the minister's fee, and my sanity are all O. K. When he isn't asking
questions he's making threats to snake the parson up there an hour ahead
of time and be off with Marie before a soul comes."

"What an absurd idea!"

"Cyril doesn't think so. Indeed, Kate, I've had a hard struggle to
convince him that the guests wouldn't think it the most delightful
experience of their lives if they should come and find the ceremony over
with and the bride gone."

"Well, you remind Cyril, please, that there are other people besides
himself concerned in this wedding," observed Kate, icily.

"I have," purred Bertram, "and he says all right, let them have it,
then. He's gone now to look up proxy marriages, I believe."

"Proxy marriages, indeed! Come, come, Bertram, I've got something to do
this morning besides to stand here listening to your nonsense. See
that you and Cyril get here on time--that's all!" And she hung up the
receiver with an impatient jerk.

She turned to confront the startled eyes of the bride elect.

"What is it? Is anything wrong--with Cyril?" faltered Marie.

Kate laughed and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Nothing but a little stage fright, my dear."

"Stage fright!"

"Yes. Bertram says he's trying to find some one to play his role, I
believe, in the ceremony."

"_Mrs. Hartwell!_"

At the look of dismayed terror that came into Marie's face, Mrs.
Hartwell laughed reassuringly.

"There, there, dear child, don't look so horror-stricken. There probably
never was a man yet who wouldn't have fled from the wedding part of his
marriage if he could; and you know how Cyril hates fuss and feathers.
The wonder to me is that he's stood it as long as he has. I thought I
saw it coming, last night at the rehearsal--and now I know I did."

Marie still looked distressed.

"But he never said--I thought--" She stopped helplessly.

"Of course he didn't, child. He never said anything but that he loved
you, and he never thought anything but that you were going to be his.
Men never do--till the wedding day. Then they never think of anything
but a place to run," she finished laughingly, as she began to arrange on
a stand the quantity of little white boxes waiting for her.

"But if he'd told me--in time, I wouldn't have had a thing--but the
minister," faltered Marie.

"And when you think so much of a pretty wedding, too? Nonsense! It isn't
good for a man, to give up to his whims like that!"

Marie's cheeks grew a deep