Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-07-04
Oopyright, IOlI. by n. K. nv Go.

coat OF his chambermafdenly duties
Mallory's first wondering thought was
a rapturous feeling that circum
stances had forced his dream into a
reality. He thrilled with triumph:
I"You've got to go with me now"
"Yes-Ive got to co." Marjorie as.
sented meekly; then, sublimely, Its
fate. Kismet!"
They clutched each other again in
fercely blissful hug. Marjorie came
back to earth with a bump: Are
you really sure there's a minister on
board?"
Pretty sure" said Mallory, sober,
ing a trife.
But you said you were sure?"
well, when you say you're sure,
that means you're not quite sure"
1t was not an entirely satisfactory
justification, and Marjorie began to
quake with alarm: Suppose there
shouldn't be-"
"Oh, then" Mallory answered care.
lessly, there's bound to be one to.
morrow"
Marjorie realized at once the enor.
nous abyss between then and the
morrow, and she gasped: Tomorrow!
And no chaperon! Oh, I'll jump out
of the window"
Mallory could prevent that, but
when she pleaded, what shall we
do?" he had no solution to offer
Again 1t was she who received the
first inspiration.
II have it," she beamed.
Eyes, Marjorie?" he assented, du
biously.
We'll pretend not to be married at
all"
He seized the rescuing ladder:
"That's it! Not married-just
friends"
IT'LL we can get married."
Yes, and then We can stop being
friends"
my love-my friend" They EN-.
braced in a most unfriendly manner.
An impatient yelp from the neg.
lected dog-basket awoke them.
"Oh, Lord, we've brought Snoozle-
tums."
"Of course we have" She took the
dog from the prison, tucked him IN
der her arm, and tried to compose
her bridal face into II merely friendly
lcountenance before they entered the
car. But she must pause for one more
kiss, one more of those bitter-sweet
.good-byes. And Mallory was nothing
lloath.
Hudson and Shaw were still g!umly
lperplexed, when the porter returned
in his white jacket.
Il bet they missed the train; all
this work for nothing" Hudson grum-
bled. But Shaw, seeing the porter,
caught a CLEAN of hope, and asked
Ianxiously:
Say, porter, have you seen any
thing anywhere that looks like fresh
ly married pair"
Well" and the porter rubbed his
eyes with the back Of his hand as he
chuckled, well, they's a mighty low
in couple out theah in the corridor"
That's them-they-it!"
Instantly everything was alive and
I'm action. 1t was as If bugIe had
3shrilled in detected camp.
Get ready" Shaw commanded.
"''Here's rice for everybody"
Everybody take an old SHOE" said
Hudson. You can't miss in this mar
row car"
There's a kaZoo for everyone, too"
said Shaw, as the outstretched hands
were equipped with wedding ammuni-
ition. DO you know the Wedding
March"
81 ought to by this time" said Mrs.
Whitcomb.
Right into the tangle of prepare.
ttion, old Ira Lathrop stalked, on his
way back to his seat to get more
cigars.
Have some rice for the bridal
coupler" said Ashton, Offering him or
his own double-handful
But Lathrop brushed him aside
with romance-hater's growl.
Watch out for your head, then"
cried Hudson, and Lathrop ducked
just too late to escape a neck-hlIing.
hair-filling shower. An old shoe took
him a clip abaft the ear, and the old
woman-hater dropped raging into the
same berth where the spinster, Anne
Cattle, was trying to dodge the same
idownpour.
Still there was enough OF the
ishrapnel left to overwhelm the two
young friends" who marched into
the aisle, trying to look Indifferent
tand prepared for nothing on earth
less than for a wedding charivari.
Mallory should have done better
than to entrust his plans to fellows
like Hudson and Shaw, whom he had
known at West Point Tor diabolically
EjosOus ha2ers and practical jokers.
Even as ne sputtered rice and WINGED
from the impact Of flying footgear,
he was cursing himself as a double
dyed idiot for asking such men to en-
gage his berth for him. He had a
sudden instinct that they had doubt
less bedecked his trunk and Mar
1orie's with white satin furbelows and
Iudicrous labels. But he could not
shelter himself from the white sleet
and the black thumps. He could
hardly shelter Marjorie, who covered
lbehind him and shrieked even loud