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

Excess Baggage.
Never was a young soldier 50
stumped by a problem in tactics as
Lieutenant Harry Mallory, safely
aboard his train, and not daring to
leave it, yet hopelessly unaware Of
how he was to dispose of his lovely
but unlabelled baggage.
white satin temple to Hymen in berth
number one, had created such commo-
ton, and departed in such confusion,
that there had been no opportunity to
proclaim that he and Marjorie were
mot married-just friends"
And now the passengers had &C
cepted them as that enormous fund Of
amusement to any train, newly wed.
ded pair. To explain the mistake
would have been difficult, even among
friends. But among strangers-well.
perhaps wiser and a colder brain
than Harry Mallory's could have
stood there and delivered brief ora
ton restoring truth to her pedestal.
But Mallory was in no condition for
such a stole delivery.
He mopped his brow in agony, lost
In a blizzard of bewilderment. He
drifted back toward Marjorie, half to
protect and half for companionship.
He found Mrs. Temple cuddling her
close and mothering her as if she
were a baby instead Of bride.
did the poor child run away and
get married?"
Marjorie's frantic ''Boo-hoo-hoo"
might have meant anything. Mrs.
Temple took it for assent, and MUIR
INJURED with glowing "reminiscences:
Just the way Doctor Temple and l
did,"
She could not see the leaping flash
of wild hope that lighted up Mallory's
face. She only heard his voice across
her shoulder:
Doctor? Doctor Temple? Is your
husband reverend doctor?"
"A reverend doctor?" the little old
lady repeated weakly.
"Yes-a-a preacher?
The poor old congregation-weary
soul was abruptly confronted with thu
ruination of all the delight in her lit
tie escapade with her pulpit-fagged
husband. If she had ever dreamed
that the girl who was weeping in her
arms was weeping from any other
fright than the usual fright of young
brides, fresh from the preachers ben
ediction, she would have cast every
other consideration aside, and told
the truth.
But her husbands last behest be-
fore he left her had been to keep
their precious pretend-secret. She
felt-just then-that woman's first
duty is to obey her husband. Besides,
what business was 1t of this young
husbands what her old husbands
business was? Before she had fairly
begun to debate her duty, almost auto.
matically, with the instantaneous in.
stinct Of self-protection. her lips had
uttered the denial:
"Oh-he's-just a-plain doctor.
There he is now"
Mallory cast one miserable glance
down the aisle at DR.. Temple coming
back from the smoking room. AS the
old man paused to stare at the bridal
berth. whose preparation he had not
seen, he was just enough befuddled
by his first cigar for thirty years to
look trifie tipSy. The motion OF the
train and the rakish tilt of his I'M
wonted crimson tie confirmed the
suspicion and annihilated Mallory's
rau,-horu homo that iJhrhans ronontant
fate had dropped a parson at their
very feet.
He sank into the seat opposite
Marjorie, who gave him one terrified
glance, and burst into fresh sobs:
"Oh-oh-boo-hoo-T SO unhap-
happy"
Perhaps Mrs. Temple was a little
miffed at the couple that had led her
astray and opened her own honey
moon with a wanton lib. In any case.
the best consolation she could offer