ttle dinky thing
and he'll be tickled to death to see this fine machine."

A quick spurt of ten minutes and Sally bade him drive slowly.

"Run by the school house when we come to it and then stop. Abijah will
be there."

When the car stopped Sally jumped out and was immediately joined by a
young man to whom she spoke rapidly out of Archie's hearing. Her
explanations finished she brought him to the car and presented him as
Mr. Strong.

"Mr. Comly is going to the minister's with us and then give us a lift
toward Boston. That's ever so much better than anything we'd thought of,
'Bijah!"

"Whatever you say, little girl! I'll shut off the lights on my machine
and get my traps."

Archie, testing his searchlight, let its beam fall upon Abijah as though
by accident and found Sally's lover a very well-dressed, decent-looking
fellow. All his life he would be proud of his daring in saving Sally
Walker from marriage with the odious widower and mating her with the
youth of her choice. The bride and groom elect were established in the
back seat and he experienced a sharp jealous twinge, when, turning to
ask her a question about the road, he caught them in a rapturous kiss.
This was what it meant to be young and free, and youth and freedom were
things he had never until now appraised at their true worth. Having
captured and mounted destiny he would ride with a tight rein and
relentless spur. The immediate affair was much to his taste, and he
meditated making it his business in future to befriend lovers in
difficulties.

"How long do we stop at Brattleboro?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Only long enough to get the knot tied," Abijah answered. "I was in town
this afternoon and everything's set."

"I hope," said Sally, "you'll give the bride away; it would be just fine
of you, Mr. Comly."

"I was hoping you'd ask me," he flung back. "I want to be as prominent
in the wedding party as possible."

The last time he had figured in a wedding he had been best man for a
college friend who had been married at high noon in Grace Church, before
an audience notably distinguished in New York society. Sally's nuptials
were blest in a little parsonage, with the minister's wife and daughter
and Archie as the sole witnesses. The minister had only lately come to
town and therefore confined his inquiries to the strict requirements of
ecclesiastical and Vermont law. When he lifted his head to ask who
giveth this woman Archie bestowed Sally u