The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-05-02
CHAPTER TX.
All Aboard!


the ironical decorators ~ the last
stages of their work. Their smiles
died out in sudden shame, as ii
came over them that the joke had re-
coiled on their own heads. They had
done their best to carry out the time
honored rite of making q newly mar
ried couple as miserable as possible
and the newly married couple had
failed to do its share.
The two lieutenants glared at each
other in Hutual contempt. They had
studied much at West Point about
ambushes. and how TO avoid them.
Could Mallory have escaped the pit
they has digged for him? They
looked at their handiwork in disgust.
The cosy-corner effecc of white rib
bons and orange flowers, gracefully
masking the concealed rice-trap. had
seemed the wittiest thing ever de-
vised. Now II looked the silliest.
The other passengers were equally
downcast. Meanwhile the two lovers
in the corridor were kissing good
byes as II they were hoping to store
up honey enough TO sustain their
hearts for three years fast. And
the porter was studying them with
perpleXity.
lie was used, however, to waking
people out of dreamIand, 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 nothing.
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,
so 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: on,
stop it-stop it,"
That's mon | can do, Missy" the
porter expostulated
Then I'll jump on" Marjorie
vowed, making a dasn for the door
But the porter filed the narrow
path. and waved her back.
''Vestibule's done locked up
trains going nckety-split" Feeling
that he had safely checkmated any
rashness, the porter squeezed past
the dumbfounded pair. and went 10
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
reality. He thrilled with triumph:
You've got TO go with me now"
"Yes-Ive got to 60" Marjorie as
sented meekly; then. sublimely, Its
fate. Kismet!"
They clutched each other again in
a fiercely blissful hug Marjorie came
back TO earth with a bump: Are
you really sure there's minister on
board?'
Pretty sure" said Mallory. sober
ing a trihe.
But you said you we're sure?"
We'll. when you say you're sure.
that means you're not quite sure"
II was not an entirely satisfactory
justification, and Marjorie began 10
quake with alarm: Suppose there
shouldn't be?"
"oh, then" Mallory answered care
lessly. there's bound to be one to
morrow"
Marjorie realized az once the enor-
nous abyss between then and the
morrow. and she gasped: Tomorrow,
And no ehsperon! on. I'll jump out
of the window
. Mallory could prevent that, but
when she pleaded. What shall we
io7" he bad no solution to oner