The Rice belt journal., 1912-07-19


sought II train They were not mlser'
able like the young couple in the taxi
cab. They were whits haired both
They had been marriec for thirty
years. Yet this was their real honey
moon, their real elopement.
The little woman in the timid gray
bonnet clapped her hands and Uttered
like a schoolgirl
"Oh, Walter, | can't believe were
really going to leave lpsilanti for
while. Oh, but you've earned it after
thirty years of being preacher"
Hush. Don't let me hear you say
the awful word" said the little old
man in the little black hat and the
close-litting black bib. I'm SO tired
of it, Sally, don't want anybody on
the train to know it,
They can't help guessing it, with
your collar buttoned behind
And then the amazing minister act
ually dared to say, Here's where |
change it around" What's more, he
actually did it. Actually took off his
collar and buttoned it to the front.
The old carriage seemed almost to
rock with the earthquake of the deed.
why, Walter Temple!" his wife ex-
claimed What would they say in
Ypsilanti?"
They'll never know" he answered,
detiantly.
But your bib?" she said
I've thought of that, too," he cried,
as he whipped it off and stuffed it into
a handbag. Look, what I've bought"
And he dangled before her startled
eyes a long affair which the sudden
light from passing lamp-post re-
vealed to be nothing less than far
ing red tie.
The old lady touched it to make
sure she was not dreaming it. Then,
emitting further parley with fate, she
snatched it away, put it round his
neck, and, since her arms were en-
bracing him, kissed him twice before
she knotted the ribbon into a flaming
bow. She sat back and regarded the
vision a moment, then flung her arms
round him and hugged him till he
gasped:
Watch out-watch out. Don't crush
my cigars"
Cigars! Cigars" she echoed, in a
daze.
And then the astounding husband
produced them in proof.
Genuine Lillian Russells-five
cents straight"
"But | never saw you smoke"
Haven't taken puff since | was a
young fellow" he grinned, wagging
his head. But now it's my vacation,
and I'm going to smoke up."
She squeezed his hand with an
earlier ardor: Now you're the old
Walter Temple used to know"
Sally" he said, 1--WE been travelling
through life on half-fare ticket. Now
I'm going to have my little fling. And
you brace up, too, and be the old mis-.
chievous Sally used to know. Aren't
you glad to be away from those sew.
ing circles and gossip-bees, and -"
Ugh! Don't ever mention them"
she shuddered. Then she, too, felt
tinge of recurring springtide. "If you
start to smoking, think I'll take up
flirting once more"
He pinched her cheek and laughed,
"As the saying is; go as far as you de-
sire and I'll leave the coast clear"
lie Kept his promise, too, for they
were no sooner on the train and snug.
ly bestowed in section five, than he
was up and off.
Where are you going?" she asked
TO the smoking-room,' he swag-
gered, brandishing a dangerous look.
ing cigar.
"oh, Walter" she snickered, 81 feel
like young runaway"
You look like one. Be careful NOT
to let anybody know that you're a.
ne lowered his voice-"an old preach.
er's wife"
I'm as ashamed of it as you are"
she whispered. Then he threw her a
KISS and wink. She threw him a kiss
ana Wlnked too. And he went along
lhe aisle eyeing his cigar gloatingly. |
AS ne entered the smoking-room. light.
ed the weed and blew out a great nuff
with a sigh of rapture, who could have
-aken him, with his feet cooked nm
and his red tie rakishly askew, for a !
minister?
AND Sally herself was busy disguis. |
ng herself, loosening up her hair 90. |
luettlshly, smiling the primness ont !
u the Sc: corners of her month and
e'en--let the truth be told at all costs
even passing a pink.rowdered puff
over her pale cheeks with guilty. SIR.
reptition. ~
mus arrayed she was soon Joining
he conspirators bedeckirg the bower
or the expected bride and groom, She
was the youngest and most mischiev.
'us OF the lot. She felt herself q bride
again, and vowed to protect th;s tin,id