The Washington herald., 1916-07-09

temper on myself, dearest, said Tom,
$50 you'd get none of 1t. You see L"
And l feel worse about you than / do
about myself" she crieds, Its everlast-
Ing horrible disgrace for anybody to get
expelled from school. But it's lots worse
for n boy than for girl. For II spoils
his whole career. And it's all my fault.
1T was not your fault" he denied, 1T
was mine. And It was worth being ex-
PEELED for-if II weren't for making you
feel so unhappy"
But what are we going to dor
1--WE thought 1t all out very carefully"
Tom told her, land I've hit on the only
solution. It's a daring sort of solution
and It will take lots OF pluck. But it'll
mean a whole lot of happiness for us.
VIII you do it?''
Yes. OF course. What is it?"
1--WE must get married"
Married." she echoed, amazed.
But"
I'VE must get married. right away" he
Insisted. Then well go back to our
parents and tell them. and it'll be too
late for thew to rnrto any kick. They
may be a little put out about it just at
first But they IUve as TOO much not to
come around. And dads promised me a
lob as soon as leave, school. So l can
support you all right. And-and won't it
be wonderful?'
Bul-Dul, lOI1s size we
can't. We can't"
why not?"
I'VE aren't of age or anything. and
we"
I'm twenty" he answered sturdily.
"In this state a man can marry at twen-
ty, and a girl can marry at eighteen.
Those are the legal ages. So you see"
But l won't be eighteen for three
months" she objected, I'm only seven
teen"
HIM" he unused unhappily. that's
so. I'd forgotten. But" he went on
Frightening. that needn't bother us. All
you need to do is to write down your
age as eighteen on the marriage license
blanks. No one will know. You look
eighteen. all right"
But is that-honest?'' she quavered.
why not? 1t isn't your fault you
aren't eighteen. And you will be in three
months. And you're in your eighteenth
year. aren't your" Besides it's just a
formality."
Yes. | suppose So
"Oh, darling" he pleaded. Won't you
marry me-please? Think how glorious
1t will be not to walt till we're years
and years older. as We were afraid we'd
have to. but to marry right away and
be together always"
Yes" she surrendered, sighing in
frightened rapture.
He kissed her. And she clung to him.
weeping a little. Presently he said:
I've thought out the arrangement. too.
I'm not going back TO the academy at
all. I'll sleep somewhere outdoors to-
night You'd better spend the night in
some part of the seminary where they
won't be apt to look for you and where
you can get out at daylight. before
they're up. I'll meet you here at half
past five in the morning. Well catch the
S:4S milk train to Masonburg and 60
straight to the city hall, there. for
license Then we'll get that new Presby-
terrain minister up on Avon Place to
marry us. He doesn't know US and he's
been in Masonburg only a month or two
After that wen go to your father and
mother and tell them all about it"
"Oh. Tom" she declared. you're won
derful! You're a regular Napoleon. You
think OF everything
NO" he contradicted gany. II don't
think OF anything except you, darling"
And so they parted for the night
Senator Mason sat in the library of
his big house on Masonburg's widest
reading The Appeals" trenchant ac-
count Of the preceding days fight in the
newspaper office. and a three-column re-
port of certain recent franchise deals
wherein the Senator was alleged to have
played a somewhat doubtful role
Mason waxed apopleptic with indigna-
ton as he read. Nor was his wrath les
sened by front-page cartoon OF him
self. in guise OF a holdup man, shouting
Your FRANCHISE or Your Life" to a
group OF trembling city fathers
His wife-a sallow, perpetually tinid
woman-sat at his side trying in vain
to assuage his wrath. Her well-meant
condolences served only to make him
the angrier.
She was in mortal terror of the domi-
mating husband, and pathetically anxious
to please him. Always she had been so;
through their quarter century OF welded
life. AS a result, she had yearly grown
more timid and unhappy, and he had
waxed daily more bullying and ill-tem-
pered.
The district attorney" he was snarl-
ing now, says I've a perfect case against
that cur, Fletcher. And he SAYS he'll
press it. II say the word. CHATS what
had him elected for-to jump when l
pull the strings) But my own lawyers
advise me not to bring suit-the cow
ards: They seem TO think I'd have trou-
bic in proving the libel l don't see why
But I'll find some way or other to shut
him up! I'd give fifty thousand dollars
10 any tough who cut his throat for
me-"
''Oh, my dear! My dear" protest.
ed Mrs. Mason. you mustn't say such
things even IN joke. He is"
I'm joke? Do I look as If I was jok-
ing? I've always run this place to
suit myself. No one has complained
And now this rascally editor
What a wonderful world this must
have been for statesmen and finan-
ciers and politicians" she commented,
-innocently, before newspapers were in
vented"
I'm going to shut up that news
paper" he growled unheeding, IF It
takes every, cent I have. And I'm 60
ing to get back at Stephen Fletcher
If"
He stopped short. with a grunt Two
people-a man and a girl-had entered
the room. The man paused near the
door. In the dim light. Mason did not
at once recognize him. The girl came
shyly forward.
At sight of her the glover vanished
from Mason's face. He and his wife
jumped to their feet in happy excite
ment.
Rose" they cried in unison
"Dad!-mother!" said Rose nervously
kissing them one after the other. I've
some news for you. Some tremendous
news. Promise not to be angry"
Angry with you, you precious little
girl?" laughed Mason indulgently, not