Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-23
the train was once more clicEety.
clicking into the night and the vest,
CHAPTER x.
Excess BAGGAGE.


Lieutenant Harry Mallory, safely
aboard his train, and not daring TO
leave it, yet hopelessly unaware OF
how he was to dispose OF his lovely
but nnlabelled baggage.
Hudson and Shaw had erected &
white satin temple to Hymen IN berth
number one. had created such commoT
ton, and departed in such confusion,
that there had been no opportunity to
proclaim that he and Marjorie were
not marTied-just friends
And now the passengers mad ac-
cepted them as that enormous fund OF
amusement to any train. a newly wed
ded pair. TO explain the mistake
would have been difficult, even among
friends. But among strangers-%ell,
perhaps wiser and colder Draln
than Harry Mallory's could nave
stood there and delivered a brief ora
ton restoring truth to her pedestal:
But Mallory was in no condition Tor
such a stole delivery.
He mopped his brow in agony, lost
In blizzard of bewilderment. He
drifted back toward Marjorie, half to
protect and half for comprehensive.
He found Mrs. Temple Guiding her
close and mothering her as II she
were q baby instead Of bride.
Did the poor child run away and
get married."
Marior!e's frantic "Boo-noohoo"
might have meant anything. Mrs.
Temple took it for assent, and muir
INJURED with glowing "Reminiscences:
Just the way Doctor Temple and L
did"
She could not see the leaplng fash
OF wild hope that lighted up Mallorys
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 Door old egation-Weary
soul was abruptly confronted with the
ruination OF all the delight IN her III
tie escapade with her pulpit-faSged
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 6ehest De-
fore he left her had been to Keep
their precious pretend.secret. Sne
felt-just then-that a womans nrst
duty Is to obey her husband. Besides
what business was it OF this young
husbands what her old husbands
business was? Before she had tairly
begun 10 debate her duty, almost auto
matically, with the instantaneous IN
stinct of self-protection. her lips mad
uttered the denial:
"Oh-he' a-plain doclor.
There he is now"
Mallory cast one miserable glance
down the aisle al Or. 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 a tritie tipsy. The motion or the
train and the rakish tilt OF his un-
L. -
suspicion and annihilated Mallory B
newborn hope, that perhaps repentant
fate had dropped parson at their
very feet.
He sank into the seat opposite
Marjorie. who gave him one termed
glance, and burst into fresh sobs:
"Oh-oh-boo.hoo- so unhap-
happy"
Perhaps Mrs. Temple was a little
mirfed at the couple that had led her
astray and opened her own honey
moon with a wanton f1b. In any case.
the best consolation she could oner
Marjorie was a perfunctory pat, and q
cynicism:
There, there, dear! You don't
know what real unhappiness Is yet.
Wait till you've been married
while"
And then she noted q 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:
lit slipped on-I-I picked II up
1 have It 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 finger! Ana
Mrs. Temple, raising Marjorie's limp
hand. selected the proper digit. ana
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-