|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 74
"Yes, I care as much as you," she faltered, "but----"
"But what?" sharply.
"But you are going to be married this week," she said in desperation,
raising her miserable eyes to his.
He looked at her in astonishment.
"Am I?" said he. "Well, that's news to me; but it's the best news I've
heard in a long time. When does the ceremony come off? I wish it was this
morning. Make it this morning, will you? Let's stop this blessed old train
and go back to the Doctor. He'll fix it so we can't ever run away from
each other again. Elizabeth, look at me!"
But Elizabeth hid her eyes now. They were full of tears.
"But the lady--" she gasped out, struggling with the sobs. She was so
weary, and the thought of what he had suggested was so precious.
"What lady? There is no lady but you, Elizabeth, and never has been.
Haven't you known that for a long time? I have. That was all a
hallucination of my foolish brain. I had to go out on the plains to get
rid of it, but I left it there forever. She was nothing to me after I saw
you."
"But--but people said--and it was in the paper, I saw it. You cannot
desert her now; it would be dishonorable."
"Thunder!" ejaculated the distracted young man. "In the paper! What lady?"
"Why, Miss Loring! Geraldine Loring. I saw that the preparations were all
made for her wedding, and I was told she was to marry you."
In sheer relief he began to laugh.
At last he stopped, as the old hurt look spread over her face.
"Excuse me, dear," he said gently, "There was a little acquaintance
between Miss Loring and myself. It only amounted to a flirtation on her
part, one of many. It was a great distress to my mother, and I went out
West, as you know, to get away from her. I knew she would only bring me
unhappiness, and she was not willing to give up some of her ways that were
impossible. I am glad and thankful that God saved me from her. I believe
she is going to marry a distant relative of mine by the name of Benedict,
but I thank the kind Father that I am not going to marry her. There is
only one woman in the whole wide world that I am willing to marry, or ever
will be; and she is sitting beside me now."
The train was going rapidly now. It would not be long before the conductor
would reach them. The man leaned over, and clasped the little gloved hand
that lay in the girl's lap; and Elizabeth felt the great joy that had
tantalized her for these three years in dreams and visions settle down
about her in beautiful reality. She was his now forever. She need never
run away again.
The conductor was not long in coming to them, and the matter-of-fact world
had to be faced once more. The young man produced his card, and said a few
words to the conductor, mentioning the name of his uncle, who, by the way,
happened to be a director of the road; and then he explained the
situation. It was very necessary that the young lady be recalled at once
to her home because of a change in the circumstances. He had caught the
train at West Philadelphia by automobile, coming as he was in his morning
clothes, without baggage and with little money. Would the conductor be so
kind as to put them off that they might return to the city by the shortest
possible route?
The conductor glared and scolded, and said people "didn't know their own
minds," and "wanted to move the earth." Then he eyed Elizabeth, and she
smiled. He let a grim glimmer of what might have been a sour smile years
ago peep out for an instant, and--he let them off.
They wandered delightedly about from one trolley to another until they
found an automobile garage, and soon were speeding back to Philadelphia.
They waited for no ceremony, these two who had met and loved by the way in
the wilderness. They went straight to Mrs. Benedict for her blessing, and
then to the minister to arrange for his services; and within the week a
quiet wedding-party entered the arched doors of the placid brown church
with the lofty spire, and Elizabeth Bailey and George Benedict were united
in the sacred bonds of matrimony.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|