The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-04-11


ambushes, and how to avoid them.
Could Mallory have escaped the pit
they had digged for him? They
looked at their handiwork in disgust.
The, cosy-corner effec, of white rib
hons and orange flowers, gracefully
masking the concealed rice-trap, had
seemed the wittiest thing ever de-
vised. Now it looked the silliest.
The other passengers were equally
downcast. Meanwhile the two lovers
In the corridor were kissing good
byes as if they were hoping to store
up honey enough to sustain their
hearts for three years fast. And
the porter was studying them with
perplexity.
He was used, however, to waking
people out of dreamland, and he be-
gan to fear that if he were discovered
spying on the lovers, he might suf-
fer. So he coughed discreetly three
or four times.
Since the increasing racket of the
train made no effect on the two hearts
beating as one, the small matter of
cough was as nOtnlnS.
Finally the porter was compelled to
reach forward and tap Mallory's arm,
and stutter:
"'Scuse me, but co-could git b-by?"
The embrace was united, and the
lovers stared at him with a dazed,
where-am-I? look. Marjorie was the
first to realize what awakened them.
She felt called upon to say something,
30 she said, as carelessly as if she
had not just emerged. from a young
gentleman's arms:
"Oh, porter, how long before the
train starts?"
TRAINS done started, Missy"
This simple statement struck the
wool from her eyes and the cotton
from her ears, and she was wide
enough awake when she cried: "Oh,
stop it-stop it,"
That's mon I can do, Missy" the
porter expostulated.
Then I'll jump off," Marjorie
vowed, making dash for the door.
But the porter filled the narrow
path, and waved her back.
"Vestibule's done locked up
trains going lickety-split." Feeling
that he had safely checkmated any
rashness, the porter squeezed past
the dumbfounded pair, and went to
change his blue blouse for the white
coat of his chambermaidenly duties.
Mallory's first wondering thought was
a rapturous feeling that circum.
stances had forced his dream into a
reality. He thrilled with triumph:
you've got to go with me now"
"Yes-I've got to co." Marjorie as.
scented meekly; then, sublimely, Its
fate. Kismet!"
They clutched each other again in
f1ercely blissful hug. Marjorie came
back to earth with bump: Are
you really sure there's a minister on
board?"
Pretty sure" said Mallory, sober
Ing a trifle.
But you said you were sure?"
well, when you say you're sure.
that means you're not quite sure"
It was not an entirely satisfactory
justification, and Marjorie began to
quake with alarm: Suppose there
shouldn't be-"
"Oh, then" Mallory answered care.
lessly, there's bound to be one to.
morrow"
Marjorie realized at once the enor.
nous abyss between then and the
morrow, and she gasped: Tomorrow!
And no chaperon! Oh, I'll jump out
OF the window"
Mallory could prevent that, but
when she pleaded, What shall we
do?" he had no solution to orer.
Again it was she who received the
first inspiration.
II have It," she beamed.
"Yes, Marjorie?" he assented, du-
biously.
Wen pretend not to be married at
ALL"
He seized the rescuing ladder:
THAT'S it! Not married-just
friends"
It'll we can get married."
Yes, and then We can stop being
friends."
~sAy WV NY AIlSuu: lucy Gil.
braced in a most unfriendly manner.
An impatient yelp from the neg
pected dog-basket awoke them.
"Oh. Lord. we've brought Snoozle-
,0ms."
"Of course we have" She took the
dog from the prison, tucked him un-
der her arm, and tried to compose
her bridal face into merely friendly
countenance before they entered the
car. But she must pause for one more
kiss, one more Of those bitter-sweet
good-byes. And Mallory was nothing
1oath.
Hudson and Shaw were still glumly
perplexed. when the porter returned
In his white jacket.
II bet they missed the train; all
this work for nothing" Hudson grun-
AlaA But Shaw naain9 the norter