The Holly chieftain., 1914-08-28
CHAPTER xl.

The rubbered feet across 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 number and delivered
his message.
"Oi'vs freed mo bird She's in a
room all roieht at the Y. w. C. A.
place. fer seed her at the winder.
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 we'll
laid. He nrst 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.
SIS that Mr.. Hunter, head of the fur
Department. Mr.. Hunter. this is Mr..
Durham. You remember our conver.
sation this morning? Kindly send the
coat and hat selected to the Y. w. c.
A. Building at once. Yes Just send
them to the ONCE. You remember 1t
was to be G.. o. D., and I showed you
my certified check this morning. It's
all right, Is it! How long will it take
you to get 1t there? All right.
Have the boy wait II I'm not there.
,Good-by." - a.-es :,
His next move was to order car
riage, and have It stop 1t the florists
on the way. That done. he consulted
his watch. Seventeen minutes Of his
precious half-hour were gone. With
nervous haste he went into tele-
phone booth and called up his own
home on the long distance.
To his relief, his mother answered.
"Is that you, Mother? This is
Tryon. Are you all well! 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. go he FASTENED on:
"You remember speaking to me
about the ring woreT
"Tyron! Are you engaged!" There
was a sharp anxiety in the tone a. 1t
same through the hundreds of miles
Of space.
zone better, Mother. I'm Just about
to be married."
my son! What have you done?
Don't forget the honorable name you
bear!"
mo, Mother. don't forget. She's
fine and beautiful and sweet. You will
love her, and our world will fall at her
feet!"
But who is she? You must remem-
ber that love is very blind. Tryon,
you must come home at once. l shall
dis IL you disgrace Us all. ( Don't do
anything to spoil our lives. 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 1t would take too long for me to
explain over the phone have made 1t
desirable for her to have my immedi.
ate protection. We are going at once
to Edwin Twinell's 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 shall expect congratulations
telegraphed to the hotel here inside Of
two hours"
but, Tryon, what will our friends
think? It fs most extraordinary! How
can you manage about announce
ments?"
Bother the red tape. Mother! What
difference does that make? Put It u
the society column II you want to-"
'But. Tryon, We do not want to. -