The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-04-12
CHAPTER x.


CHAPTER x.
Excess Baggage.
Never was young soldier &c
stumped by problem in tactics az
Lieutenant Harry Mallory, safely
aboard his train, and not daring to
leave 1t. yet hopelessly unaware OF
how he was to dispose of his lovely
but unlabelled baggage.
Hudson and Shaw had erected q
white satin temple to Hymen in berth
number one, had created such commo-
ton, and departed in such confusion,
that there had been no opportunity to
proclaim that he and Marjorie were
mot married-just friends"
And now the passengers had &C
cepted them as that enormous fund OF
amusement to any train, newly we'd
ded pair. To explain the mistake
would have been difficult, even among
friends. But among strangers-well,
perhaps wiser and a colder brain
than Harry Mallory's could have
stood there and delivered a brief ora
ton restoring truth to her pedestal
But Mallory was In no condition for
such stole delivery.
He mopped his brow in agony, lost
In blizzard of bewilderment. He
drifted back toward Marjorie, half to
protect and half for companionship.
He found Mrs. Temple cuddling her
close and mothering her as II she
were baby instead Of bride.
did the poor child run away and
get married?"
Marjorie's frantic "Boo-hoo-hoo"
might have meant anything. Mrs.
Temple took 1t for assent, and muir
INJURED with glowing reminiscence:
Just the way Doctor Temple and 1
did"
She could not see the leaping flash
OF wild hope that lighted up Mallory's
face. She only heard his voice across
her shoulder:
Doctor? Doctor Temple! Is your
husband a reverend doctor?"
"A reverend doctor?" the little old
lady repeated weakly.
"Yes-a-a preacher"
The poor old congregation-weary
soul was abruptly confronted with the
of all the delight in her lit
tie escapade with her pulpit-fagged
husband. II she had ever dreamed
that the girl who was weeping in her
arms was weeping from any other
fright than the usual fright of young
brides, fresh from the preachers ben
ediction, she would have cast every
other consideration aside, and told
the truth.
But her husbands last behest be-
fore he left her had been to keep
heir precious pretend-secret. She
then-that woman's first
luty Is to obey her husband. Besides,
what business was 1t OF this young
husbands what her old husbands
business was? Before she had fairly
begun to debate her duty, almost auto
with the instantaneous in
'tinct Of self-protection. her lips had
Uttered the denial:
"Oh-he's-just a-plain doctor. |
There he is now"
Mallory cast one miserable glance |
Town the aisle at DR.. Temple coming |
Jack from the smoking room. AS the
I'D man paused to stare at the bridal
'erth, whose preparation he had not
zen, he was just enough befuddled
~ his first cigar for thirty years to
ook trifle tipsy. The motion of the
rain and the rakish tilt of his I'M
uspicion and annihilated Mallory's
ew-born hope, that perhaps rcpentant
ate had dropped parson at their
cry feet.
He sank into the seat opposite
Iarjorie, who gave him one terrified
lance, and burst into fresh sobs:
"Oh-oh-boo-hoo-I'm so unhap-
ap-py."
Perhaps Mrs. Temple was a little
liffed at the couple that had led her
stray and opened her own honey
noon with wanton fib. In any case,
he best consolation she could ofrer
iarjorie was a perfunctory pat, and a
ynicism:
There, there, dear! You don't
now what real unhappiness is yet.
Vait till you've been married
'hile."
And then she noted startling lack
completeness In the brides hand.
"Why-my dear!-where's your
edding ring?"
With what he considered great
resence Of mind, Mallory explained: 4
TIT slipped off-I-I picked It up.
have 1t here" And he took the {
tile gold band from his waistcoat
nd tried to jam 1t on Marjorie's right 4
Iumb.