The Press., 1915-09-22

1 accepted the nearest proffered seat and pushed the equally embarrassed, angry and helpless lady into it. "We may as well sit down." he snap ped.
 "Yes!' she gasped. ''Of course you know why I'm hereT I'm on the same errand. I was searching the train when I met you.
 Harley telephoned me for my blessing
 before they were married. Bah" "Tickets, please" smiled the conduc- | tor. Mrs. Blake suffered cold chill. Her | pocketbook was at home. Could she accept money from John Lane? She did. for without asking her per
 mission he opened q Judging pocket book and paid for both tickets. Grinningly the conductor punched | the rebate checks and gave them to | the man. Congratulations, judge" he said as he moved along. 'T knew the Cupid would catch you some day!' A cold horror settled upon the two in the seat. So they were supposed to | be a newly welded pair! | Both were thinking of one day thir- ty years ago when they plighted their
 troth in the apple orchard beneath a snow of blossoms. * l. It was before the day of the Cupid express. but they had planned we'd
 ding journey, and it had never come | to pass.
 And now, each one in pursuit of an cloping child, they had met after all | these years People believed they | were a honeymoon couple! "Absurdv' declared Mrs. Blake aloud.
 "Ridiculous!' huskily agreed the | judge.
 Perhaps you had better see if they
 are on the train," suggested Mrs.
 Blake after awhile. That's good ideaw and Judge
 Lane escaped to the rear coaches. After awhile he came back. ''They are not on the train," he said slowly.
 How oddw cried Mrs. Blake. But then. Edith didn't say she was mar ried. She only asked permission, and
 as she was telephoning from the rail- road station I concluded they were go- l ing to take this train."
 "So I inferred from Harley's mes | sage" responded the judge stiffly. "I hope they are not married. It is | out of the question: went on Mrs
 Blake.
 Out of the question:" agreed the judge.
 A silence fell between them, and then Mrs. Blake felt q blush creeping | over her smooth. pale check. Was he looking at her? Slowly her eyes turned toward him
 until, through her lashes, she could see his blue eyes regarding her with an odd wistfulness. | "Absurd!' she chided herself sharply | "Winnie" he whispered suddenly
 you haven't forgotten, after all?'
 "I never could. John," she whispered in return.
 'Then let this be our wedding trip,'
 he urged after awhile.
 But We must return tonight" she
 cried hastily "I must be sure about l Edith"
 And Harley" he added.
 About Edith and Harley" she gen
 tly corrected herself. When the 11:15 train from town drew into Trcntham that night it found two anxious young people pac- ing the platform. 'They will never forgive us for lur-
 ing them aboard that Cupid train, D
 said Edith nervously.
 'They might" Harley smiled cryp-
 tically. "Here they are. Edith! To- gether-and looking sheepish! Why,
 father" he said responsibility. i've been worried to death about you! Where have you becn?" The judge blushcI and clung to his wifcs hand. "Why. we've heen get tin:, nlarr1e;:::' "Marriudr' echoed Edith. "Without
 saying a word to mo? Why, motherr'
 But you and Harley have married
 without consulting rs''- "Married?" interrupted Edith inno- gently. "Why. mothef. d ar ! wouldn't
 marry without your blessing. And
 want home wedding, with all my
 friends and heaps of presents-and we shall take the Cupid express, shan't
 we. Harley?'' X smile flickered on Harley's face. "Sure We will. if dad doesn't ob- ject.'' But the bride and bridegroom, walk
 ing ahe;sl, were so absorbed in each other that they ne, CT answered the question. But, as Harley told his
 sweetheart. it was one of those Ques-
 'irus that answered themselves.