Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-07-04
r,o,,rOd NTH nIomtnn "Reminiscences.

INJURED with glowing "reminiscences:
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
ruination of all the delight in her lit
tie escapade with her pulpit-fagged
husband If 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
their precious pretend-secret. She
ielt-just then-that woman's first
duty 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
matically, with the instantaneous in
stinct 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
down the aisle at Dr. Temple coming
back from the smoking room. AS the
old man paused to stare at the bridal
berth, whose preparation he had not
seen, he was just enough befuddled
by his first cigar for thirty years to
look trifie tipsy. The motion OF the
train and the rakish tilt Of his I'M
wonted crimson tie confirmed the
suspicion and annihilated Mallory's
newborn hope, that perhaps repentant
fate had dropped a parson at their
very feet.
He sank into the seat opposite
Marjorie, who gave him one terrified
glance, and burst into fresh sobs:
"Oh-oh-boo-hoo-Im so unhap-
happy"
Perhaps Mrs. Temple was a little
miffed at the couple that had led her
astray and opened her own honey
moon with a wanton fib. In any case,
the best consolation she could offer
Marjorie was a perfunctory pat, and
cynicism: 49,
There, there, dear! You don't
know what real unhappiness Is yet.
Wait till you've been married a
while"
And then she noted startling lack
Of completeness in the brides hand.
"Why-my dear!-where's your
wedding ring?"
With what he considered great
presence of mind, Mallory explained:
TIT slipped off-I-I picked 1t up.
I have 1t here" And he took the
little gold band from his waistcoat
and tried to jam 1t on Marjorie's right
thumb.
Not on the thumb" Mrs. Temple
cried. Don't you know"
you see, it's my first marriage"
"You poor boy-this <inger!" And
Mrs. Temple, raising Marjories limp
hand, selected the proper digit, and
held it forward, while Mallory pressed
the fatal circlet home.
And then Mrs. Temple, having com
pleted their installation as man and
wife, utterly COMPOUNDED their con-
fusion by her final effort at comfort:
well, my dears, I'll go back to my
seat, and leave you alone with your
dear husband"
"My dear WHAT" Marjorie mumbled
namely, and began to sniffle again.
Whereupon Mrs. Temple resigned her
to Mallory, and consigned her to fate
with a consoling platitude:
Cheer up, my dear. you'll be all
right in the morning"
Marjorie and Mallory's eyes met in
one wild clash, and then both stared
into the window, and did not notice
that the shades were down.