nature, laughing:
"Oh, shut up, or We'll kiss you!"
But Shaw was scrubbing his wry
lips with a seasick wall Of:
Wow! I think I kissed the dog"
There was, of necessity, some pause
for breath, and the combatants draped
themselves Imply about the seats.
Mallory glared at the twin Benedict
Arnolds and demanded:
Are you two thugs going to San
Francisco with me?"
Don't worry" smiled Hudson,
we're only going as far as Kedzie
avenue, just to start the honeymoon
properly"
If either Of the clippers had been
calmer, the solution of the problem
would have been simple. Marjorie
could get off at this suburban station
and drive home from there. But their
wits were like pied type, and they
were further jumbled, when Shaw
broke in with a sudden: Come, see
the little dove-cote We fixed for you"
Before they knew 1t, they were both
hailed along the aisle to the white
satin atrocity. Love in a bungalow"
said Hudson. "Sit down-make your
selves perfectly at home"
"No-never-oh, oh, OH" cried Mar.
jorie, darting away and throwing
herself into the first empty seat-lra
Lathrop's berth. Mallory followed to
console her with caresses and MUIR
murs of. There's there, don't cry,
dearie!"
Hudson and Shaw followed close
with mawkish mockery: Don't cry,
dearie."
And now Mrs. Temple interviewed.
She had enjoyed the initiation cere-
mony as well as anyone. But when
the little bride began to cry, she re-
membered the pitiful terror and shy
shame she had undergone as a girl
wife, and she fastened to Marjorie's
side, brushing the men away like
gnats.
You poor thing" she comforted.
Come, my child, lean on me. and
have good cry"
Hudson grinned, and put out his
own arms: She can lean on me, II
she'd rather"
Mrs. Temple glanced up with indig-
nant rebuke: Her mother Is far
away, and she wants mothers breast
to weep on. Here's mine, my dear"
The impudent Shaw tapped his own
military chest: "She can use mine"
Infuriated at this bride-baiting, NAL
lory rose and confronted the two
imps with clenched fists: You're
pretty pair of friends, you are!"
The imperturable Shaw put out
pair of tickets as his only defense:
Here are your tickets, old boy"
And Hudson roared jovially: I'VE
tried to get you a stateroom. but It
was gone"
And here are your baggage checks"
laughed Shaw, forcing into his fists
few pasteboards. I'VE got your trunks
on the train ahead, all right. Don't
mention it-you're entirely welcome"
1t was the porter that brought the
first relief from the ordeal.
IF you gemmen is gettin' off at
Kedzie avenue, you'd better step
smart. We're slowtn' up now"
Marjorie was sobbing too audibly
to hear, and Mallory swearing too IN
audibly to heed the opportunity ket.
zie evenue offered And Hudson was
yelling: We'll, gooa-bye, old boy and
old girl. Sorry we can't go all the
way" He had the effrontery to try
to kiss the bride goodbye, and Shaw
was equally bold, but Mallory's fury
enabled him to beat them off. He
elbowed and shouldered them down
the aisle, and sent after them one OF
his own shoes. But it just missed
Shaw's flying coattails.
Mallory stood glaring after the de-
parting traitors. He was glad that
they at least were gone, till he real
lied with a sickening slump in his
Vitals. that they had not taken with
ham his awful dilemma. And now
the train was once more clickety.
clicking into the night and the west
CHAPTER K.