Middletown transcript., 1914-03-14
CHAPTER v.-contlnued.


Broadway did not even vince, but
turned back to his Beatrice. "And how
is my little banquet queen this morn
lng?"
Il came here happy as lark" she
said complainingly, but now I'm ter
ribly upset"
why, what has happened to my lit
sle =stsaaa 81 81 pleasure pleasure p? He smiled smiled
serenely, worshipfully into her scarce
" hidden wrinkles.
This man has been saying terrible
things to me-"
Jackson whirled reproachfully upon
bis friend. why, Bob! What have
you been saying to my little Beatrice?"
"Oh. don't!" implored the utterly
disgusted Wallace,
Tell me" Jackson begged in com
forting tones of the excited widow;
what has he been saying to you?"
Calling it a ridiculous match, say
ing that I shouldn't take you serious
ly, intimating that you didn't really
love me, and"
She was very close to tears, but
fought them back for the sake Of a
complexion which she feared might
not be waterproof.
Broadway went with an accusing
mien to Wallace. You said these
things!"
YES" said that young person, un-
ashamed, those and a great many
more"
Bob Wallacei I'm surprised!
Shame on you'll"
Wallace scarcely was prepared for
this. NOW see here, Jackson, L"
He did not complete the sentence,
but seized his old friend by the lapels
of his coat as if to bear him from the
room to some spot where, unworried
by the Iady's presence, he could talk
or hammer sense into his head.
But Broadway would not have this.
He pulled away with emphasis. Don't
do that! Don't do that" he cried.
"You've-you've insulted my future
wife and demand apologies!"
Were all his plans for paying up his
debts to be thus put at naught? Was
his first venture as a inancier to be
thus nullifed? He thought not!
You mean to say you're going to
be married."
"Of course we're going to be mar
ried," Mrs. Gerard said very snappily.
"Of course we're going to be mar
ried," Broadway echoed with a quick
glance at her which Wallace thought
held something indicating appreAen.
sion.
He stood aside with face all woe-be-
gone, worried and amazed. II this
thing-this unthinkable, unbelievable
lnsanity-was seriously planned by
his young friend, If he had actually
passed his word, why then, of course,
nothing more was to be said upon the
subject.
very weiI then; apologize, ne
said dejectedly.
Not to me-" said Jackson grandly,
ITO the lady"
Wallace went to her in humility of
attitude, but in revolt of soul Mrs.
Gerard" Che never before had found it
difficult to avoid profanity in lady's
presence), 81 offer a thousand apollo
gies."
She was not convinced Of his sin
cerity, which was not in the least sur
prising. after such impertinence
don't know that ought to accept your
apology"
But, don't you see? l thought it
was all joke"
This was a new offense. But why
= should you think such a thing? Is it
at all unusual that people in love
should marry?"
He thought her positively aged as he
looked at her. Every wrinkle in her
countenance took on new length, new
depth as he observed her. From her
he looked to Jackson. How very young
he seemed! A mere child, in fact
why, no." he granted, knowing that
he lied. of course not. But II didn't
understand. +"
Broadway, himself with nerves un-
strung almost to hysteria, began to
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