of courtship, I suppose. They came
here about five, got the keys, drove off, went through the ceremony in
that empty house, returned the keys to me in my own apartment, took the
steamer for Naples, and were on the sea before midnight. Do you not call
that quick work as well as highly romantic?"

"Very." Miss Strange's cheek had paled. It was apt to when she was
greatly excited. "But I don't understand," she added, the moment after.
"How could they do this and nobody know about it? I should have thought
it would have got into the papers."

"They are quiet people. I don't think they told their best friends. A
simple announcement in the next day's journals testified to the fact of
their marriage, but that was all. I would not have felt at liberty to
mention the circumstances myself, if the parties were not well on their
way to Europe."

"Oh, how glad I am that you did tell me! Such a story of constancy and
the hold which old associations have upon sensitive minds! But--"

"Why, Miss? What's the matter? You look very much disturbed."

"Don't you remember? Haven't you thought? Something else happened that
very day and almost at the same time on that block. Something very
dreadful--"

"Mrs. Doolittle's murder?"

"Yes. It was as near as next door, wasn't it? Oh, if this happy couple
had known--"

"But fortunately they didn't. Nor are they likely to, till they reach
the other side. You needn't fear that their honeymoon will be spoiled
that way."

"But they may have heard something or seen something before leaving the
street. Did you notice how the gentleman looked when he returned you the
keys?"

"I did, and there was no cloud on his satisfaction."

"Oh, how you relieve me!" One--two dimples made their appearance in
Miss Strange's fresh, young cheeks. "Well! I wish them joy. Do you mind
telling me their names? I cannot think of them as actual persons without
knowing their names."

"The gentleman was Constantin Amidon; the lady, Marian Shaffer. You will
have to think of them now as Mr. and Mrs. Amidon."

"And I will. Thank you, Mr. Hutton, thank you very much. Next to the
pleasure of getting the house for my friend, is that of hearing this
charming bit of news its connection."

She held out her hand and, as he took it, remarked:

"They must have had a clergyman and witnesses."

"Undoubtedly."

"I wish I had been one of the witnesses," she sighed sentimentally.

"They were two old men."

"Oh, no! Don't t