Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-23

The TWO lieutenants glared at each
other in mutual contempt. They had
studied much at West Point about
ambushes, and how to avoid thsn.
Could Mallory have escaped the pit
they had digged for him? They
looked at their handiwork in disgust
The cosy.corner effecr Of white rib,
bons and orange flowers, gracefully
masking the concealed rice-trap, had
seemed the wittiest thing ever de-
vised. Now it looked the siIliest.
The other passengers were equally
downcast. Meanwhile the two lovers
in the corridor were kissing good
byes as if they were hoping to store
up honey enough to sustain their
i hearts for three years fast. And
the porter was studying them With
perplexity.
He was used, however, to waking
people out of dreamland, and he be-
gan to fear that il he were discovered
spying on the lovers. he might suf'
fer. So he coughed discreetly three
or four times.
Since the increasing racket Of the
train made no effect on the two hearts
beating as one. the small matter OF
cough was as nothing.
II Finally the porter was compelled to
reach forward and tap Mallory's arm,
and stutter:
"Scuse me, but cocould git b-by?"
The embrace was united, and the
lovers stared at him with q daZed,
where-am-I? look. Marjorie was the
first to realize what awakened them.
She telt called upon to say something,
so she said, as carelessly as if she
had not Just emerged from q young
gentlemen's arms:
"Oh, porter, how long before the
train starts?"
Trains done started, Missy"
This simple statement struck the
wool from her eyes and the cotton
4 from her ears, and she was wide
enough awake when she cried: oh,
stop it-stop it,"
That's mon can do. Missy" the
porter expostulated
Then III jump off," Marjorie
vowed, making dash for the door.
But the porter filled the narrow
path, and waved her back.
"Vestibule's done locked up
trains going lickety-split." Feeling
that he had safely checkmated any
rashness, the porter squeezed past
the dumbfounded pair, and went to
change his blue blouse for the white
coat of his chambermaidenly duties.
MalIory's first wondering thought was
rapturous feeling that circnm-
stances had forced his dream into
! reality. He thrilled with triumph:
you've got TO 90 with me now"
"Yes-Ive got 10 CO." Marjorie as
scented meelly; then. sublimely, Its
fate kismet!"
They clutched each other again in
a flercely blissful hug. Marjorie came
back to earth with bump: Are
you really sure there's minister on
board"
Pretty sure" said Mallory. sober
ing tritie.
But you said you We're sure?'
well, when you say you're sure.
that means you're not quite sure
1t was not All entirely satisfactory
justification, and Marjorie began to
quake with alarm: Suppose there
shouldn't be-"
"Oh. then" Mallory answered care.
lessIy, 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 II was she who received the
first inspiration.
Il have It," she beamed.
eyes, MarJorie?" he assented. du-
! biously. -,
Well pretend not to be married at
all" :
lie seized the rescuing ladder
That's It! Not married-1ust
friends
It'll we can get married."
Yes. and then We rsn stop being
friends"
MY love-my friend" They en-
braced in most unfriendiy manner.
An impatient yelp from the neg
lected dog basket awoke them.
"Oh, Lord, we've brought Snoozle-
ums.'
'Of course we have" She took the
dog from the prison, tucked him I'M
der her arm. and tried to. compose
her bridal face into merely friendly
countenance before they entered the
car. But she must pause for one more
kiss. one more OF those bitter-sweet
goodbyes. And Mallory was nothing
loath.
Hudson and Shaw were still glumly
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