"We'll wait until Sunday. April Fool's Day, Leila. We'll tell him,
and he will think it's a joke. And when he sees how happy we are, he
will know we were right."
So like children they refused to let the thought of the future mar the
joy of the present.
Once they rested on a fallen log in a little grove of trees. The wind
had died down, and the air was warm, with the still warmth of a
Southern spring. Between the trees they could see a ribbon of white
road which wound up to a shadowy church.
"The minister's house is next to the church," Barry told her; "in a
half hour from now you'll be mine, Leila. And no one can take you away
from me."
In the wonder of that thought they were silent for a time, then: "How strange it will seem to be married, Barry."
"It seems the most natural thing in the world to me. But there will be
those who will say I shouldn't have let you."
"I let myself. It wasn't you. Did you want my heart to break at your
going, Barry?"
For a moment he held her in his arms, then he kissed her, gently, and
let her go. When they came back this way, she would be his wife.
The old minister asked few questions. He believed in youth and love;
the laws of the state were lenient. So with the members of his family
for witnesses, he declared in due time that this man and woman were
one, and again they went forth into the moonlight.
And now there was another little journey, up one hill and down another
to a quaint hostelry--almost empty of guests in this early season.
A competent little landlady and an old colored man led them to the
suite for which Barry had telephoned. The little landlady smiled at
Leila and showed the white roses which Barry had sent for her room, and
the old colored man lighted all the candles.
There was a supper set out on the table in their sitting-room, with
cold roast chicken and hot biscuits, a bottle of light wine, and a
round cake with white frosting.
Leila cut the cake. "To think that I should have a wedding cake," she
said to Barry.
So they made a feast of it, but Barry did not open the bottle of wine
until their supper was ended. Then he poured two glasses.
"To you," he whispered, and smiled at his bride.
Then before his lips could touch it, he set the glass down hastily, so
that it struck against the bottle and broke, and the wine stained the
white cloth.