Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-16

), 1912.
They did 50 meekly, bewildered and
happy at this fresh instance of the first
being last and the last first. There
was an element Of humor, besides, in
Iesigning themselves to an elderly
darby, who knew 80 much more about
getting married than they did.
/, Victor's resourcefulness, indeed, was
only comparable to that Of genie OF
the Arabian Nights. The favored
prince and the lovely Circassian nod
ded on the magic carpet. or stole
scared and whimsical glanoes at each
other as Genie Daggancourt drew them
through the air. In some unknown
manner he acquired breakfast. and
spread it for them in secluded grassy
garden, where afterward caretaker
lady appeared, in flutter Of concern
and blue-fannel dressing gown, and
insisted on removing Chris to the shut
tered house.
From this Chris emerged later, ad-
orably freshened, and as she said
almost awake. She was very gay and
and talked great deal, as
though afraid to stop-as though II she
stopped she would cry. Then Genie
discreetly withdrew, and
she cried-sobbing, and holding to
Matt But it seemed she was not cry
ing for herself, but for him, and be.
cause she loved him so much, and be-
cause they had only hundred and
dollars, and because she
loved her father, too, and because
The list came to an abrupt end when
Matt said that there was still time to
take her back: on which she besought
his forgivesess, declaring that she had
not meant a word of it-except loving
him, Of course-and that girls always
cried when they were very, very
Unhappy. .......
Victor reappeared, looking at his
watch, and cutting short further re-
pentance.
Better get aboard again." he said.
1.-THE minister's waiting, and all we
need is our ring and our license-and
I'm calculating to run you over to
Claremont and put you on the express
there"
"Claremont?" asked Matt. "Why
Claremont?" ... .. .
TITS small town about eight miles
down the line" Victor returned. 1T
will bother them more to trace you
from there than if you left from here"
Good idea! Oh, Victor, what a
treasure you are
"Well, Marse' Broughton, don't the
scriptures say: What you do, do 1t
with all your might and We'll done,
though good and faithful servant?"
His eyes twinkled as he led the way
to the car and shut the pair in the
tonneau. After all, 1t was som ething
to be genie and serve a prince. Per-
sonal devotion was the keynote OF
Daggancourt's character. He belonged
to the type that worked for their mas.
tiers without pay after the war and
guarded their women while 1t lasted.
There is many a southern home that
enshrines the memory of. such as he
hero, Of whom we hear too little in the
acerbities of race hatred.
The ring was bought, the license OBJ
tanned, and a benignant fossil recited
the marriage ceremony in stuffy par
lor and made out a certificate that was
not unlike q giant Christmas card
with angels blowing on heavenly horns
and the most high himself not spared
by the naive artist. The fossil was
challed Snyder. the Rev. Ephriam
Snyder, and though shaky and quaver-
ing, was not without simple dignity.
At the conclusion he warned Matt
against drink and Chris aaginst "friv-
olity and the love Of fine raiment,"
and thus briefly condensing human
frailty, blessed them both with un-
affected sincerity. Victor slipped a
ten dollar note in his not unwilling
hand, and they left the stnffy parlor-
married. .a -.s."
It was quite impossible to believe
it, in spite Of the ring, and the warn
ing, and the certificate, which was
too stiff to fold, and had to be carried
rolled up like sheet of music or
sand paper. 1t was hard to shake on
the conviction that somehow they had
failed to get married; that anything SO
stupendous could be so easy. On the
whole, they were very silent in their
new state, attempting to realize 1t,
and only dimly succeeding. Matt was
much the more fearful, as well he
might be, and learned again the unsus-
pected courage of women. Chris had
no misgivings; no dread of the future
the big baby when he
said: IT hope haven't been horribly
selfish; hope haven't acted abomin-
ably" Already he was turning to her
on her-finding fortitude and
consolation in dependence as sweet
to him as it was to her.
At Claremont they caught the New
York express, and Daggancourt, who
bad taken the tickets, hurried them
through Pullman to the compartment
he had reserved. This was an extrava-
gance for which they were unprepared
and Mats face heightened in spite OF
himself; but he could not be so I'M
gracious as to scold the old darby,
though such a dip into their slender
purse was a serious matter. He owed
Daggancourt as we'll for the license,
and for the minister, and would have
paid him before had he not been put
off with one excuse or another. He
now pulled out handful of bills, q
little vexed at .Victor's dilatoriness.
How do we stand, Victor?" he ask
ed. 1.-TWO for the license; ten for Mr..
hot oh