pensation
gives a greater joy of realization to one who has drifted than to him
who has lived a normal existence: such a man is spared the depths, but
he can never reach the heights."

Two duster-clad, begoggled figures burst unceremoniously through the
hallway onto the piazza where Marian and Hamlen had been scrupulously
left alone by a comprehending family.

"Well, I'm glad to find some signs of life!" cried a familiar voice.

"Edith!" Marian exclaimed. "Where on earth did you come from? And Mr.
Cosden!"

"Connie and I crept up on the house to surprise you," she explained, as
greetings were exchanged all around, "but we began to think the joke was
on us and we'd struck the morgue by mistake. Where are the people
anyhow? We can't stay but a minute."

"Here we are!" Merry answered her, and as if by magic the entire family
appeared from various directions.

"Where did you come from, where are you going, and why can't you stay
but a minute?" Huntington demanded of Cosden as he grasped his hand.

Cosden grinned and looked at Edith.

"Oh, go ahead and tell them if you want to," she remarked indifferently.
"They're sure to find it out some time, and it might as well be now."

"What in the world--" Mrs. Thatcher began.

"We're married!" Cosden announced, his face beaming with happiness and
satisfaction.

"Yes,--that's right," Edith corroborated, seeing doubt in the eager
faces peering at them, speechless with surprise. "I told you that if
once I gave Connie half a chance he'd have me packed up and shipped
before I knew it, and that's just what has happened!"

"Don't apologize," Marian laughed, kissing her. "I think you've done a
very smart thing to elope like this."

"Good heavens, Connie, I never thought of that! An elopement for me
would just be the last thing in the world! How can you call it that when
there is no one to elope from but Ricky!"

"Whatever you call it, I've got you!" Cosden declared, tapping his
pocket. "The parson gave me a perfectly good bill of sale, and it will
take some trying to break this contract. Now don't you try!"

Thatcher was the only one who rose fully to the occasion, and as a
result of his presence of mind the butler appeared with a bottle of
Pommery from which he filled the accompanying glasses. After Thatcher
proposed the toast to the happy couple, Huntington again raised his
glass to Cosden.

"Here's to Edith, God bless her!" he exclaimed.

Cosden understood, and the