Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREAT OUTLAW. the wedding. You were right—he had left Calcutta. He was very sorry not to be able to be present, and asked me to convey his very best wishes to you and Sir John.” ‘“Where did he write from?” “I’m not sure whether it was Delhi or Lahore. I tore up the Ietier with a lot of others. But he didn’t give any address. Do you know, Midge, I somehow can’t get over that man! I don’t know what it is, but the last time he was so—well, so mys- teriously attractive. Frightfully attractive. He remains with me. Do you know what I mean?” Midge put down the hand mirror and returned her friend’s eager gaze. ““T thought he was just the same, Elsie,” she said, with Heaven alone knew what bitter and despairing truth. Just then the telephone bell rang in the sitting-room next door. Elsie flew to the instrument, crying: ‘“ That must be Sir John! No, it’s half an hour too early!” But it was Sir John. Elsie called to Midge to come and speak to him. As she looked at her friend, her face was scared. “Something has happened,” she whis- pered, as she handed Midge the receiver. “Is that you, Midge?” came Sir John’s voice, quieter even than usual. “ Are you ready?” “Very nearly,” she answered. “I was much too early.” “Yes, too early,” he repeated. His voice communicated trouble. It had a hollow calmness. ‘ Dear, I am coming to see you at once. I can’t explain now. But you had better change your clothes. There won’t be any wedding to-day.” ‘““No wedding!” Midge’s voice had that high, shrill note of a person on the verge of hysteria. “ No—no wedding to-day,” repeated Sir John at the other end. “I can’t explain now. Iam coming at once. I have com- municated with the clergy, and am having all the guests notified. It—it can’t be helped.” There was despair in those last simple words. Midge felt it. Something had hap- pened stronger than all the quiet determi- nation that had brought Sir John to his present commanding position. Whatever 871 it was, it had to be accepted with resigna- tion because it could not be fought. Midge looked at Elsie, who was aquiver with excitement. “Tm going to change my clothes,” she said. “ There’s no wedding. Something has happened. John has seen to every- thing. He is coming here at once.” “ But, Midge, what is it?” cried her friend. ‘ How can you take it like this? It’s too awful! Think of the scandal—the talk! Why, the cathedral will be half filled already!” ‘“‘ John has seen to everything,” Midge repeated. “It can’t be helped, Elsie.” Unconsciously she used Sir words, ‘I must go and tell Laurie,” Elsie said, | bewildered, flustered, half angry. “ He'll be dressed by now.” “Yes, go and tell him, please, Elsie. I am so sorry. It was so kind of Major Inglis to come all the way from Banzat to give me away.” Affection and excitement overcame Elsie. She clasped Midge in her arms, her blue eyes brimming with ready tears. To her it was a supreme tragedy. She could not know that Midge’s heart, breaking through her stern discipline, was singing a litle song. Muratta, the ayah, had her share of East: ern imperturbability. She did not ques; tion, but unfastened the pearl pins that held the Honiton veil in place, and carefully re- moved the pretty coronal of orange blos- som. While her mistress slipped out of the wedding gown, she brought one of wine color with faint threads of gold, and shoes and stockings to match. It was the going- away frock, but that could not be helped. Everything else was packed. Midge removed the pearls from her. neck and shut them up in their case. Then she went into the sitting room to wait for Sir John. He came almost immediately. He was quiet, pale, correct as ever. His dark gray suit, with a thread of white stripe in it, his gray tie with the single pearl, the heavy. plain signet ring—all were just right and in perfect taste. His kind mouth, his calm, arithmetical brow, his serious, alert and yet Oo cCoMmiclboOoks.€@ : Yi pave John’s A sy oe