I Forbid the Banns! — page 319: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON THE SMILE OF MISS TRAVERS. 3°29 “‘ At last,” he murmured, “ at last ! ” ‘Ves, at last, indeed,’ said Bertha. ‘“ How is it that we have never met, although my husband and I have been everywhere during the past month ?”’ “Your hus—hus—oh, I cannot say the word,” said Char- lie. ‘ Your—oh, do not ask me to say it.” “Do not be a goose,” said Bertha. ‘‘ There is no com. pulsion to say the hated word. Let it be understood.” “And I have looked down the first column of at least one newspaper every day, expecting and hoping that the blow might be spared to me. How did I miss seeing Charl- tonv. Lancaster ? No, they don’t put the v, in the marriages, only in the law cases. Never mind; it was not to be, so far as I was concerned. And yet, if you had only waited for eight years—perhaps for seven, with good luck—— Oh, don’t fear for me, I won’tmakeascene. Charlton, old boy, be worthy of her; and if you don’t mind spending a trifle of money in a good cause, bring her every spring to lay some wild flowers on my grave. Take any ice you please with the exception of the pineapple; the pineapple will make you wish that you were attending a sacred concert, where you are expected to look solemn. Mme. Darius should be better advised in the matter of ices.” “Who is Mme. Darius?” asked Bertha. “Why, you have just shaken hands with her,” said Charlie. ‘*‘ Madame is descended from Darius and Nebu- chadnezzar and King Pharaoh, don’t you know?” “Not from all, surely?” “Why not? They all belong to the one lot, and they all slept with their fathers.”’ “T begin to fancy myself once more aboard the Car- narvon Castle, hearing the sound of your voice, Charlie.” Why Bertha should feel some difficulty in keeping the tears from her eyes as she spoke it would be hard to say. Perhaps the sound of the boy’s voice brought back to her CORNIECLOOKS (E©)