Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-09-08
have taken shape without conscious er.
fort, he was not displeased with him
self.
Il say, you don't know what YOU'RE
doing" Lorelei responded, CURLY.

"A man never speaks his mind m,
til he's ginned," Lilas giggled.
"Righto! I'm not half drunk yet
Jim urged the sutton on with q nerv
oss laugh. at the same time avoidin,
his sisters eyes. "She's stalling, Bob
Make her answer"
'Yes or MOI" forcefully insisted tn
wooer, determined, now, to show hi
complete sobriety.
mo"
Jim seized Wharton's hand an(
shook 1t Justify. Congratulations
old man; that means yes. I'm be.
brother, and I know. Why, she told
father that you were her ideal, and pa
said he'd die happy II you two wert
married. He meant It, too; he's Z
mighty sick man."
Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and
the faint color in her cheeks faded
slowly. "We'll talk about 1t SONG
other time-tomorrow Please don't
tease the poor man any more. ID
didn't know what he was saying, and
now, for heavens sake, talk about
something else"
Jim leaped to his feet with Q grin
and chuckle, then drew Lilas from
her chair, saying: 1.-The lovers are em-
barrassed, and they're dying to be
alone. Let's leave 'em to talk It over"
"She's dear, Bob, and | wish you
both Joy. But don't kiss her here"
said Nlas, warningly; then, with Q
wave Of her hand, she turned toward
the dancing room with Jim.
"Call 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 BaS
rose unsteadily, glass in hand, and
nodded at them.
THANKS, noble comrades" he pro
claimed; she's miner
"Hurrah" Lilas kissed Lorelei Of.
fuslvely. Jim seized Bob's hand, CRY.
ing:
"Brother!' He waved to 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 q
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 profrered marriage was
merely bargain by which she got
more than she gave. She had accepted
without allowing her better self an
opportunity to marshal its protests,
and, having closed her eyes and leaped
into the dark, 1t 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 II seemed
to her that he was the injured party.
But she was In wanton mood tonight,
and Of late voice had been desps-
rately urging her to grasp at what she
could, that she might, as long as pos
slble, delay her descent into worse con.
ditions.
She heard Lilas inquiring: when
does the marriage come Off Right
awayY
Bob, who appeared somewhat daxed
by the suddenness and the complete
ness Of his good fortune, smiled va
cantly. ANY time suits me-" he said.
"Tm a happy man-little Joys are ca
pering all over the place, and old Doc
tor Gloom has packed his grip"
Jim startled them oil by saying,
crisply: Lets make It tonight.
know Bob-he's not the sort to wait"
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, ia there?" He ap.
pealed helplessly to Jim.
Jim rose to the occasion with the
same promptltude 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 telephone" He allowed
no lettering; he waved the girls away,
sent the waiter scurrying with his bill,
haInad Rnhort caoura hat anA .A4ol
and then dived into 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. It is a wise general
who provides himself in advance with
The smooth celebrity with which this
whole adventure ran Its course argued
thorough preparation on James part,
but Lorelei was In no condition to an
alyze. Even at the journeys end there
was a suspicious lack Of delay. The
vehicle stopped in narrow business
street, now dark and dismal; its occu.
pants were hurried up stairway and
Into a room filled with law-bookA
where a sleepy justice Of the peace
was nodding in cloud of cigar smoke.
There followed noisy shuftiing Of
chairs, some mumbled questions and
answers, the crackle Of papers, q deal
Of unintelligible rigmarole, then Q
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 r.
call the picture Of that room or the
events that occurred there. They
formed but a part of the Kaleidoscope
tumble of the nights occurrences.
The wedding party was In the cab
once more, and 1t was under way. 10
was all SO like nightmare that Lore
lei began to doubt her own sanity.
Once at rest In the dim-lit tunnel Of
the ferry boat, however, she was