The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-09-18
CHAPTER XII.

n6 IuDDCIS0 ISSl dCIOSS the WAY
hurried their owner into the cigar
store in front of which he had been
standing, and where he had a good
view of the Y W. c. A. Building. He
flung down some change and demand
ed the use of the telephone. Then,
with one eye on the opposite doorway,
he called up a number and delivered
his message.
"Oi've freed me bird. She's In
place, fer / seed her at the wfnder.
She come with foine gintlemin, but
he's gain now, an she's loike to stay
a spell. You'd best come at once
-. All roight. Hurry up" He hung
up the telephone receiver and hurried
back to his post in front of the big
entrance Meanwhile the bride-elect
upstairs, with happy heart and trem-
bling fingers, was putting on her own
beautiful garments once more, and ar.
ranging the waves of lovely hair in
their old accustomed way.
Tyron Dunham's plans were well
laid. He first called up his friend the
minister and told him to be ready;
then a florist not far from the church,
then large department store where
he had spent some time that morning.
as that Mr.. Hunter, head of the fur
department? Mr.. Hunter, this is Mr..
Durham. You remember our CONVEX
sation this morning? Kindly send the
coat and hat l selected to the Y w. G.
A. Building at once. Yes, just send
them to the Office. You remember it
was to be c. o. D., and l showed you
my certified check this morning. It's
all right, is it? How long will it take
you to get it there? All right.
Have the boy wait If I'm not there.
Good-by."
His next move was to order a car
riage, and have it stop at the florists
on the way. That done, he consulted
his watch. Seventeen minutes of his
precious halfhour were gone. With
nervous haste he went into a tele-
phone booth and called up his own
home on the long-distance.
To his relief, his mother answered.
us that you, Mother? This is
Tryon. Are you all we'll? That's
good. Yes, I'm in Chicago, but will
soon be home. Mother, I've something
to tell you that may startle you,
though there is nothing to make you
sad. You have known that there was
something on my mind for some time"
He paused for the murmur of assent.
He knew how his mother was look
ing, even though he could not see her
that set look of being ready for any
! thing. He wanted to spare her as
much as possible, so he fastened on:
You remember speaking to me
about the ring wore?"
'Tyron! Are you engaged?" There
was sharp anxiety in the tone as it
same through the hundreds of miles
of space.
"One better, Mother. I'm just about
to be married."
My son! What have you done?
Don't forget the honorable name you
bear"
NO, Mother, don't forget. She's
fine and beautiful and sweet. You will
love her, and our world will fall at her
| feeti"
But who is she? You must remem-
| Der that love is very blind. Tryon,
/ you must come home at once. I shall
die if you disgrace US all. Don't do
! anything to spoil our lives. l know
! it is something dreadful, or you would
not do it in such haste"
| Nothing of the kind, Mother. Can t
you trust me? Let me explain. She
! is alone, and legal circumstances
which it would take too long for me to
! explain over the phone have made it
desirable for her to have my immedi-
ate protection. We are going at once
/ to Edwin Twinelrs church, and he
/ will marry US. 1t is all arranged, but
! | felt that you ought to be told before
hand. We shall probably take the
night express for home. Tell Cornelia
that l shall expect congratulations
telegraphed to the hotel here inside of
| two hours
But, Tryon, what will our friends
think? 1t is most extraordinary! How
| can you manage about announce
ments?"
Bother the red tapes Mother! What
difference does that make? Put it in
the society column if you want to-"
But, Tryon, we do not want to be
conspicuous"
We'll, Mother I'm not going to put
off my wedding at the last minute for
q matter of some bits of pasteboard.
I'll do any reasonable thing to please
you, but not that"
Couldn't you get a chaperon for
her, and bring her on to me? Then
We could plan the wedding at our leis-
ure"
Impossible, Mother! In the first
place, she never would consent Real
~, | cannot talk any more about it. I
must go at once, or I shall be late.
i Tell me you will love her for my cake.
until you love her for her own"
D. "Tryon, you always we're unreasona-
BILE. Suppose you have the cards en-