Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-16
A Runaway Marriage
CHAPTER.

CHAPTER
~ HARLOTTE'S bedroom was in
the northeast corner OF the
~ old farmhouse. Outside an
apple tree grew so close to
the house that it's branches almost
touched her window pane. That was
in winter. In summer the WINDOW
was always open, even in rainy
weather, and tonight Charlotte stood
looking out into the soft. summer
night, waiting for the family down.
stairs to go to bed:
Somewhere out in the darkness
Tony was waiting for her. AS soon
as it was safe she would slip down
the long stairs, open the old-tash-
toned front door, fly across the lawo
she would be in Tony's arms and al!
the fear that this secrecy had
aroused in her would be forgotten.
1t was Tony who had insisted upon
keeping, it secret, Charlotte h s;1
girls do, but somehow she had never
thought of slipping off in the night
to be married secretly. Her dreams
had been vague, but they had been
concerned with white satin and
wedding veil and the envlous glances
of the other girls.
But, after all, she argued to her
self, Tony knew best. Her heart
skipped a beat as she visioned him
TO neTS6ll Ln6IS III Tie SO1L 0u9h "
her own little room. Why, Tony
was veritable fairy prince much
too good for her. She thought of his
straight tall figure, the proud set OF
his head, the Wide-aWake brown or
his eyes, and the tenderness in his
Wasn't he the most wonderful man
in the world, and she the luckiest
girl? For the hundredth time or
more Charlotte wondered just why
Tony had asked her to be his wife.
From bits of description which she
had pieced together, she had formed
vague impression of his home In
the city. To her it seemed fairy
land of soft lights, beautiful pic
lures, thick rugs on which one could
tiful old furniture. Tony must have
known so many girls before he had
known her, and yet he had asked her
to marry him, little Charlotte Graves,
who had never been more than ten
miles from her home in all her short
life!
If Charlotte had but known it,
Tony had his own reasons for keep
ing the marriage secret. He was quite
madIy in love with this small person
who was like no other girl he had
met before. He had never been so
completely bowled over in his life
as he had been the night he had held
Charlotte in his arms for the first
time She was such tiny thing. 1t
had been like holding bird against
ness of his passion for her. Tony
had felt surge of deeper feeling, OF
finer love. He wanted to protect
Charlotte, to take care of her always,
between them there could be no
thought of anything but marriage.
And Tony wanted Charlotte, not her
horny-handed, stoop- shouldered IA
Their. nor her overworked gray little
mother, so anonymously the parents
of this dainty creature, who seemed
a piece of moonlight imprisoned IN
the sordidness of her life i'll the old
farmhouse.
Outside in the hall heavy steps be-
gan to climb the creaking old stair
case. Charlotte, with both small
hands pressed over her heart, waited.
along the hall to the room at the end,
In p few minutes there was the
sound of lighter footsteps. This was
her mother A little sob rose to the
girls throat. and she stretched out
her arms like child there in the dark
ness. If only she could tel tel h I1e1.
mothers arms about her, wishing
her happiness, laughing at her fears!
Charlotte held her breath, for the
steps had stopped at her door. But
only for a moment, as though the
mother heart had somehow sensed
the fact that all was not we'll within;
then they went on down the hall, and
the old house was very quiet.
1t seemed hours afterwards when
Charlotted opened her door, listeded
moment and then, like a shadow,
crept down the dark stairs and out
into the understanding night. Her
spirits rose as she flew across the
yard and down the dusty road. Down
at the fork Tony was waiting for
her, and soon, soon, they would be
married!
(To BE Continued.)