Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-22
CHAPTER XLvIII
The Journeys End

" """bVJ . XIV
Mark was standing there, bis face
quite colorless, but his head erect, and
nc hG'd out his hand when be saw me
And father said:
II it IS true that you have decided to
freak my heart and your mothe-'s and
create scandal by marriage with this
go tonight-you understand. You viii
not sleep another night in my house.
=" He paused. well, you can
choose he repeated, as I did not
l looked at Mark. He was as white
9s death. but he tried to smile.
It's for. you to choose, dear" he
said. u have nothing to offer YOU.
as you know. But If you'll take me
swear 10 God that you shall
i've !" wv"
IL stood up on tiptoe and kissed him.
Then / walked toward the door.
II suppose may fetch my hat and
coat" said.
Fathers rage exploded. He shouted
and stormed at me till mother and
Winnie came downstairs to see what
was the matter. and the whole miser.
Hble scene was enacted over again.
Mother took it very quietly, on the
whole, but she said one bitter thing
which shall never forget.
Sally has always been my greatest
disappointment. I suppose she always
VIII be. And then, with a burst of
Think"
But she refused to allow me 20 be
turned out that night, and quite early
the following mo ming. almost before
any one was about, drove away ip a
Hlred carriage, and was married to Mark
Anderson by special license.
MARX had seen Lionel late the night
before, and just as we were leaving the
egislry ONCE a messenger boy brought
me note from him.
My Dear--l AM wishing you all the
'app.ness ! should have tried to give
YOU myself. God bless you -
There were tears in my eyes as I
howed it to Mark, and ! saw his own
cloud over rs he said
i wonder if you realize all that you
are giving up:"
Aud ] answered:
II wonder If you realize that have
got the only thing I ever wanted?"
"What was that?" he asked, though
am sure no knew.
ITO be your WIFE" I said softly.
1t Is three years now since Mark and
were married, and we are out In
New Zealand and very happy, all the
more so because just six months ago a
small daughter arrived on the scene to
.ook at Inc with Marks eyes.
And because I am safely out of the
way, they have forgiven me at home
for what they chose to consider my dis
graceful conduct, and have even heard
indirectly that because Mark is doing
quite we'll, although nobody thought he
would ever make q shilling, mother oc-
casionallv refers TO my son in law in
New Zealand" as IL half the colony
belongs to him, and in letter received
from home Just before baby was born,
mother graciously said;
1--WE are all hoping that II will be a
boy, but am quite prepared to hear
that my first grandchild has turned out
to be a girl
Meaning" I said. as Mark and I
read the letter together, that, seeing
It's me. everything is bound to be
wrong!"
Mark pulled me down to him and
kissed me.
And though baby did turn out to be
unwanted! And only the other day
Mark said
II used to think there was nothing
else in the world left to wish for, but
now ' " And he looked across at
baby with a comical mixture of pride
and embarrassment.
"She's the most beautiful darling In
all the world" ! said. and then, as he
laughed, l added imperiously: "Say so
ut once! Do you hear meT'
believe she is,' said Mark
| looked up at him rather wiStfully
"Do you still love me best Of all"
I asked.
Marks brown face flushed rs he bent
to kiss me.
BEST of all queen Of my heart" no
said softly,
And so be does, know! So he al.
ways will. -. ..
THE END