Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-09-26
the rest of the festiyity.
CHAPTER XXI.
Fooled Vet AGAIN,

MdIlOTy udu uSu LlOLl TIC 0SChc at
the first hum Of the minister's words.
His fate was like alkali on his palate.
For twelve hundred miles he had ran
sacked the world for minister. When
one dropped on the train like mamma
through the roof, even this miracle
had to be checkmated by perverse
miracle that sent to the train an early
infatuation, silly affair that he him.
self called puppy-love. And now Mar
jorie would never marry him. He did
not blame her. He blamed fate.
He was in solitude in the smoking
room. The place reeked with drifting
tobacco smoke and the malodor OF
cigar stubs and cigarette ends. His
plans were as useless and odious as
cigarette ends. He dropped into
chair, his elbows on his knees and
his head in his hands-Napoleon on
ST. Helena.
And then, suddenly he heard Mar
jorie's voice. He turned and saw her
hesitating in the doorway. He rose
to welcome her, but the smile died
on his lips at her chilly speech:
MAY | have a word with you, sir?"
"Of course. The airs rather thick
In here" he apologized.
Just watt" she said, ominously,
and staIked in like young Zenobia.
He put out an appealing hand: Now,
Marjorie, listen to reason. OF course
/ know you won't marry me now"
ooh, you know that, do your" she
said, with a squared jaw.
"But, really, you ought to. marry
me--not merely because i love you
and you're the only girl ever" He
stopped short and she almost smiled
as she tainted him: go OIL dare
you to say It,"
He swallowed hard and waived the
point: well, anyway, You ought to
marry me-for your own sake"
Then she took his breath away by
answering: "Oh. I'm going to marry
you, never fear"
You are" he cried, with rush OF
returning hope. "Oh, ! knew you
loved me-"
She pushed his encircling arms
aside: II don't love you, and that's
why I'm going to marry YOU"
But l don't understand"
"Of course not" she sneered, as II
she were thousand years old, you're
only man--and very young man"
You've ceased to love me-" he pro-
tested, lust because of little affair
/ had before met you?"
Marjorie answered with world-old
wisdom "A woman can forgive a
man anything except what he did be-
fore he met her." -
He stared at her with masculine dis
may at feminine logic: IF you can't
forgive me, then why do you marry
me?"
For revengel" she cried. You
brought me on this train all this dis
lance to introduce me to girl you
used to spoon with. And I don't like
her. She's awful" "a
Eyes, she is awful" Mallory assent
ed. 81 don't know how / ever"
"Oh, you admit it,"
mo" -
w SlAp i III SOlh6 w iva
now-this minute-with that preach
er, then I'm going to get of at Keno
and divorce YOU" -.... ~.
Divorce me! Good Lord! On what
grouRds?" "a
ION the grounds Of Miss Kitty
Katty--Llewellington or whatever
her name is." IL. m
Mallory was groggy with punish
ment, and the vain effort to foresee
her next blow. But you can't name
a woman that way" he pleaded, for
just being nice to me before 1 ever
met you" - u
That's the worst kind of unfaith-
fulness," she reiterated. You should
have known that some day you would
meet me. You should have saved
your first love for me-"
-"But last love is best" Mallory en-
terposed, weakly.
"Oh, no, it isn't, and If it is, how do
l know I'm to be your last love? No,
sir, when I've divorced you, you can
go back to your first love and go
round the world with her till you get
dizzy"
But don't want her for wife"
Mallory urged, II want you"
You'll get me-but not for long.
And one other thing. want you to
get that bracelet away from that
creature. Do you promise?"
How can I get it away?"
Take 1t away! Do you promise?"
Mallory surrendered completely.
Anything to get Marjorie safely into
his arms: II promise anything, II
you'll really marry me-"
"Oh, I'll marry you. sir, but not
really"
And while he stared In helpless awe
at the cynic and termagant that
jealousy had metamorphosed this tim.
i'd. clinging creature into, they heard
the conductors voice at the rear door
of the car: Hurry up-we'ye got to
start"
They heard Lathrop's protest:
Hold on there, conductor" and Sci.
by's plea: "Oh, say, my good man.
wait moment, can't your"
The conductor answered with the
gruffness of despot: mot a minute.
I've my orders to make up lost time.
All aboard"
1-A