... , ( g'f' r." ", ga3na'w"'!"" "i - - 1 't ; 1 ;
& ma m
By George Hibbard.
AS If floating down through the
till air from soma gray tower
the hour of 6 waa sounding from
the cathedral chimes of the big
clock on the stairs; but already,
tm the short December day, the dark
ness had fallen. The snow that had
continued all of the afternoon bad
brought the night even sooner. It was
& true Christmas storm, soft and gentle,
the flakes falling slowly and resting
wanly until all was covered. But tho
wind was coming up, and soon there
.would be drifts and buried fences. All
the people staying In the big country
fcoua had gathered In the hall, where
the fife ftn honest Christmas fire
burned riotously on the hearth. The
oldest granddaughter sat beside the tea
table, and about her, on tbe arms of
chairs, on window ledges and even on
the floor, loitered, lurked and reclined
the rest of the party.
"But I have told you so often," said
the nioe old lady, as she glanced at the
jgroup before her. She spoke, however,
with a certain pride; and her bright
eyes grew a trifle brighter and her pink
cheeks a shade pinker. She was a very
nice old lady, indeed, as an old lady
should be, with -a- pretty cap upon her
erect little old head, and a pretty, soft
tires upon her little, trim old figure.
"And it waa so long ago," she urged.
In lax remonstrance. "Why, that waa
in 1902, when I was only nineteen years
old."
"I don't care." said the vouneest
"granddaughter, who was sitting almost
at her feet; "I love those dear old
times, when everything was so pictur
esque and romantic When men wore
those ourlous, shining, tall black bats
and women those quaint skirts, la the
Jiouse they had those dear registers, at
. whloh they warmed themselves, and ac
tuary carpets on the floor. And then
there were horses and carriages In the
streets, and at night gas burned in those
dear old lamp posts. When they built
those strange sky-scrapers', as they
called them in the cities and In the
country all the fenoes and places were
not covered everywhere with advertise
ments, and one could see something else.
Oh, Christmas must have been charm
ing la those days, and really Christ
mast I can understand- how a girl
could elope."
"Tes," said the nice old lady,
thoughtfully: "I did elope." Then Bhe
laughed. "It was a curious elopement.
I don't believe there was ever one quite
like it before or that there has been
since. A reversed elopement, that is
what I can It, my dear."
"Tell us," urged one of tbe young
men, earnestly. He was engaged to the
oldest franddaughter and they were
only to be discovered with difiouMy in
the obscurity of a curtained window.
"Tell us about the reversed elopement."
"And don't leave anything out," in
F?."twLi,w ml411 granddaughter. "I am
like Florence. I adore all those nice
told things. I have positive thrills
whan I thmk of those sleepy days
whan doodI had ttma t wu.ii., .
love and nicely foolish and sentlmen-
, , "And yet, my dears," said the old
lady, "w used to think ourselves utter
ly practical and prosaic. We mourned
over the fact that all romance had gone
ut of the world la what we called the
rush of modern life."
, "Fancy!" said the youngest grand
daughter. Incredulously.
"Oh, w used to bo amazed at our- ad
rancVa we named It. and I remember
that whan they first took a photograph
, through a man's body that everyone
considered it marvelous."
"J imagine HI" exclaimed the oldest
i granddaughter,, in wondering tones.
v v "And your, grandfather," continued
the old ladyy "In th Spanish War "
"The Spanish War!" interrupted the
. ynunerowi srwiuunugujici, rapturously.
S s"Whw they had those absurd old rifles
that would only shoot two mlles, and
those ships that rode -on the water so
proudly vNrt everyone could see them.
' Oh, If I mold have watched a regiment
St those wonderful eM soldi ersthosa
s "Rough Riders' or the Zouaves iaf;
' A .
"They were in the civil war,- sug
gested her grandmother.
"Oh, well," she admitted. "I got them
a little mixed up, It was all so long
ago! But if I had only seen thera! In
deed, 1 can't understand how any girl
could help running away then when
everything was so decorative and dear."
"I couldn't," said the old lady, with a
singularly fine blush spreading quickly
over her cheeks. "Hut I am afraid Alec
was more the reason for It than the
times. What a way he had with him!"
"Tea, men wore dtfferent In those
days," commented the youngest grand
daughter. "They knew how to be la love "
"I complained, though. Just as you
do," continued her grandmother, "until
I met with Alec. I felt that it was ell
over with me the first time that I saw
him, though believe me I didn't let him
know time I never shall forget when
Bally Orantly presented Mr. Alexander
Forbes to me that Sunday afternoon,
how he bowed "
"The delightful stilted old manners,"
sighed one of the, plrls.
"We were at the door of the Trevor
house and I was Just going oat I
thought he was the most beautiful ob
ject my eyes ever behild as he stood
with the trees across the street as a
background, for the house waa on Fifth
avenue opposite Central park "
"Can you think of actually living on
Fifth avenue opposite the park?" gasped
one.
"I didn't see him after that," re
sumed the old ladv, ""until late in the
autumn, when I met him at the Thirty
fourth street ferry, and found that he
was going down to stay at the same
Long Island country house that I was.
Oh I was delighted, though of course
I did not allow him to see It! Indeed,
lust because I was so glad I treated
him abominably."
One of the granddaughters laughed.
"It's always amusing to henr of the
queer Irrational conduct of girls then."
"At once," her grandmother con
tinued. "I made him known to papa, and
I was astonished nt how civil papa was
to him. Generally he was very gruff
and almost impossible with all young
men, but he was gentleness Itself with
Alec. And, if anything, I behaved
worsa than ever. Thera were other men
in tbe house, and one who was rather
fast and fascinating. Of course what
had I to do but to be as nice to him
as possible, driving poor Alec nearly
frantic. I could see him grow red and
white and clinch his hands and mutter
to himself. And papa he was almost
distracted, too, because he was afraid
that I was getting to care about the
other man. And all the time I simply
couldn't do any differently.
"The crisis oame ons evening. Ws
had been at a meet in the afternoon
near the house. I had been particularly
gracious to everr one but Alec, and I
had been particularly hateful to him.
When we started to come back the other
man kept with me and he managed to
sit next to me in the trap Alec, who
was not following that day because of a
lame horse, saw that he could not get
near to me, so he said that he was not
going to drive at all, hut that, as he
wanted some exercise, he was going to
run the distance back to the house. We
were three miles from home, but he
started off trotting ahead of the horses.
Of course, everv one thought that he
would give up. but he didn't. Though
the horses went pretty fast he kept be
fore them all the way and the last mile
he 'sprinted,' as he called it, and got to
the door some time before we did. Oh,
what a man! As you may imagine, I
did not pay very much attention to any
of the pretty things that any-one else
was saybig when over the ears of the
horses I could catch glimpses of that
figure Jogging along in the dusty road.
And then after dinner we had it out in
the library. When we were alone h
Imply came forWarf and took myu
hands.
" 'Now, this has got to stort.' he said.
""Whntr I asked, as ca'mlv s I
could, though my heart waa beating
"" m every peat or me ciock on me
mantelpiece.
answered, bluntly.
1 "avs got to stopr 1 exclaimed.
4 a ln1 you rw me, ne kept
on
J, " re iust wastmi our time.
If VOU Arm' I.... . T ,
malt TOUi h aali w
THE OREGON SUNDAY
Oh, but I do,' I answered. Just as
decidedly.
"I saw that he was a good deal taken
back at that, and I was so delighted.
" 'Well.' he replied, almost hotly,
"then it is all settled. I only wish you
had teld ma before.'
" "But you never asked me,' I said.
" "You are too provoking,' he replied;
"but I have got you now.'
"Indeed, he had me tight in his arras,
so that I thought I couldn't breathe.
" 1 don't know what papa will say,'
I suggested, as soon as I could speak.
" 'You can make him do anything you
wish," he answered.
" 'Yes,' I admitted, "he's awfully afraid
of me.'
"Oh. later I was stupid! I felt that I
must tell some one, and so a few min
utes before every one went upstairs I
found papa and told him that I was en
gaged. I never saw any on so sur
prised, and I did not believe that any
one could be So angry.
"'Engaged!' he cried, angrily. "Mar
ried! Never!'
" 'Of course," I answered, dutifully, 1
Bhould not think of doing it without
your consent.'
" Then this marriage will iever take
place."
I smiled at him.
" 'How can it?" he asked defiantly.
" 'Because you will consent, because
I'll make you,' I answered, confidently.
" 'You'll see this time," he replied with
conviction.
" "You'll see,' I answered. Just as con
fidently. " 'You promise," he said, 'that you will
not marry this man without my ap
proval ?
" 'Yes,' I answered, promptly.
"He nodded In a way that I did not
understand.
"Alec and I had arranged that the
next morning he should make the for
mal request for my hand. As I couldn't
sleep half the night from the excitement,
I couldn't help thinking how quickly I'd
make papa yield as soon as I really took
him in hand. I enjoyed the thought of
it all night
"You may imagine my surprise whan
a note, addressed in papa's handwriting,
was given to me as I came donwnstafra.
" 'My dear,' the note ran, "I find that
I am unexpectedly compelled to go to
town, and take the next steamer sailing.
You need not feel the least anxiety be
cause of my sudden departure, and you
must remember your promise.
" 'Lovingly,
" 'YOUJt FATHER.'
""Oh, the dear old fox! Oh, the dar
ling coward!' I exclaimed. But I was
not at all pleased with him running
away.
"Indeed, I was very angry. I saw Just
how he had caught me, for he knew, of
course, that I wpuldn t break a prom
ise when once I had given it. He knew
that I could twist him round my finger
if I could reach him. Now he had
slipped out of my hands altogether. Oh,
I was furious! When Alec came down,
I laid the case before him in Indignant
tones.
" 'Of course, we can wait,' I concluded,
doubtfully.
" 'Not at all." he said. In a tone that
made me Jump. We are going to be
married at once.'
" Hut my promise," I gasped.
"He frowned.
' " "Of course, you must keep 1C
"I nodded.
" "You're sure you can make your fa
ther give In. if you can talk to him?' " -"
'Absolutely.'
" 'Then we'll find him and you'll make
blm consent.'
" "But he's gone! I cried. He' going
to sail today
" "He's only been gone a few minutes
Alec replied. 'We can catch him at the
station. The train may he a little late.
There's an automobile all ready at the
door" . y
'"Oh. oneof those Bear, rumbling,
humbling Old automobiles!' interrupted
one of the grandchildren, clasping her
nanas, esumcauy.
"In,, an Instant," continued the old
lady. "Alec had me in a coat and had
lifted and almost thrown me into it,
jumping in after me, and with a turn of
his hand w were spinning away at 80
miles an hour."
One of -the listening grandchildren
laughed as the old lady paused.
Nrfkl-tn mil., ku L. - .1 - .
runic or considering that fast la
JOURNAE, . PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST
one of those pounding old machines over
the rough old roads.
"Anyway," continued the grand
mother, a little haughtily, "wa consid
ered it very fast, and it seemed to ma
that we were flying. And that Is the
way I came to start on an elopement."
"Really a reversed," laughed one ef
the men.
"We were dutiful in those days," said
the old lady, loftily; "and we owed soma
reverence and respect to our eldera But
I was angry. I had to have papa's
consent and her ha waa running away
from me as fast a ha could go.
"I hoped that we would catch him at
the station. Ths automobile rumbled
on. We passed everything in the road.
The horses shied as we dashed by.
Through villages we went, scattering a
lot of squawking chickens, and with all
the dogs yelping behind us.
"Ag we cleared the last honse I
cauuut sight of the smoke of the train.
" Tbasa it is!" I cried.
"I saw Alec's face grow mors set. He
let out the automobile to the top speed
and w thundered down the hilL I could
see tha train draw nearer. It soon
stopped at the station and I could count
the people getting into it. W were al
most there. I cried out. though my
voice could not be heard so far, com
manding them to wait. Wa were nearly
at the station platform. I heard the en
gine give an exasperating little toot. I
could see it move. In a minute the
train was off, disappearing down th
tracks and out of sight round the carva.
We stood there, indignant and helpless.
Aleo waa the first to recover himself.
" 'When is the next train T ha de
manded of the station man.
" 'Not till 11:46.' answered th man.
" 1 must be In town bafor that,'
answered Alex.
" The quickest way.' the man sug-
Sested, "would be for you to go across
th Junction.
"Yo get tha through train thera
that beat this one in.'
"How far Is ttr Alex asked, quickly.
""Fir miles."
Ta a momeat Alex had me bundled
Into th automobile. I hadn't a chance
to speak; but it wasn't necessary, for 1
waa Just aa determined as he that papa
should not steal a march on m in such
a fashion. Alex sprang after me. He
turned th lever. There waa a whirr, a
roar, and a heave of th whole machine,
and then It settled down heavily.
" "Busted! said Alex, yalgarly.
"At that instant he spied two big bi
cycles leaning against th wall of th
station.
" "W can do ft with these,' he called.
Jumping: out and abandoning th auto
mobile. "We dMn't know to whom they be
longed.' We didn't care. One was a
woman's and I Jumped on it- I had not
ridden a bicycle for some time, as they
were net a much used as they had
been, but I was young and strong and
ready for sftiythiag.
"What do you suppoe they'll say,
Alex cried.
"'Who!' I demanded.
" The people to whom these belong.'
" "Oh," f gasped, they'll think that w
have stolen thetnt'
" "We'll send tbetn back, answered
Alec But thla Is tha moat up-to-date
elopement tnta there has ever been.
Automobile. Bicycle. I wonder what
next 7
"He called that up-to-date," com
mented the middle granddaughter. "The
funny old phrase."
" 'flie road was good," resumed the old
lady, "and really we made very good
time. A flock In the church was Just
striking 10 and we went through a vil
lage. " Two miles more. Alec cried.
, "I put my teeth together and clung to
the handlebar as for dear life. We
flew.
"On and on w went. We were In the
open country, and I, thought we should
never see a house. ; At last I caught a
glimpse of the first cottage.
"I tried to go faster. With the last
breath ia my body I stopped at the
station door, almost fell off the ma
chine, and leaned against tbe side of
the buildlnar. faintinsr.
" 'Ha the train gone? roared Alec.
""What train? the man demanded
blankly.
"The 10:1.'
" There ain't no train at 10:10. That'
over at the Junction.' i
"'Where la this?" I asked.
"Crosawaym, the man answered, star-
ing at ua
"For, will you believe it my dears,
we had been making all that hast and
breaking our backs and almost our
?.wlmu".Y!??:Vl
iDouini ne Knew in country Maww
ne had ridden so much over it, out ne
. . . . . . . .
w. . t . . nwl
ought to cry. but really I felt more like
laughing, and in a moment I did laugh
Then Alec, who had been looking at
m Ither anxioualy, laughed, too.
" ' " r i , ,
Z 2ow we can t do anything. I said.
" I don t know that,' Alec answered,
m see he had a square ehln and that
Ton
was the way ha aroke and felt.
In sight up the road. Alee took
my hand, and we ran. It was an elope-
mint. BreathlesSk we reached a pcJnt
where w could signal the motormia la
ton,
ZVLf. . . -
oneVTn
man who was listening, "I'll make it all
risrht with too. This Is a sneclal train.
Do yon understand. It doesn't stop for
any one. Is there an-thlng in your
way?" '
The car before us will be tn Brook
lyn by this time,' he answered.
Tfiam. aairf Aien it hr n atui
we'll see what you can do."
" "We'll get fired for It." said th con-
due tor
The conductor and tha mot arm an
locked at him for a moment with care-
ful consideration.
"Is it a go, JlmT asked th eonduc-
ter of the motorman. at last, evidently
well satisfied with what he saw.
"It goee,' said the motorman. who
waa evidently a laconic person.
"I think the conductor and the motor-
man, seeing us two young people to-
gether. suspected there waa something
romantte. Anyway thev understood that
we wanted to get to the city aa soon as
posaiBMs and they did all that they
could to help us. We never stopped, and
hardly went slower anywhere, Alee and
I laughed and laughed to see the peo-
- y.ciaiiwjF -i. tu-rn
SSff rVroch.:. blankly aa it
swept past them, furiously after it had
gone. They were very funny.
"Already the fire buUdings of Brook-
arffl ytJtfJnn
TamMormei K keen hto rong
sundTngrth. trWeere anfonl
other cars now and had to go more
slowlv. but still we never stoSeed for
slowly, but still we never stopped for
anyone.
it s trio last trip xor aie on
this
line.' said tho.condacfoT. -But it's worth
14 a a ik. a - a 1 r - a ha t
ik, and tbe young lady wanted it."
beamed at fiina oeugfitediy.
Oh,
what a mora In a- we had! I hadn't sot
my breath yet. I hadn't got It when we
left the trolley, aad made a rush for the
ferry. The gate were shut lust as we
got to them, and there we had to wait,
seeing ine ooai noai mi mw ne nver
wim art in passengers irom i. irain,
anowmaj trial . Empa w m i antvng iliin.
ana inn a couiaa i men num. i was
desperate.
" 'We'll gt the next one,' said Aleo,
as cheerfully as he could. 'And then
get across the clt" as fast as we can.
'We'll catch him yet before he sails.'
"Alec's eyes were flashinar. and tha
spirit of the chase was In him. There
wv'a hA iaw.ML wmnwr tr nrrin at
' - - ." ' - - wwj -----i mapvunn artrjut than ' nairt nv vrflnn. : . ,w w..... . u.
to town 7" he asked. mother- "and that mnrnlm we were De ,rue- 1 waited unbelievingly while
"The trolley "11 take you almost aa 1 lad to aave It I an sure That thy tlckd aw' Into space.
th -. agent an- JSllVm e finished "that we had the' Tout",, lnhrrUtcd
awered. , , . , ". w ii,hnrlinnil rf the V y?unP8t granddaughter. 'Oh, poor,
"Aa the nan spoke we heard the gong Seam? rein gadabout to find papa. I dt'ar- m,Ve unsophisticated granny! Did
of a troliey ear. la a moment the car fl???!?fr E?. ?a2PJii 1?rftpf!" you really thing telegraphing from one
was another rush when the boat touched chairvon the white d!cknilf 1 y?cht- ,
the New York side. We ran out into ' Th men ran .about. The bells sound
the street. Not a conveyance of any a- In a mInIlA, w Trere both out in a
Kina to do seeni a n people rrom the
train had taken them all.
"'A quarter after 11." said Alec, look
ing at his watch. 'We'll never do it
now.
'The telephone! I cried.
v.. anld Alee ratuMnr ot h
idea. 'He's so well known that there -
would be no difficulty in having any-
nnn find him. And dn von think that
vou could doanythir- with him through
that?"
""Of course.' I answered, "I could
manage him better face to face, but I
can try.' v captain, ww cunsianuy snooK nis neaa. listening group.
"We rushed for the nearest telephone. 'I say,' said Mr. Rogers, suddenly 'Those funny old times!" mused the
We had rushed all of the morning. .We .wheeling- round on us, "all you want to youngest granddaughter. "How dlffer
had done nothing but rush. Aleo begged do Is to get word with the old gentle- ent they were. I never can believe that
and threatened and stormed. . man? , . they were really true unless grand-
"Dld you really go Into one of th " If I could only speak to papa a few mamma tells about them."
25, 1007.
quer llftl dark boxes that they used
to- use," interrupted one of the grand-
daughters, "and say "hello,' Oh, how b-
witching!"
"We did." said the old
lady, now
thoroughly excited. "And
Said a
.. . i v. ...
a i .r n t , wuri. iui uuui , i us wwwtmv
,hwe together, and while I was talking
Alw; waa fuming and giving advice, and
whn) he w&a t2kinfr 5 was telling him
u th tlM to o0 or ny soraething df-
frent"
., TOtI conceive of it." laughed the
v you cunceive oi ii ihur nwu iiir
idwt granddaughter, ""having all that
trouble to apeak to a person Just across
tb, 014-ialand part of New York?"
"W. thotrghr the telephone was very
W.VJ1"
" ,,2 -fr,,yZlA , K.ri -,Vf
ll.w!l BJL wm
E??ic d everybody would lose
vXr.t,?ln?- . , ,.
i.r, 7 h. .'iAnTrai a,
iilr t&'?
t0.
'What ia ltr I asked.
"The last bell is Just ringing, they
said. Every on is leaving th ship. Its
too late.'
"I felt that at last we should have to
give up. Alee, I thought, felt so, too,
but he waa not going to let me see it.
" 'Well have to try something else,"
ha said, with an attempt at cheerfulness,
"TVe'll have to walt."'I said.
""Not a bit of it.' he answered con-
temptuouely. We've eloped, and we're
going to be married at once.'
"I did not expect him to say anything
else, but th determination with which
he said it surprised me and made me
draw closer to-him.
""Hello!' cried a voice, almost at my
elbow.
"In a moment Alec's hand was being
wrung by a man whom I had never seen,
. " ni tn mmt von. fTharton. old
man'' Aleo cried.
""What are you doing herer asked
the other, looking at me in some sur-
rtrino.
""Why.' Alec laughed, to tell the
And he turned to
truth. We are eloping.' And ne turned to
m. don.t thfnk that you know Mr.
hart on Roaera.'
--w , wki.fiei
Tl'o5" h emurmured.
" 'AtleLV Wtta Ale'iflt is not the
conventional thing, and wrn are not be-
! .Pent vehowtll not
f,T nls consent, it is ajmost trie same,
to? we are chasing one to get it. And
he's lust escaped us on the Erthanla.
Tou want to get hold or the Er
thanla.' said Mr. Rogers, quite as if he
aw wa m a a 1st 1 ei aw av O n Aaato f 1 v d r t r t
were speaking of a new direction for
cooking lobster.
" 'Rather!' replied Alec.
"I've got the Velox at the next pier,"
he went on, briskly. 'She's all steam up.
I waa lust off to see a yacht race. Hav-
ing a race of our own will be better
than watching one,
She's the fastest
thing afloat.
Wjell catch tha Erthanla.
Comer
ne ranea xa run, ana we ootn ran
after him. We rushed again. I had
done nothing else all the morning, and
since I had left the house I had not had
a chance to get my breath. We raced
aown a aoca, wra i was gnsping ior
breath asraln when I sank back In a
,7 " B iJ. w , Y'H,-jr-
"How we rushed throurh little wave?
But she didn't go fast enough for me.
And Aleo walked up and down more and
more resuessty as me time went on.
We were under way and off from the
bridge in bo time, and before I knew it
we were far down the harbor. The crew
had discovered at once that something
unusual was going on. and everv man
was on deck pr in the rigging. I saw
Mr. Rogers' face grow longer, and I
understood he was losing hope. He
held constant consultations with his
' .v ' j 5 1 r
words I am sure I would be all right.'
I answered, fervidly.
" 'Well,' said Mr. Rogers, 'w-ve th
wireless telegraph. We might reach
him that way."
"Of ,mirc T ht hwr tt wlrnl,
. .. ...
f6?'" p w Ju" JDe.?lnn"n
"'. uniuu ii. ..u,
'.lk5 Kre?t ""any others, in my heart I
dldn t really believe In it
" Could you do ltr asked Alec, anx-
'ously
7, .V,;
Wo
J
i.JlV
stood in the doorway of the cabin.
J-ft w!r ,ri" t0d?i "
uu iiui uiK oiiEniflsi commence in
"hip to another not twenty miles aDart
was ""derfuir
It'" our exclaimed Mr. Rog-;
. .xhey rau t ba an8Wermg. It calf t
b any one else.'
, lnuie 01 iramwin suspense foi-
They wish to know what w want
urn upeiiaior reporiea.
" 'Sll that Mr Mintm, T AmwA 1. - I
board the Brthani'a,' and that hfs daugli-i
ter no, some on on important business
wishes to communicate with him.
rne instrument elicited busily.
" 'Mr. Lloyd is there and asks what is
wanted of Wra."
' Alec called me,.
'Your father, is here," he said sol'
eraniy, uiougn we were just out of
harbor, with no alan of Dan in sirht
course. 'What can you say to him no
to make him change his mind?'
was very much emoarraadJ-jpsrere
I stood Oij the deck of the ugHH with
those strangers aboulnr.TiJ. There
wa .llng but that little instrument,
'n which I did not believo g hit And I
w expected to utter my request to the
'r' to Pttl ?u my woes vaguely over
the sea, and try to bully napa at a dls-
tance of 25 miles.
'.'Say:' BS"R, nervously and all in
a Jumble, 'I want my promise back.
That Alee Forbes and I have eloped.
nuu inui i am urm jn my determina
tion. That I will not yield, and that ha
must ln,tne end, and had better give in
" "Walt!" interrupted th'' operator.
They are asking something. They wish;
to learn the gentleman's name.
I replied in surprise.
" Terl him I berran araln.
"The operator held up his hand.
" 'They are sending a message,'
said. "
"This is the message he received:
he
thought It was the other man. You"
wny aian't you let me Know,
made ".Irybody think so.
Of course.
.r-'orpes is ail rlgnt."
"Oh!" I gasped. "He didn't see that
it was you all the time.'
" 'I don't very well see how he could,
Alec answered, crossly; "I didn't.'
" 'InH T HAinir thniiffhf in tell him' T
one but you for an instant, and I had
nothlna- tt vnn In mw mind '
" "And he ha sailed for Europe to
escape. Aleo continued grimly,
" 'So he has,' I replied, blankly. "Poor
papa! And yet; it's funny ' I turned
to the operator. "But please tell him
now mat I am very sorry.
There la a meaaaa-a.' the man an
nounced, and he wrote it out slowly a
the instrument ticked on.
"This was the message: 'I think I
have got the worst of it I'll be back
with a wedding present. Bless you, my
children, bless you."
"And there was the end of my elope
ment," continued the nice old laay. Mr,
Rogers took us directly back to the
citv. and Alec and I were. married at
once with him for best manX
-Tha wind that had risea horded out-
-side with a sudden vigor. maklVTk. tha
warmth of the dark hall seem doTWv
desirable. A sudden gust In tbe chl.W
ney caused thefire to shoot up bright-f
lr, the sudden blaze illuminating the I