The Cairo bulletin., 1914-01-12


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 CT 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;
the a florist not far from the church:
then a large department store where
ne had spent some time that morning.
is 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 J selected to the Y. W. c.
A. Building az once. Yes. Just send
them TO the Office. You remember it
vas 10 be {. O D., and ! showed you
my certified CHECK this morning. It's
all right, is il? bow long will 1t take
YOU TO get IL there All right.
Have the boy valt IL I'm lot there.
Good-by."
His next move was TO order a car
riaee, and have &, stop at the florists
on the way. That Gc.e. ne consulted
his watch. Seventeen minutes OF his
precious half-hour 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.
is that you. Mother? This is
Tryon. Are you all well? That's
good. Yes, I'm in Chicago, but will
0 c 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. ven 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 a sharp anxiety in the tone as IL
same through the hundreds Of miles
Of space.
zone better, Mother. I'm Just about
20 be married."
MY son! What have you done7
Don't forget the honorable name you
bear."
NO. Mother, I 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-
Der that love is very blind. Tryon.
you must come home at once. | shall
die if you disgrace us all. Don't do
anything to spoil our lives. | know
1t 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 Twinell's church, and he
viii marry us, 1t 10 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
al you manage about announce
ments?"
Bother the red tape, 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
a 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 tho first
place, she would consent. Real