Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-04-18
CHAPTER XIV.
A Premature Divorce.

dudgeon."
The ruse struck him as tritie un-
convincing. Don't you think it looks
kind of improbable on-on-such an
occasion?"
Marjorie blushed, and lowered her
eyes and her voice: Can you sug-
gest anything better?"
mo, but"
Then. We'll have to quarrel. darl-
ing"
He yielded for lack of better
idea: "All right beloved. How shall
we begin?"
On close approach, the idea did
seem rather impossible to her. How
could ! ever quarrel with you, my
love?" she cooed.
He gazed at her with rush OF
lovely tenderness: And how could
ever speak GROSSLY to you?"
I'VE never ST Ill have harsh word.
shall we?" she resolved.
"Never!" he seconded. So that
resolution passed the house unani
mously.
They held hands in luxury a while.
then she began again: Still. We must
pretend. You start 1t, love-"
mo, you start it," he pleaded.
"You ought to-" she beamed. "You
got me into this mess"
The word slipped out. Mallory
started: Mess! How is It my fault?
Good Lord, are you going to begin
chucking 1t up?"
We'll, you must admit, darling"
Marjorie urged. that you've bungled
everything pretty badly"
1t was SO undeniable that he could
only groan: And l suppose I'll hear
Of this till my dying day, dearest
Marjorie had little temper all her
own. So she defended it: IF you are
so afraid of my temper, love, perhaps
you'd better call 1t all Off before it's
too late"
Il didn't say anything about your
temper, sweetheart" Mallory insisted.
You did, too, honey. You said Id
chuck this up till your dying day. AS
II had such a disposition! You can
stay here" She rose to her feet He
pressed her back with decisive mo-
tion and demanded: Where are you
going?"
up in the baggage car with
Snoozleums." she SMILED. Hes the
only one that doesn't find fault with
me-"
Mallory was stung to action by this
crisis: wait" he said. He leaned
out and motioned down the alley.
Porter! Wait moment, darling.
Porter!"
The porter arrived with half-fold-
ed blanket In his hands, and his usual
"Yassah!"
Reckoning him closer, Mallory num-
bled in low tone: rs there an ex-
ira berth on this carr"
The porter's eyes seemed to re-
buke his ears. Does you want this
upper made up?"
"No-of course not"
"Ex-excuse me, l thought"
Don't you dare to think" Mallory
thundered. Isn't there another low
er berth?"
The porter breathed hard, and gave
this bridal couple up as riddle that
followed no known rules. He went to
find the sleeping car conductor, and
returned with the information that
the diagram showed nobody assigned
to number three.
Then I'll take number three" said
Mallory, poking money at the porter.
And still the porter could not under
stand.
Now, lemme onderstan' you-all,"
he stammered. Does you both move
over to numba three, or does yo'-yo'
lady remain heah, while Jest you pre-
ambulates?"
"Just I preambulate, you black
hound" Mallory answered, in
threatening tone. The porter could
understand that, at least, and he
bristled away with a meek: "Yessah.
Numba three is yours, sah."
The troubled features of the baf-
fled porter cleared up as by magic
when he arrived at number three, for
there he found his tyrant and tor
mentor, the English invader.
He remembered how Indignantly
Mr.. Wedgewood had refused to show
his ticket, how cocksure he was OF
his number, how he had leased the
porter's services as sort Of private
nurse, and had paid no advance roy
alties.
And now he was sprawled and snor.
ing majestically among his many lug
cages like sleeping lion. Revenge
tasted good to the humble porter; 1t
tasted like a candied yam smothered
in 'possum gravy. He smacked his
thick lips over this revenge. With
all the insolence of a servant In brief
authority, he gloated over his prey,
and prodded him awake. Then muir
INJURED with hypocritical Difference:
excuse me, but could see yo' ticket
for yo' seat?"
Certainly not! It's too much
trouble" grumbled the half asleeper.
"Confound you!"
The porter lured him on: rs you
sho' you got ONE"
Wedgewood was wide awake now,
and surly as any Englishman before
breakfast: "Of cawse I'm shaw. How
dare your"
"Too bad, but I'm 'bleeged to ask
you to gimme peek at It."