Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-15
CHAPTER xXIlI
A Strange Wedding

Mol, woke that morning with the
|Onrise. m A..
Her wedding day! She went to the
window and opened it wide to the dewy
ssrdsn. She kissed her hand in the
direction Of Manor Dyke; she won.
|deged II John were awake too. and II
io we're o. happy and excited as she:
Hbe was dressed and downstairs be-
|iwe James sleepy head had left the pill
|)eW; the morning seemed to hy.
Thsre we're the boys to dress in their
|neV suits and clean collars. Mrs. Dan.
'9neIeld 10 dress and to PERSUADE that
~ jousney to London would not kill
Gslly kept her temper wonderfully
|tAeovsh Il all she never had moment
r Which to think Of herself. 1t was
1ly when Mrs Ashford arrived that
~ remembered that she was the bride
/ ~ should have been the center OF
| Iattnetion.
'sIhe vicar is very cross with Mr..
Harden for not being married here. Or
|At lesst In 4 church." Mrs. Ashford told
Molly. "Eut all the same ! am coming
Iup to see you safely married. Now. my
WIT iuu olVhk uuu iCbt, " Jou ~ W
Ncen out. Leave your mothcr to me
|ll manage her--yes. and the boys: too.
Iate Jane with you; you must want
9ennt ono to help you Dress
Molly never remembered how she got
eressed at oil; the time seemed to hy
R n . whlrl; 1t was only when they
Pvers al In the train and on their way
10 Loudon that she began to think.
What q muddle It had been! She
laew that people In Little Helpton must
b talking about her unconventional
wedding, but she did not care. She sat
beside her mother. and tried not to look
at the boys; they looked so uacomm0nly
clesn and well behaved. She loved them
gu % much; how she would miss them
y the future. She made up her mini
Tat she would always have ut least one
10y them staying with her at Manor
Mr.. Dangerdeld was fearful and
|remlnisccnt.
IL only your dear father had been
|agw, che said over and over again.
% 10 III and incapable. I shall never
neaasc to get through tho ceremony
Without breaking down. Molly"
oh, yes, you WILL" Molly assured
lee cheerfully. 1T will be very short,
|%ssa ss shorter than II it had been in u
he was too excited to be critical {;
ne hardly realized that she was look
nsner best In the simple cloth frock
|sae black hat in which She had chosen
W b married.
John Harden met thom at Padding.
". lie wore an ordinary lounge suit
y q soft felt hat. but Wharton at his
uow was immaculate In n tail coat and
~, Spats: lc grinnrd ut Molly ner.
3sly and shook hands.
ne had never been more surprised in
ite than when he had been asked to
best man.
| ~ haven't a friend in the world ]
~ TO- ask" Harden had explained
abtrainedly. "And it's only a matter
tom after all; SO II you don't
~ .wSnssrton did not mind. but he real.
Mat nc looked far more like the
iySesroom than Harden did.
~ was not in tho least like a wed.
except for Wharton's silk hat and
nch OF flowers which Mrs. Danger.
\ insisted on carrying. They drove
~ registrars In taxtcabs-Wharton
Harden In one. Molly and her
sses IN another. Jane and the boys
Mls. Ashford packed into a third.
aaeh looked out Of the window into
sunny street; he was very pale :
ID cheek. I ''"s !" ''
" think it. going to rain," he said,
9ng Wharton's eye.
k1 think 1t is" Wharton agrced
Wy, though there was not q cloud
@e SKY, and they both knew it,
~ .sston was relieved when the drive
Efs ended he thought It was tho rum .
way OF getting married he had
acard Of; he felt rather sorry for
r.. poor little bride. He could NOT
n stand Harden at oil; from time
~" "e no looked at him with puzzled
ne registrars Office was in a side
ana not particularly cheerful /; q
ulSnins gathered around the doc,
aney saw the cabs pulling up
were used to weddings, but they
!" stare all the same. They com .
loudly on WhartOn's gray spat.
bridegroom. "
kfs registrar himself was q mourn
osinF person he stared at Molly
Ssked her to sit down. He told
sp3ys to stop talking; he Offered
uanserfeld q chair,
room was dinSy and smelt Of OLD
nents there was an empty graf,
vns xsh sssSx'ns: :;..s sad ,,.ss,: y.sss.,