The Cairo bulletin., 1912-12-14


and 1t did happen: Horses were I'M
harnessed, motor cars were ordered
back into their garages, and We went
I'D in the day coaches Of a railroad
f.. special with furry of snow driving
against the windows.
We were met at the little station
shed by row Of closed carriages,
iolted off to a village church and pack
ed into tight little pews. There, if
one were really an oh and dear friend
Of the family and had known the bride
since she was tow-headed little girl
in fluffy frocks, be berated old Cen
eral Cruger as though he were pick
pocket, vilified Emily and damned the
institution of marriage. Then we were
whisked away in the snow-covered car
riages to Cliffcourt and luncheon, But,
first, we piled our rubbers in an ante
room by the porte-cochere, passed in
review before the old general, kissed
the tips of Emiy's gloved fingers,
quoted to the groom the appropriate
remark of Solomon, and then girded
our loins to fight for place by the
Generals fleshpots.
Fortune sat me down at luncheon
opposite a map at whom ! was very
glad to have a. look Vague whisper
ings had linked his name with Emily
Cruger's for many long day, He had
proceeded with his plans to win her
with the elaboration of a Japanese
Geld marshal.
But women are not to be taken with
chain of forts.
The man was carrying on his face
a courteous unconcern, but the enamel
of 1t was set over savage lines.
Gossip had 1t that his plans for the
housing of this wife were already car
yed out; the land for mile farther
up the Hudson had become the splen-
did, formal gardens of French es-
tate, the rising walls of the chateau
doomed, line of gray, on the bluff
above the river. The great Oriental
was making ready while he waited
had no opportunity to speak with
niece on the block, had him at her
right. The practical old dowager was
In every slave-market
Any mother would have feared so
dangerous a man, but not so Mrs.
Chenley Gaynor. This freebooter was
the richest on the seas, he had sacks
of doubloons packed to the gunwale
of his brig What mattered it il the
dearest illusion Of maid walked the
plank with two gold pieces bound
tight over its eyelids, provided one
got a country estate, town house
and perhaps yacht? Mammon was
the only god who was never sleeping
or on journey, The man lowered
bit about the debutante, praising
her charms, but he did not want her,
that was clear He nursed a hurt
with his hand on his cutlass.
was glad that the old general was
independent and the man Emily Cru
ger had chosen well enough to do.
This brown wolf would be a fearful
beast, prowling at ones door.
We depleted the larder to its last
pate, got into our rubbers and pro-
ceeded to embark in our covered car
riages We trod upon one another's
toes. damned our elbows into our
neighbors, and apologized sweetly for
It; but underneath, fear, we were ra-
vening wolves. The tragedy of coun-
try wedding in May blizzard, twenty
miles from New York!
The women all had been carted
away, and | was entering carriage
after the last man when a servant ran
out and said the general greatly wish
ed me to remain.
The servant took me to guest cham
Der where found glass of whisky,
hot bath and a dinner jacket. Mean
while night descended and ! joined
the old general below stairs. We
dined in rather desolate splendor I'M
der the lamps; after that we smoked
by little smoldering twig fire in the
library overlooking the river. Then 1t
was that | discovered why he wished
me to remain.
"Courtlandt," he began, "you sat op-
posite a curious person today at
luncheon. What do you think OF
him."
Well" said, "if one were lacking
names, / think he might be safely
called wolf"
He took my answer with slow nod
ding of the head; then he walked over
to the window and stood looking out
at the snow driving up the dim river.
Emily loves this place." he said;
81 am glad saved it to her; but it
was like the story in the Russian fairy
book, I tossed the wolf everything
else for it."
Then he came back to the fire and
sat down in his leather chair with
his feet stretched out to the fender.
81 will keep your name wolf Court
landt." he said; II like it better than
the one his father gave him. / am
glad Emily is well out OF his way,
God bless her. used to shudder when
saw the beast at her heels. 1t does
not matter SO much when a man Is
devoured, he takes that chance in the
forest: but the nursery tale Of little