The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-26

| w go soneWherc-and them there's al
ways father to think Of"
"oh, stop, stop" Fredericka cried. lay
Ing her hand on her companions arm.
She leaned over the side OF the automo-
bile. Are you Miss Dorothy Stone" she
asked earnestly.
The girl Jumped. why. yes" she said,
II am, bu; how-what-"
| Your father is behind us In car
riage." Frederlcka Interrupted. Don't
you see them? Get into the automobile
and We'll take you to another minister's.
we know all about it-we've Just left Mr..
| Wharton. Your father had come there to
prevent the marriage. You will help them,
won't you?" she appealed strenuously to
| Bennett.
| OF course will" Bennett said prompt
~. Here. get IN. get in, Quick They're
on TO us back there. Hear how much
faster they're driving. Well. we'll show
them what we can DO. I'm sorry for
them but I'm afraid they'll have 10 take
our dust"
me race was an exciting one. But the
automobile won. as Mr.. Irwin. the pro-
spective bridegroom. said. hands down. {"
IL ieaped forward and gradually acauir-
Ing Its greatest speed 1t shot straight
through the town TO It's farthest end. At
first there was. between the two girls
some sort of broken conversation. con-
fused explanations. suggestions. and ad-
vice. But as their gait waxed almost
terrific. and the tiny stones of the road
peited their faces, they became silent.
bending over and burying their heads
in their arms.
we win.' Bennett said briefly as they
drew UP In front OF another church They
rushed into the parsonage and explained
matters to the bewidered clergyman they
round there busy with his next Sundays
| sermon. How he came over to consent to
perform the ceremony is a matter for
| wondering conjecture. Perhaps II was
their evident distress and sincerity that
| won him. perhaps he was, as much as
| Frederick and Bennett charmed with tho
| romance Of the situation Perhaps the
| suddenness of their onslaught upon him
| deprived him of any conscious volition
In the matter. In any case. the look,
common to them oil OF birth and breed
ing. and their use of Mr.. Wharton's name
must have helped their cause material
| ly. Whatever the influences urging him
to 1t. however consent he did. and the
runaway pair were united The last word
was said Just as painting horses. wet with
sweat and foam. drove up. dragging a
buggy containing two angry men.
Fredercka and Bennett waited only for
hasty farewels. TO exchange good wishes
and addresses. Then. as before, Bennett
| hurried his companion into the automo-
| bile
There's no need OF our getting into that
fuss" he said safely: "it's their funeral
| mean wedding. 1t isn't as II we could do
anything further Well. what do you
suppose will happen next?" he asked
| TRANQUILITY. when they we're moving along
at respectable speed. There are three
more churches you know. / bet you two
to one they try to divorce us next"
"Oh. I cant think of anything" Fred
ericka declared joyously. but how happy
I am that those two young people are
safely married. Isn't It romantic? Isn't
it charming? Don't you positively glow
with the consciousness of worthy &C
ton done. and all that sort of thing? l
Just do. Wasn't she sweet and dear?"
VERY charming girl" Bennett said
perfunctorily.
And 1 like him quito as we'll, too.
They're married. They're married. Think
OF that! They're married"
I "Of course. they're married." Bennett
asserted moroscly. "Everybody's married
but me. Nobodyll marry me- Nobody
wants me. They repudiate me at the very
altar. They take away to all the
| churches in town and flash these runaway
matches before my eyes hut marry me-
i never. | know I'm doomed 10 die a lone
| ly old bachelor"
I'm etiil trying to think Up story"
| Fredericka announced demurely; "a story
that will take. Don't you know one? A
perfect love OF story. little Jewel
oil q story. delicious bon bouche of a
| story. Didn't you ever have some sort
OF romantic adventure? Didn't you ever
see ghost? Didn't you
"See here" he interrupted. you were
going TO tell me story just before the
wedding-the last one-not ours. Won't
you tell it now? That's good child"
III ever anybody deserved a story"
Fredericka said sweetly. We'll listen!
Once upon time"
| She told the story to the very end
During the process they visited all OF
the remaining churches. and not one OF
i them was to have an entertainment that
night
well. the situation does look serious"
Bennett admitted. Now. let me see.
Everybody we've asked swears that there
are only six churches in the town. There's
no reason why they should deceive US
There's nothing to be ashamed of in At
church. 1t isn't like Il family skeleton.
Are you sure you didn't hear the woman's
| name?"
| Fredericka shook her head.
"Are you sure she said Walden?" Ben
nett pursued her. Wasn't 1t Malden?"
Fredericka thought a minute. Then
she hung her head. ~ don't know she
faltered. I'm an awful goose" she ac-
knowledged. meekly; but it's taught me
lesson. I'll be busine1slike enough in
the future. you may be sure"
Perhaps they're sending down to the
station to every train" Bennett suggested
suddenly; there's one due about 90.
D