An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

he knows what to do. sight of Gladys until she is perfectly sober, _ then we must force her to retract that con- _ temptible statement,” he said, quietly. _ . dolefully, “for I just hate that girl and I 4 _ can't help it, either!” MY QUEEN. perfectly right to trust your lover! I would trust mine if the whole world contradicted him!” As she spoke, she turned involuntarily to- ward Dr. Brookes, and in an instant she was rewarded with a glance of devotion. “We had better go now,” said Mr. Fair- fax, suddenly. “There are many of our guests who are waiting, darling, and, of course, they are eager to hear the outcome of this matter.” one “Where do you suppose she went? That awful girl, I mean!” spoke up Miss Ellis. “Do you know, I expected she would fly at Mr. Fairfax if he attempted to contradict her!” “She knew better than that,” said Miss Allyn, sadly, and then the bridal party filed out and down the broad aisle of the sanc- tuary. | Outside in the vestibule, they found quite a group of people waiting, among whom were Mr. and Mrs. Villard and Miss Ray and her escort. | 3 Alma could hardly keep back the tears as they crowded around her, all offering . their sympathy and protesting against the inter- ruption, “T+ will all be over by this time to-mor- row, darling.” whispered her lover. “I am sure that Gladys will confess by then. We have her where we want her now, so there will be no one to influence her.” Every one looked at him quickly, so Mr. Fairfax explained: “One of the detectives followed her and He will not lose “Poor Gladys! Poor, dear wicked sister! How I pity you,” moaned Miss Allyn, in . agony... “And we pity you, Alma!” said Miss Ellis, quickly. “I don’t believe in wasting sym- _ pathy on such a wicked creature!” “Oh, Miss Ellis, just think how you would feel if it were your sister!” cried Marion, reprovinely. “T guess I’m no saint,” said Miss Ellis, 19 “And I'd take a fall out of her in a min- ute if she was a man!” spoke up Bert. “I'm just like you, girlie! There’s no saint in my composition !” “There ate lots of women who would have believed her and turned on Mr. Fairfax,” spoke up Flora Villard. “Why, I heard some people right behind me say they did not believe she was lying; that no girl would speak falsely on a matter like that, and they called you a goose, Alma, for not doubting your lover!” | “Well, I'll be a goose until the end of time, then,” said Alma, stoutly. “As if I did not know the depths of depravity which my sister was capable of!” She gave her lover another glance of ten- der love and then leaned upon his arm, with her head held proudly. The carriages were slowly drawn to the steps and the bridal party entered them. As Alma had said, it was more like a funeral than a wedding. Dr. Brookes and Marion sat side by side, and as they witnessed Alma’s grief, their hands sought each other's. “Don’t cry, darling,” murmured Fairfax, as his sweetheart’s head fell upon his shoul- der. “So long as you love and trust me, what does it matter? We are man and wife before God and nothing can separate us, no, not even.a thousand of such interruptions !”’ “And your happiness will only be greater for all this misery,”’ continued. Marion,” al- though it may be difficult just now for you to see it, Alma.” ' “Tf Marion would only consent, we would join you at your next attempt,’ said Dr. Brookes, softly. “Will you do it, Marion? Will you marry me to-morrow?” | i Even Alma raised her head and stifled her sobs at the question. The doctor had suc- cessfully dispelled the gloom in the carriage, “What a ridiculous notion,’ was the young girl’s gay answer. ‘“‘Why, Reginald, when [ marry I want to know it a long time beforehand, so I can have hours and hours in which to anticipate my happiness !”’ “Well, about ten minutes of anticipation would do for me,” answered the. doctor. slyly, “but I don’t object in the least to a whole lifetime of reality.” COL ELOOO <SrIGO