Nedra

his watch and guessed at the time by the dull red light from the panel in the door. Then he hastily brushed from the sleeve of his coat the telltale billiard chalk, whose presence r

him of his hat, coat a

is w'itin'

the visitor. He was at the drawing-room door as he concluded this self-addressed reproa

e cried, half resentfully. H

I couldn't come before eight, did

sir. I've been waiting and watching the h

therly clock of yours. It hasn't skipped a second in two centuries,

drove his hands into his pockets and str

ant things we have to consider." Miss Vernon, tall and graceful, stood before him wi

it is when a fellow's in a close, hard game-

n, I'm afraid you'll p

onstant state of beggary yourself. You'll have to beg me to get up in the morning, beg me to come home early every night, beg m

en have to beg you to

beg of you. Lean over here, do, and

the chair and leaned forward obed

the chair beside his head. For a few minutes both were silent, gazing at the bright coals before them, the smile remaining upon their lips. H

longer, can I? Married men never

not m

to announce it to-morrow night, are we not? It has come to

is why aunt is giving her reception,--

ll be great!" Another silence and inspection of the fire, he taking an altered aim at the black chunk. "Say!" he exclaimed, "wouldn't it do just as well if I didn't put in an appearance to-morr

ause we couldn't help it, and this i

derstand why you fel

she responded. "It seems to me that we'v

he, with fine logic. "Of course it may cripple 'em

le touch of her fingers. "But, dear," she said, "this is no joking matter. We have been engaged for nearly three months and not a soul knows of it. We'll ha

as long as I'm to walk out of the church

elieve I'll ask Jean Robertson, Eloise Grant, H

o have no

s. Won't it be a p

't be p

o is to be y

d have Tom Ditton,"

e of him," she cried. "You certainly did

sides, he's an expert at it. If it was left to me, I'd much rather sit behind the

not for Aunt Elizabeth," pouted Miss Vernon. "She insi

she might not express herself adequately. "I like yo

he subject. Aunt Elizabeth made up her mind we should be married in church. I have talked myself black in the face-

ather served you a mighty mean trick, dear, when he gave you ove

not always like this. Father's money has wrought the change. Aunty was as poor as a church mouse until father's death put her at the

ty-three, dear, and I'll venture to say your

It has cost her nothing to live all these years as my guardian a

s own right and he could well afford to be unreasonable. "The will says you are not to have your father's money until you are twenty-three years old. He evidently t

nty-eight days, Hu

s why I can't help loving you. You've got so much real good hard sense about things. If your confounded Aunt Lizzie--Elizabeth, I should say--would let us get married as we want

, Hugh, after

y we should have the whole town waiting with us. Why don't you assert yourself, dear, before it is too late? Once she pulls off this announcement party

ived for this time in her life. She never has been crossed. I can't--honestly I can't go

Vernon gave no response, sitting upon the arm of the chair, a perpl

irled in the social swing until the sensation palled. The most exclusive set in town regarded them as among its most popular members. It was quite natural that their wedding should be the most bri

door with his sister and her husband. The two brown stone houses were almost within arm's reach of each other. She had painted dainty water colors for his rooms and he had thrown thousands of roses from his windows into her boudoir. It had

he lost he whistled. It mattered little. Good looking, well dressed, generous to a fault, tainted but moderately with scandal, he w

the charities she supported with loyal persistency. Her aunt, society mad, was her only mentor, her only guide. A path had been made for her, and she saw no other alternative than to travel it as designed. A careless, buoyant heart, full of love and tenderness and warmth, allowed it

his arrogant relative the arbiter of the girl's future for many years to come. She was appointed guardian and trustee until legal age was attained, and as such she was absolute in her power. The large fortune was to be held in trust by this aunt, Mrs. Torrence, and the Hon. Stanley Goodland, until Grace was twenty-three years of age. The income from the investments in bonds, real estate and high-class securities was to be ha

and the ante-nuptial season was to be one which the city should not forget while its promoter lived to enjoy the emoluments. She knew she was making her niece unhappy, but she argued that her niece was too deeply in love to appreciate the value of opportunity.

destiny years and years ago and ratified after Hugh had reached an age of disc

hey realized that the marriage would be the most wonderful event in the whole history of the homes of Vernon and Ridgeway. Never before had a Vernon married a R

ittedly preferred the simpler form, where the minister conducts the ceremony in the presence of two witnesses and a ring. Societ

condition which confronts every engaged pair; and they, like

less we decide to give up the hope of getting married. Th

ing announcement, the two months of purgatory between now and the day of the wedding,

little Wedding. It would be so sweet, wouldn

t know that you feel just as I do about it. But," and here he arose wearily, "this sort of talk isn't helping matter

might elope," she said laughingly, standing before

to the eyes of each like a flash of light plainly comprehensive. He seized her hands, still s

Geor

she whispered, di

ll elope!" Hugh's voice was quivering wit

could?" The girl's eyes were wide w

ent? Will you do it, Gr

ll every

greatest lark that ever happened? You're the

in earnest,"

way and get married and nobody will be the wiser and

pictures in

that? That'll fool 'em, won't it? Say, this is great! Li

of the world with

We love one another. You can't be married until the twenty-third of May. Lots of people elope--even in the b

pe," she protested. "Sh! Don't speak above a

e you're two-thirds willing

e the engagement to-morrow night. Don't you see we couldn't elope until the twenty-second at best, so we're doomed for two

om all the rest. My scheme is to elope to a place that will require seven o

good

k! I'd be a downright cad to ask you to do this, Grace, if I d

sound lovely?" she cried, he

fter all, and it won't be half so far if we

Do you really th

es for a moment. Then he gave another whoop, kissed her, released her and did a wild dance about the room. She stood beside th

ean, shall we elope t

a? Let's make it a stunner,

d away over th

He sat down before a table and feverishly wrote upon the backs of a number of his calling cards the names of as many cities, his compa

elope from? There isn't the faintest o

u go--bac

oesn't it seem rather absurd?" Her han

st wedding tour that m

" she cried, dropping a card on the t

d and his face paled

nil

e arm as before. After a moment he gl

fraid to g

anila by the twenty-third of May. It is unlucky to change the

uld show the white feather. It's a go, then--Manila!

possible!" she

r a sea voyage secretly. I'll attend to all the details. It will be easy. No one

tell Aunt

orrectly or not at all. Nobody is to know until we

really

n that if we want to reach Ma

Uncle Harry lives there. He is my mother's only brother and he's been there since the close o

tell him we're coming, dear. Lord!" with great relief in his voice, "that simplifies matters immensely. Now we have an exc

hile, staring soberly a

desmaids and ushers

n't wa

for a fe

ek, did

itiv

e ready," she

vingly, pressed her cold h

ything to me, dear. It will be much pleasanter to go by w

ing that father was right. I can't possibly arrive at