The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-12

loose In the hold of ship. He fun
bled with the handles on basin, an,
made a crazy toilet, trying to fin,
some abatement Of his fever by film
glass at the ice-water tank an,
emptying 1t over his head.
These drastic measures restore,
him to some sort of coherency, an,
Mallory appealed to him for help II
the matter Of linen. Wellington 81
fusively offered him everything b,
had. and Mallory selected from hi
store half dozen collars, any one o
which would have gone round hi
neck nearly twice.
Wellington also preferred his safet,
razor, and made him q present OF [
virgin wafer Of steel for his very own
With this assistance. Mallory wal
enabled to make himself fairly pre-
sentable. When he returned to hi
seat, the three curtained rooms had
been whisked away by the porter
There was no place now to hide from
the passengers.
1 He sat down facing the feminine
end Of the car. watching for Marjorie
The passengers were watching fol
her, too. hoping to learn what un
heard-of incident could have pro
voked the quarrel that separated 4
bride and groom at this time, Of ali
times.
To the general bewilderment, when
Marjorie appeared, Mallory and she
rushed together and ciasped hands
with an ardor that suggested desire
for even more ardent greeting. The
passengers almost sprained their ears
TO hear how they would make up such
dreadful feud. But all they heard
was: Well have to hurry, Marjorie,
II we want to get any breakfast"
"All right. honey. Come along"
Then the inscrutable couple sour
ried up the aisle. and disappeared in
the corridor. leaving behind them q
mighty riddle. They kissed in the
corridor OF that car, kissed in the yes
tibule. kissed In the two corridors OF
the next car. and were caught kiss
ing in the next vestibule by the new
conductor.
The dining car conductor, who nat
tered himself that he knew a bride
and groom when he saw them. es-
corted them grandly to a table for
two; and the waiter fiuttered about
them with extraordinary considera-
ton.
They had plenty to talk OF In pros
poet and retrospect. They both felt
sure that minister lurked among the
cars somewhere, and they ate with a
zest to prepare for the ceremony, ar
guing the best place for 1t, and quar-
reling amorously over details. NAL
lory was for one of the vestibuIes az
the scene Of their union. but. Marjorie
was for the baggage car, till she real
lied that Snoozleums might be unwill-
ing to attend. Then she swung round
to the vestibule. but Mallory shifted
to the observation platform.
Marjorie had left Snoozieums with
Mrs. Temple, who promised to hide
him when the new conductor passed
through the car, and she reminded
Harry to get the waiter to bring them
package Of bones for their only
child" SO far.
On the way back from the dining
car they kissed each other goodbye
again at all the trysting places they
had sanctified before. The sun was
radiant. the world good, and the very
train ran with jubilant rejoicing. They
could not doubt that few more hours
would see them legally man and wife
Mallory restored Marjorie to her
place in their car, and with smiles OF
assurance, left her for another par
son-hunt through the train. She walt
ed for him in bridal agitation. He
ransacked the train forward In vain,
and returned. passing Marjorie with
shake Of the head. and q sour
countenance. He went out to the OBJ
servation platform where he stumbled
on Ira Lathrop and Anne Cattle, en-
gagged In a conversation OF evident
intimacy. for they jumped when he
opened the door, as II they were guilty
OF some plot
Mallory mumbled his usual. lex
cuse me-" whirled on his heel. and
dragged his discouraged steps back |
through the Observation Room, where |
various women and few men OF evi- |
dent unclericality. were draped across
arm chairs and absorbed In lazy con-
versation or. bobbing their heads over
magazines that trembled with the mo-
ton OF the train.
Mrs. Wellington was busily writing |
at the desk, but he did not know who
she was, and he did not care whom
she was writing to. He did not OBJ !