Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-10-05

loSAeSu' scuSA uu dUSuIU dDSoEtAVus
"Don't you b'lieve it," he protested.
~ know what I'm doing, oil right, all
right"
IA man never speaks his mind un-
til he's ginned," Lilas giggled.
"Righto! I'm not half drunk yet"
Jim urged the sutton on with nerv-
GUS laugh, at the same time avoiding
his sisters eyes. She's stalling, Bob.
Make her answer"
Eyes or no?" forcefully insisted the
wooer, determined, now, to show his
complete sobriety.
mo"
Jim seized Wharton's hand and
shook it Justify Congratulations,
old man; that means yes. I'm her
brother, and know. Why, she told
father that you We're her ideal, and pa
said he'd die happy if you two were
married. He meant it, too; he's a
mighty sick man"
.Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and
the faint color in her cheeks faded
slowly. well talk about it some
other time-t6morrow. Please don't
tease the poor man any more. He
didn't know what he was saying, and
now, for heavens sake, talk about
something else"
Jim leaped to his feet with a grin
and chuckle, then drew Lilas from
her chair, saying: 1.-THE lovers are EN-
barrassed, and they're dying to be
alone. Let's leave 'em to talk 1t over
shes a dear, Bob. and wish you
both joy. But don't kiss her here,''''
said Lilas, warningly; then. with a
wave of her hand, she turned toward
the dancing room with Jim.
sCallS us when you've fixed the date, -
laughed the latter, over his shoulder.
When he and Lilas had danced the
encore and returned to the table Bob
rose unsteadily, glass in hand, and
nodded at them.
Thanks, noble comrades" he pro-
claimed; s.she's miner
''Hurrahn Lilas kissed Lorelei eff
fusiyely. Jim seized Bobs hand, cry
ing:
I "Brother" He waved to a waiter
and ordered magnum of champagne.
Bring me wreath of orange bios
SONS and wedding cake, too" His
jubilation attracted the attention of
the other diners; the occupants of a
nearby table began to applaud, where
upon Bob beamed with delight
Lorelei was very white now. She
had decided swiftly, recklessly, reason
ing that this proffered marriage was
merely a bargain by which she got
more than she gave. She had accepted
without allowing her better self an
opportunity to m0shal it's protests,
and, having closed her eyes and leaped
into the dark, it now seemed easier to
meet new consequences than to heed
those higher feelings that were tardily
struggling for expression. She did
pity Wharton, however, for it seemed
to her that he was the injured party.
But she was in a wanton mood tonight,
and of late voice had been despe-
.rately urging her to grasp at what she
could, that she might, as long as pos
sible, delay her descent into worse con-
diiions.
She heard Lilas inauirlng: when
does the marriage come off? Right
away?"
Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed
by the suddenness and the complete
ness of his good fortune, smiled va
cantly. "Any time suits me-" he said.
"Tm happy man-little Joys are ca
pering all over the place, and old Doc
tor Gloom has packed his grip"
Jim startled them all by saying,
crisply: Lets make 1t tonight. l
know Bob-he's not the sort to wait. y
"Fine! Never thought of that. But
i say-where do they keep these wed
dings?" he inquired. "Everything's
closed now, and there's nobody dane
ing at the city hall, is there?" He APP
pealed helplessly to Jim. $
Jim rose to the occasion with the
same promptitude he had displayed
throughout marriages aren't made
in heaven any more-that's old stuff.
They're made in Hoboken, while the
cab waits. Get your things on, every
body, while I telephone" He allowed
no lettering; he waved the girls away,
sent the waiter scurrying with his bill,
helped Robert secure hat and stick,
and then dived into a telephone booth
as woodchuck enters its hole. When
he had disposed his three charges In
side taxicab he disappeared briefly,
to return with a basket of champagne
upon his arm. 1t is wise general
who provides himself in advance with
ammunition.
The smooth celebrity with which this
whole adventure ran its course argued
a thorough preparation on James part,
but Lorelei was in no condition to an
alyze. Even at the journeys end there
was suspicious lack of delay. The
vehicle stopped in narrow business
street, now dark and dismal; its occu-
pants were hurried up stairway and
into q room filed with law-bOoks,
where a sleepy justice of the peace
was nodding in cloud of cigar smoke.
There followed a noisy shutting of
eHais, somc HuuDleu Questions anu
answers, the crackle Of papers, a deal
of unintelligible rigmarole, then a
mans heavy seal-ring was slipped
upon Lorelei's finger, and she knew
herself to be Mrs. Robert Wharton.
1t was all confused, unimpressive, un-
real. She was never able fully to re-
call the picture of that room or the
events that occurred there. They
formed but part of the Kaleidoscope
tumble of the nights occurrences.
The wedding party was in the cab
once more. and If waa under wav n