The train was going rapidly now. It would not be long before the conductor

would reach them. The man leaned over, and clasped the little gloved hand

that lay in the girl's lap; and Elizabeth felt the great joy that had

tantalized her for these three years in dreams and visions settle down

about her in beautiful reality. She was his now forever. She need never

run away again.

The conductor was not long in coming to them, and the matter-of-fact world

had to be faced once more. The young man produced his card, and said a few

words to the conductor, mentioning the name of his uncle, who, by the way,

happened to be a director of the road; and then he explained the

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situation. It was very necessary that the young lady be recalled at once

to her home because of a change in the circumstances. He had caught the

train at West Philadelphia by automobile, coming as he was in his morning

clothes, without baggage and with little money. Would the conductor be so

kind as to put them off that they might return to the city by the shortest

possible route?

The conductor glared and scolded, and said people "didn't know their own

minds," and "wanted to move the earth." Then he eyed Elizabeth, and she

smiled. He let a grim glimmer of what might have been a sour smile years

ago peep out for an instant, and--he let them off.

They wandered delightedly about from one trolley to another until they

found an automobile garage, and soon were speeding back to Philadelphia.

They waited for no ceremony, these two who had met and loved by the way in

the wilderness. They went straight to Mrs. Benedict for her blessing, and

then to the minister to arrange for his services; and within the week a

quiet wedding-party entered the arched doors of the placid brown church

with the lofty spire, and Elizabeth Bailey and George Benedict were united

in the sacred bonds of matrimony.

There were present Mrs. Benedict and one or two intimate friends of the

family, besides Grandmother Brady, Aunt Nan, and Lizzie.

Lizzie brought a dozen bread-and-butter-plates from the ten-cent store.

They were adorned with cupids and roses and much gilt. But Lizzie was

disappointed. No display, no pomp and ceremony. Just a simple white dress

and white veil. Lizzie did not understand that the veil had been in the

Bailey family for generations, and that the dress was an heirloom also. It

was worn because Grandmother Bailey had given it to her, and told her she

wanted her to wear it on her wedding-day. Sweet and beautiful she looked

as she turned to walk down the aisle on her husband's arm, and she smiled

at Grandmother Brady in a way that filled the grandmother's heart with

pride and triumph. Elizabeth was not ashamed of the Bradys even among her

fine friends. But Lizzie grumbled all the way home at the plainness of the

ceremony, and the lack of bridesmaids and fuss and feathers.




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