Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-02
Panic

TT WAS still raining when, at 4 ,3o
Cleo emerged from the door Of tbe
apartment house. In the TAM on her
way Gown town to meet Carey her
neaIt peat so hard that she could hcar
lts drumming in her ears. So absorbed
was she with her thoughts that she
was hardly aware Of the rain dashins
against the windows, and it seemed hnf
a few moments before the car was
drawing up before stone building IN
side street. 80
Cleo had expressed q wish - +,
manner Of romance has nlwovs cluny
and Carey had agreed. Bur she ws,
hardly aware of the fact now, for Carey
himself vas standing on the drippinr
pavement and as the car stopped opcnee,
tne door and held out hts hand 70 holm
her TO alight. ~ y
She clung to him under the drinpinc
umbrella as he paid the driver, and then
as ne turned to ber she smiled up into
MS race. It was the trusting. almost
radiant smile OF child. and for n
moment Carey forgot his contempt for
her. His answering smile lighted nm
MS dark face to tenderness. II soft !.
ened the harshness Of his mouth and
oanished the queer yellow Light that
giinted from his eyes
Then suddenly It was zone, and he
was hurrying her up the walk to the
covered porch. 4 moment later tbey
were standing IN small dark room ir
"hich the air seemed v6ry close ant
musty.
Cleo looked around hastily. They were
alone. but Carey made no attempt tr
take advantage of the fact, and sud
denly the rainy day and the fac,
that her nerves had been strained &c
the breaking point since ear'y ,nornins
made Cleo do thing that she had
never done before. She turned 70 him
suddenly and before lie knew what She
intended. her arms were close around
his neck. The odor of the flower,
that ne had sent her was all about them
ana for second time he forgot tina,
she was hcartlcss little hirt. and 70
lncmoered only the fact that she was
tho woman who in few moment.
was TO become his wife.
His arms vent around her.
Are you glad:' he whispered. a:
His arms tishtcred. and then sud
! 'r'Is ieil away some one was com
Ing along the corridor outside.
a moment later a long faced cu-st,
entered the room.
Mr.. Phelps" be said politely. "Dr
Hampton IS ready now, will you follow
He turned toward the door, an,
Carey stopped back to allow Cleo +,
pr"r"de him, but in that moment Sd.
wavered, and a little feeling Of mani,
swept over her. For the frst time sb,
felt the solemp!ty OF the occasion ~,
irrevocaoIlity Of IL. Being married liz.
this vas somehow vaguely terrifying
everything was too hushed and quie.
and she was afraid.
In the dim light she stretched out be,
hand 10 Carey. and bis strong finger.
closed reassuringly abou, hers.
You re no, sorry, are vou?" h,
asked lightly. ~
She shook ber head and swallowed
back a sob, and tkcn as II She wcr,
moving In a dream followed The cura,f
down dark corridor un small Fiyb,
OF stairs and into tiny. d!mly Lighted
chapel.
Evcryth:ng seemed unreal and n.
bad thought it would be so different
She had dreamed Of her marriage ,r
Carey as a joyous thing. and ins,ear
she felt subduel and without emotion
Of any kind. Even Carey seemed ,ik,
stranger. and suddenly she vas seize
with an impulse to run away brior,
it was too late.