The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-06-19
CHAPTER XIX.
Fooled!

1t was late in the forenoon before
the train came to the end of its iron
furrow across that fertile space be-
tween two of the worlds greatest riv-
ers, which the Indians called Iowa"
nobody knows exactly why. In con-
trast with the palisades of the Missis-
sippi, the Missouri twists like a great
brown dragon wallowing in congenial
mud. The water itself, as Bob Bur-
dette said, is so muddy that the wind
blowing across it raises a cloud of
dust.
A sonorous bridge led the way into
Nebraska, and the train came to a
halt at Omaha. Mallory and Marjorie
got out to stretch their legs and their
dog. If they had only known that the
train was to stop there the quarter of
an hour, and if they had only known
some preacher there and had had him
to the station, the ceremony could have
been consummated then and there.
The horizon was fairly saw-toothed
with church spires. There were
preachers, preachers everywhere, and
not a dominic to do their deed.
After they had strolled up and down
the platform, and up and down, and
up and down till they were fain of
their cramped quarters, again, Mar
jorie suddenly dug her nails into Nal
lory's arm.
Honey! look-look!"
Honey looked, and there before
their very eyes stood as clerical a
looking person as ever announced a
strawberry festival.
Mallory stared and stared, till Mar
jorie said:
Don't you see? stupid! it's a
preacher! a preacher!"
1T looks like one," was as far as
Mallory would commit himself, and he
was turning away. He had about come
to the belief that anything that looked
like a parson was something else. But
Marjorie whirled him round again
with a shrill whisper to listen. And
he overheard in tones addicted to the
pulpit:
Eyes, deacon, l trust that the har
vest will be plentiful at my new
church. 1t grieves me to leave the
| dear brothers and sisters in the Lore
| in Omaha, but / felt called to wider
pastures"
And lady who was evidently Mrs
Deacon spoke up:
Wen miss you terrible. We al
say you are the best pastor our churcl
ever had"
Mallory prepared TO spring on hi
prey and drag him to his lair, bu
Marjorie held him back
He's taking our train, Lord bles
his dear Old soul"
And Mallory could have Rugged him
But he Kept close watch. 70 the raj
ture Of the wedding-hungry twain, th'
preacher shook hands with such OF hi
flock as had followed him TO the sta
tion, picked Up his valise and walke
up TO the porter, extending his ticket
But the porter said--and Mallor
coud have throttled him for saying it
"Scuse me, poison, but that's yC
train oya yonda. You BETA move RICH
smaht, for it's gettin' ready to pul
out"
With a little shrek of dismay, tn
parson clutched his valise and set o.
at a run. Mallory dashed after hir
and Marjorie after Mallory. The
shouted as they ran, but the conducto
Of the east-bound train sang out "A
aboard" and swung on.
The parson made a sprint ant
caught the ultimate rail of the moving
train. Mallory made frantic leap a
a flying coat-tail and missed. AS h
and Marjorie stood gazing reproach
fully at the train which was giving
beautiful illustration of the laws OF re
treating perspective, they heard will
bowls of Hi! hill" and "Hay! hay'
and turned to see their own train Il
motion, and the porter dancing
Zulu step alongside.