er hat. I watched her furtively. Then she let her eyes
meet mine; those dear, wonderful eyes of hers! And her mouth was
half-smiling, and very tender.

"You _silly_!" That's every word she said, on my oath.

But I stopped that car dead still and gathered her into my arms, and--Oh,
well, I won't trail off into sentiment, you couldn't appreciate it if
I did.

It's a mercy Weaver's car _was_ done for, or they could have walked right
up and got their hands on us before we'd have known it.

CHAPTER XVII.

The Final Reckoning.

About four o'clock we reached the ferry, just behind a fagged-out team and
a light buggy that had in it two figures--one of whom, at least, looked
familiar to me.

"Frosty, by all that's holy!" I exclaimed when we came close enough to
recognize a man. "I clean forgot, but I was sent to Kenmore this morning
to find that very fellow."

"Don't you know the other?" Beryl laughed teasingly. "I was at their
wedding this morning, and wished them God-speed. I never dreamed I should
be God-speeded myself, directly! I drove Edith, over to Kenmore quite
early in the car, and--"

"Edith!"

"Certainly, Edith. Whom else? Did you think she would be left behind,
pining at your infidelity? Didn't you know they are old, old sweethearts
who had quarreled and parted quite like a story? She used to read your
letters so eagerly to see if you made any remark about him; you did, quite
often, you know. I drove her over to Kenmore, and afterward went off
toward Laurel just to put in the time and not arrive home too soon without
her--which might have been awkward, if father took a notion to go after
her. I'm so glad we came up with them." She stood up and waved her hand at
Edith.

I shouted reassurances to Frosty, who was looking apprehensively back at
us. But it was a facer. I had never once suspected them of such a thing.

"Well," I greeted, when we overtook them and could talk comfortably; "this
is luck. When we get across to Pochette's you can get in with us, Mr. and
Mrs. Miller, and add the desired touch of propriety to _our_ wedding."

They did some staring themselves, then, and Beryl blushed
delightfully--just as she did everything else. She was growing an
altogether bewitching bit of femininity, and I kept thanking my private
Providence that I had had the nerve to kidnap her first and take chances
on her being willing. Honest, I don't believe I'd ever have got her in any
other way.

When we s