" All my life long," she answered.
" I am glad! I am glad! " said the father, but even as he spoke a great sadness came to blend with his joy. The hour when he was to give this beautiful and beloved life into the keeping of another had been heralded by the god of the sexes, the ruthless god that devotes itself to the tearing of children from the parental arms and casting them amid the mysteries of an irretrievable wedlock. The thought filled him with solemnity.
But in the dewy eyes of the girl there was no question.
The world to her was a land of glowing promise.
" I am glad," repeated the professor.
The girl arose from her knees. " I must go away and-think all about it," she said, smiling. When the door of her room closed upon her, the mother arose in majesty.
" Harrison Wainwright," she declaimed, "you are not going to allow this monstrous thing! "The professor was aroused from a reverie by these words. "What monstrous thing ? " he growled.
" Why, this between Coleman and Marjory."" Yes," he answered boldly.
" Harrison! That man who-"
The professor crashed his hand down on the table.
"Mary! I will not hear another word of it! "" Well," said Mrs. Wainwright, sullen and ominous, " time will tell! Time will tell!"When Coleman bad turned from the fleeing Peter Tounley again to Marjory, he found her making the preliminary movements of a flight. "What's the matter? " he demanded anxiously.
" Oh, it's too dreadful"
" Nonsense," lie retorted stoutly. " Only Peter Tounley! He don't count. What of that ? "' Oh, dear! " She pressed her palm to a burning cheek. She gave him a star-like, beseeching glance.
Let me go now-please."
" Well," he answered, somewhat affronted, " if you like--"At the door she turned to look at him, and this glance expressed in its elusive way a score of things which she had not yet been able to speak. It explained that she was loth to leave him, that she asked forgiveness for leaving him, that even for a short absence she wished to take his image in her eyes, that he must not bully her, that there was something now in her heart which frightened her, that she loved him, that she was happy---When she had gone, Coleman went to the rooms of the American minister. A Greek was there who talked wildly as he waved his cigarette. Coleman waited in well-concealed impatience for the dvapora-tion of this man. Once the minister, regarding the correspondent hurriedly, interpolated a comment.
" You look very cheerful ? "
" Yes," answered Coleman, " I've been taking your advice."" Oh, ho ! " said the minister.
The Greek with the cigarette jawed endlessly.
Coleman began to marvel at the enduring good man-ners of the minister, who continued to nod and nod in polite appreciation of the Greek's harangue, which, Coleman firmly believed, had no point of interest whatever. But at last the man, after an effusive farewell, went his way.
" Now," said the minister, wheeling in his chair tell me all about it."Coleman arose, and thrusting his hands deep in his trousers' pockets, began to pace the room with long strides. He, said nothing, but kept his eyes on the floor.
" Can I have a drink ? " he asked, abruptly pausing.
" What would you like? " asked the minister, benevolently, as he touched the bell.
" A brandy and soda. I'd like it very much. You see," he said, as he resumed his walk, " I have no kind of right to burden you with my affairs, but, to tell the truth, if I don't get this news off my mind and into somebody's ear, I'll die. It's this-I asked Marjory Wainwright to marry me, and-she accepted, and-that's all."
" Well, I am very glad," cried the minister, arising and giving his hand. "And as for burdening me with your affairs, no one has a better right, you know, since you released me from the persecution of Washington and the friends of the Wainwrights. May good luck follow you both forever. You, in my opinion, are a very, very fortunate man. And, for her part she has not done too badly."Seeing that it was important that Coleman should have his spirits pacified in part, the minister continued:
" Now, I have got to write an official letter, so you just walk up and down here and use up this surplus steam. Else you'll explode."But Coleman was not to be detained. Now that he had informed the minister, he must rush off some.
where, anywhere, and do-he knew not what.
All right," said the minister, laughing. " You have a wilder head than I thought. But look here,"he called, as Coleman was making for the door. " Am I to keep this news a secret? "Coleman with his hand on the knob, turned im.
pressively. He spoke with deliberation. " As far as I am concerned, I would be glad to see a man paint it in red letters, eight feet high, on the front of the king's palace."The minister, left alone, wrote steadily and did not even look up when Peter Tounley and two others entered, in response to his cry of permission. How ever, he presently found time to speak over his shoulder to them. "Hear the news?""No, sir," they answered.
" Well, be good boys, now, and read the papers and look at pictures until I finish this letter. Then I will tell you."They surveyed him keenly. They evidently judged that the news was worth hearing, but, obediently, they said nothing. Ultimately the minister affixed a rapid signature to the letter, and turning, looked at the students with a smile.
" Haven't heard the news, eh ?"
"No, Sir."
"Well, Marjory Wainwright is engaged to marry Coleman."The minister was amazed to see the effect of this announcement upon the three students. He had expected the crows and cackles of rather absurd merriment with which unbearded youth often greets, such news. But there was no crow or cackle. One young man blushed scarlet and looked guiltily at the floor. With a great effort he muttered: " Shes too good for him." Another student had turned ghastly pate and was staring. It was Peter Tounley who relieved the minister's mind, for upon that young man's face was a broad jack-o-lantern grin, and the minister saw that, at any rate, he had not made a complete massacre.
