Evening star., 1918-02-10
Bv MCDONNELL. BODKIN

nss~vv.sy nn.:ssnE n. ,..S,.. M,a.esSse I'M
Away in . corner the brides mothsr
waS crying softly tor hse lost daueAesr.
. ana eessos nss y wss - tns % Is'q s,siiT SnSa1 fSe
treasure that did not belong 10 him Yon.
der. under the shadow OF . pillar oas
Beck. on whose preesnoe As the 0eeS
R1as Rssds ana s ss1dssoom ns1 Wsrs Soes por1-
lar. and t;ae body OF the church was
dlled with spectators
Tho vivacious Mamie was very quiet
wrssth Of orange blossoms and diapaa-
nous white veil. and her sweet lips
Quivered q little. But 3oyous triumph
was enthroned on her lovers fAcs
Ten O'Clock. the hour appointed. came
and passed: minute after minute went
slowly by; still one guest was missing,
Mr. Marmaduke McMeredith, who had
faithfully promised Give to attend. had
not yet put In an appearance.
Give grew Impatient; then as the
minutes dragged on Q feeling OF some
think like dismay stole ovor him
He Whispered word or TWO % tne
got up quietly and slipped away 20
the vestry. Presently the vicAr came
out. white etoled, on the altar Sep@
and the wedding service began. Give
responses were clear and frn. a. oents
a man; Mamie's low and sweet Ae oe-
f1es q woman. So tho mystery was &C.
complished that bound two lives to-
gether in soul and body.
Mamie Meredith: with trembling nano:
had Just written the frst half OF her new
name in the register. when the tramp ana
whiri Of a carriage driven fur1ousv
thundered TO- the e. door; ana ,,.s,,o,,s Mr % Sur.t
upon the company and gased round nun
from face to face In angry amusement
my God!! I'm too late after al!
Mamie fell back in open-eyed dinnay
at the sight Of him. but his nephew
came forward smiling. with outstretcneo
hand.
the last moment"
His uncle stared at him like one dun-
founded.
cried at last. asst what is the meaning Of
this disgraceful proceeding?
"Disgraceful proceeding! MY maffaa2e!
Why, you know you gave your consent
"it:s lie." shouted Mr.. Meredith. more
furiously than ever. losing all control OF
his temper. "A pretty story, truly. tnAs
1 would marry my nephew to q baby ana
The hot young blood rushed to Cnve's
face and his fingers clenched instincdveiy.
but MT, Beck who had crept quietly
close to him-laid . restraining hano On
keep COOL" he Whispered. The
Give heard. and p.ucAed the sealed sn-
velope from his pocket .a
"your written consent under your Cwn
hand. See!" he cried to the estonisneo
guests. who crowded around them This
will show who's the har Ia
up. that all might see, sheet OF 1oois-
cap paper-Quite blank:
Mr.. Marmaduke Meredith lau8neo OUT
a harsh. jeering laugh.
through" he asked scornfully.
Hold the paper to the fire, whis.
pered Mr.. Beck In Gives cars
The clear. sharp tone OF cofnmeno
was in the whisper.
Stunned and bewildered. clivs mo-
chanfcally obeyed.
Then slowly. in efent OF tnem az
the large, clear handwriting OF Mr.
Marmaduke Meredith:
IT hereby give my full and tree con-
Give worthington Meredith. to Miss
aSas agisned5 eS .Marmaduks Meredith"
A big fnal flourish flowed from the
Mr. Meredith's heavy mouth fell
asunder. and his face grew yellow and
. mottled like a half-ripe strawberry.
For a moment in his amusement ne
struggled in vain for words.
Then he broke out: what d-n trick.
cry is thisr' and made q sudden dash
for the paper.
. But MT. Beck's big hand was on his
/ breast like an iron bar.
"Quietly, my dear sir" he said. IN his
, very gentlest tones. Keep as cool a.
you can. Mr.. Meredith. You have
played your little game for . big stake
, and lost 1t. You had . strong hand.
but we went one better. had heard OF
: this vanishing ink, and maybe you have
: of invisible ink Mr.. Meredith. They
, make a good blend, and took the lib
! erty Of mixing them in the little brown
DELPHI ink-bottle when I was doing a
. weeks ago: that's all"
Copyright, 1918. by Mcclure syndicats.)