Themomenttherainbroke，itbeatthevaporsdown。
　　Inthegulfbeforethemthewaterfellinspouts，anddashedfromthehighcliffsoverhead。Ittoreaspensandchokecherrybushesoutofthegroundandlefttheyuccashangingbytheirtoughroots。Onlythelittlecedarsstoodblackandunmovedinthetorrentsthatfellfromsofarabove。Therockchamberwasfulloffinesprayfromthestreamsofwaterthatshotoverthedoorway。Theacrepttothebackwallandrolledherselfinablanket，andFredthrewtheheavierblanketsoverher。ThewooloftheNavajosheepwassoonkindledbythewarmthofherbody，andwasimpenetrabletodampness。Herhair，whereithungbelowtherubberhat，gatheredthemois—
　　turelikeasponge。Fredputontheslicker，tiedthesweaterabouthisneck，andsettledhimselfcross—leggedbesideher。Thechamberwassodarkthat，althoughhecouldseetheoutlineofherheadandshoulders，hecouldnotseeherface。Hestruckawaxmatchtolighthispipe。Ashesheltereditbetweenhishands，itsizzledandsputtered，throwingayellowflickeroverTheaandherblankets。
　　"Youlooklikeagypsy，"hesaidashedroppedthematch。"Anyoneyou’dratherbeshutupwiththanme？
　　No？Sureaboutthat？"
　　"IthinkIam。Aren’tyoucold？"
　　"Notespecially。"Fredsmokedinsilence，listeningtotheroarofthewateroutside。"Wemaynotgetawayfromhererightaway，"heremarked。
　　"Ishan’tmind。Shallyou？"
　　Helaughedgrimlyandpulledonhispipe。"Doyouknowwhereyou’reat，MissTheaKronborg？"hesaidat
　　last。"You’vegotmegoingprettyhard，Isupposeyouknow。I’vehadalotofsweethearts，butI’veneverbeensomuch——engrossedbefore。Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit？"Heheardnothingfromtheblankets。"Areyougoingtoplayfair，orisitaboutmycuetocutaway？"
　　"I’llplayfair。Idon’tseewhyyouwanttogo。"
　　"Whatdoyouwantmearoundfor？——toplaywith？"
　　Theastruggledupamongtheblankets。"Iwantyouforeverything。Idon’tknowwhetherI’mwhatpeoplecallinlovewithyouornot。InMoonstonethatmeantsittinginahammockwithsomebody。Idon’twanttositinaham—
　　mockwithyou，butIwanttodoalmosteverythingelse。
　　Oh，hundredsofthings！"
　　"IfIrunaway，willyougowithme？"
　　"Idon’tknow。I’llhavetothinkaboutthat。MaybeI
　　would。"Shefreedherselffromherwrappingsandstoodup。"It’snotrainingsohardnow。Hadn’twebetterstartthisminute？ItwillbenightbeforewegettoBiltmer’s。"
　　Fredstruckanothermatch。"It’sseven。Idon’tknowhowmuchofthepathmaybewashedaway。Idon’tevenknowwhetherIoughttoletyoutryitwithoutalantern。"
　　Theawenttothedoorwayandlookedout。"There’snothingelsetodo。Thesweaterandtheslickerwillkeepmedry，andthiswillbemychancetofindoutwhethertheseshoesarereallywater—tight。Theycostaweek’ssal—
　　ary。"Sheretreatedtothebackofthecave。"It’sgettingblackereveryminute。"
　　Ottenburgtookabrandyflaskfromhiscoatpocket。
　　"Betterhavesomeofthisbeforewestart。Canyoutakeitwithoutwater？"
　　Thealifteditobedientlytoherlips。SheputonthesweaterandFredhelpedhertogettheclumsyslickeronoverit。Hebuttoneditandfastenedthehighcollar。Shecouldfeelthathishandswerehurriedandclumsy。Thecoatwastoobig，andhetookoffhisnecktieandbeltedit
　　inatthewaist。Whileshetuckedherhairmoresecurelyundertherubberhathestoodinfrontofher，betweenherandthegraydoorway，withoutmoving。
　　"Areyoureadytogo？"sheaskedcarelessly。
　　"Ifyouare，"hespokequietly，withoutmoving，excepttobendhisheadforwardalittle。
　　Thealaughedandputherhandsonhisshoulders。"Youknowhowtohandleme，don’tyou？"shewhispered。Forthefirsttime，shekissedhimwithoutconstraintorembar—
　　rassment。
　　"Thea，Thea，Thea！"Fredwhisperedhernamethreetimes，shakingheralittleasiftowakenher。Itwastoodarktosee，buthecouldfeelthatshewassmiling。
　　Whenshekissedhimshehadnothiddenherfaceonhisshoulder，——shehadrisenalittleonhertoes，andstoodstraightandfree。Inthatmomentwhenhecameclosetoheractualpersonality，hefeltinherthesameexpansionthathehadnoticedatMrs。Nathanmeyer’s。Shebecamefreerandstrongerunderimpulses。Whensherosetomeethimlikethat，hefeltherflashintoeverythingthatshehadeversuggestedtohim，asifshefilledoutherownshadow。
　　Shepushedhimawayandshotpasthimoutintotherain。
　　"Nowforit，Fred，"shecalledbackexultantly。Therainwaspouringsteadilydownthroughthedyinggraytwilight，andmuddystreamswerespoutingandfoamingoverthecliff。
　　Fredcaughtherandheldherback。"Keepbehindme，Thea。Idon’tknowaboutthepath。Itmaybegonealto—
　　gether。Can’ttellwhatthereisunderthiswater。"
　　Butthepathwasolderthanthewhiteman’sArizona。
　　Therushofwaterhadwashedawaythedustandstonesthatlayonthesurface，buttherockskeletonoftheIndiantrailwasthere，readyforthefoot。Wherethestreamspoureddownthroughgullies，therewasalwaysacedaroraPINONtoclingto。Bywadingandslippingandclimbing，theygotalong。Astheynearedtheheadofthecanyon，
　　wherethepathliftedandroseinsteeploopstothesurfaceoftheplateau，theclimbwasmoredifficult。Theearthabovehadbrokenawayandwasheddownoverthetrail，bringingrocksandbushesandevenyoungtreeswithit。
　　Thelastghostofdaylightwasdyingandtherewasnotimetolose。Thecanyonbehindthemwasalreadyblack。
　　"We’vegottogorightthroughthetopofthispinetree，Thea。Notimetohuntawayaround。Givemeyourhand。"
　　Aftertheyhadcrashedthroughthemassofbranches，Fredstoppedabruptly。"Gosh，whatahole！Canyoujumpit？
　　Waitaminute。"
　　Heclearedthewashout，slippedonthewetrockatthefartherside，andcaughthimselfjustintimetoescapeatumble。"IfIcouldonlyfindsomethingtoholdto，Icouldgiveyouahand。It’ssocurseddark，andtherearenotreesherewherethey’reneeded。Here’ssomething；it’saroot。Itwillholdallright。"Hebracedhimselfontherock，grippedthecrookedrootwithonehandandswunghimselfacrosstowardThea，holdingouthisarm。"Goodjump！I
　　mustsayyoudon’tloseyournerveinatightplace。Canyoukeepatitalittlelonger？We’realmostout。Havetomakethatnextledge。Putyourfootonmykneeandcatchsomethingtopullby。"
　　Theawentupoverhisshoulder。"It’shardgrounduphere，"shepanted。"DidIwrenchyourarmwhenIslippedthen？ItwasacactusIgrabbed，anditstartledme。"
　　"Now，onemorepullandwe’reonthelevel。"
　　Theyemergedgaspingupontheblackplateau。Inthelastfiveminutesthedarknesshadsolidifiedanditseemedasiftheskieswerepouringblackwater。Theycouldnotseewheretheskyendedortheplainbegan。Thelightattheranchhouseburnedasteadysparkthroughtherain。
　　FreddrewThea’sarmthroughhisandtheystruckofftowardthelight。Theycouldnotseeeachother，andtherainattheirbacksseemedtodrivethemalong。Theykeptlaughingastheystumbledovertuftsofgrassorstepped
　　intoslipperypools。Theyweredelightedwitheachotherandwiththeadventurewhichlaybehindthem。
　　"Ican’tevenseethewhitesofyoureyes，Thea。ButI’dknowwhowasheresteppingoutwithme，anywhere。Partcoyoteyouare，bythefeelofyou。Whenyoumakeupyourmindtojump，youjump！Mygracious，what’sthematterwithyourhand？"
　　"Cactusspines。Didn’tItellyouwhenIgrabbedthecactus？Ithoughtitwasaroot。Arewegoingstraight？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Somewherenearit，Ithink。I’mverycomfortable，aren’tyou？You’rewarm，exceptyourcheeks。Howfunnytheyarewhenthey’rewet。Still，youalwaysfeellikeyou。Ilikethis。IcouldwalktoFlagstaff。
　　It’sfun，notbeingabletoseeanything。IfeelsurerofyouwhenIcan’tseeyou。Willyourunawaywithme？"
　　Thealaughed。"Iwon’trunfarto—night。I’llthinkaboutit。Look，Fred，there’ssomebodycoming。"
　　"Henry，withhislantern。Goodenough！Halloo！Hallo——o——o！"Fredshouted。
　　Themovinglightbobbedtowardthem。InhalfanhourTheawasinherbigfeatherbed，drinkinghotlentilsoup，andalmostbeforethesoupwasswallowedshewasasleep。
　　VIII
　　ONthefirstdayofSeptemberFredOttenburgandTheaKronborgleftFlagstaffbytheeast—boundexpress。
　　Asthebrightmorningadvanced，theysataloneontherearplatformoftheobservationcar，watchingtheyellowmilesunfoldanddisappear。Withcompletecontenttheysawthebrilliant，emptycountryflashby。Theyweretiredofthedesertandthedeadraces，ofaworldwithoutchangeorideas。FredsaidhewasgladtositbackandlettheSantaFedotheworkforawhile。
　　"Andwherearewegoing，anyhow？"headded。
　　"ToChicago，Isuppose。Whereelsewouldwebegoing？"Theahuntedforahandkerchiefinherhand—
　　bag。
　　"Iwasn’tsure，soIhadthetrunkscheckedtoAlbu—
　　querque。WecanrechecktheretoChicago，ifyoulike。
　　WhyChicago？You’llnevergobacktoBowers。Whywouldn’tthisbeagoodtimetomakearunforit？WecouldtakethesouthernbranchatAlbuquerque，downtoElPaso，andthenoverintoMexico。Weareexceptionallyfree。Nobodywaitingforusanywhere。"
　　Theasightedalongthesteelrailsthatquiveredinthelightbehindthem。"Idon’tseewhyIcouldn’tmarryyouinChicago，aswellasanyplace，"shebroughtoutwithsomeembarrassment。
　　Fredtookthehandbagoutofhernervousclaspandswungitaboutonhisfinger。"You’venoparticularloveforthatspot，haveyou？Besides，asI’vetoldyou，myfamilywouldmakearow。Theyareanexcitablelot。Theydiscussandargueeverlastingly。TheonlywayIcaneverputanythingthroughistogoahead，andconvincethemafterward。"
　　"Yes；Iunderstand。Idon’tmindthat。Idon’twanttomarryyourfamily。I’msureyouwouldn’twanttomarrymine。ButIdon’tseewhywehavetogosofar。"
　　"WhenwegettoWinslow，youlookaboutthefreightyardsandyou’llprobablyseeseveralyellowcarswithmynameonthem。That’swhy，mydear。Whenyourvisiting—cardisoneverybeerbottle，youcan’tdothingsquietly。Thingsgetintothepapers。"Ashewatchedhertroubledexpression，hegrewanxious。Heleanedforwardonhiscamp—chair，andkepttwirlingthehandbagbetweenhisknees。"Here’sasuggestion，Thea，"hesaidpresently。
　　"Dismissitifyoudon’tlikeit：supposewegodowntoMexicoonthechance。You’veneverseenanythinglikeMexicoCity；itwillbealarkforyou，anyhow。Ifyouchangeyourmind，anddon’twanttomarryme，youcangobacktoChicago，andI’lltakeasteamerfromVeraCruzandgouptoNewYork。WhenIgettoChicago，you’llbeatwork，andnobodywilleverbethewiser。Noreasonwhyweshouldn’tbothtravelinMexico，isthere？
　　You’llbetravelingalone。I’llmerelytellyoutherightplacestostop，andcometotakeyoudriving。Iwon’tputanypressureonyou。HaveIever？"Heswungthebagtowardherandlookedupunderherhat。
　　"No，youhaven’t，"shemurmured。Shewasthinkingthatherownpositionmightbelessdifficultifhehadusedwhathecalledpressure。Heclearlywishedhertotaketheresponsibility。
　　"Youhaveyourownfutureinthebackofyourmindallthetime，"Fredbegan，"andIhaveitinmine。I’mnotgoingtotrytocarryyouoff，asImightanothergirl。Ifyouwantedtoquitme，Icouldn’tholdyou，nomatterhowmanytimesyouhadmarriedme。Idon’twanttoover—
　　persuadeyou。ButI’dlikemightywelltogetyoudowntothatjollyoldcity，whereeverythingwouldpleaseyou，andgivemyselfachance。Then，ifyouthoughtyoucouldhaveabettertimewithmethanwithoutme，I’dtrytograbyou
　　beforeyouchangedyourmind。Youarenotasentimentalperson。"
　　Theadrewherveildownoverherface。"IthinkIam，alittle；aboutyou，"shesaidquietly。Fred’sironysomehowhurther。
　　"What’satthebottomofyourmind，Thea？"heaskedhurriedly。"Ican’ttell。Whydoyouconsideritatall，ifyou’renotsure？Whyareyouherewithmenow？"
　　Herfacewashalf—averted。Hewasthinkingthatitlookedolderandmorefirm——almosthard——underaveil。
　　"Isn’titpossibletodothingswithouthavinganyveryclearreason？"sheaskedslowly。"Ihavenoplaninthebackofmymind。NowthatI’mwithyou，Iwanttobewithyou；that’sall。Ican’tsettledowntobeingaloneagain。Iamhereto—daybecauseIwanttobewithyouto—day。"Shepaused。"Onething，though；ifIgaveyoumyword，I’dkeepit。Andyoucouldholdme，thoughyoudon’tseemtothinkso。MaybeI’mnotsentimental，butI’mnotverylight，either。IfIwentoffwithyoulikethis，itwouldn’tbetoamusemyself。"
　　Ottenburg’seyesfell。Hislipsworkednervouslyforamoment。"Doyoumeanthatyoureallycareforme，TheaKronborg？"heaskedunsteadily。
　　"Iguessso。It’slikeanythingelse。Ittakesholdofyouandyou’vegottogothroughwithit，evenifyou’reafraid。
　　IwasafraidtoleaveMoonstone，andafraidtoleaveHarsanyi。ButIhadtogothroughwithit。"
　　"Andareyouafraidnow？"Fredaskedslowly。
　　"Yes；morethanI’veeverbeen。ButIdon’tthinkI
　　couldgoback。Thepastclosesupbehindone，somehow。
　　Onewouldratherhaveanewkindofmisery。Theoldkindseemslikedeathorunconsciousness。Youcan’tforceyourlifebackintothatmouldagain。No，onecan’tgoback。"Sheroseandstoodbythebackgratingoftheplatform，herhandonthebrassrail。
　　Fredwenttoherside。Shepushedupherveilandturned
　　hermostglowingfacetohim。Hereyeswerewetandthereweretearsonherlashes，butshewassmilingtherare，whole—heartedsmilehehadseenonceortwicebe—
　　fore。Helookedathershiningeyes，herpartedlips，herchinalittlelifted。Itwasasiftheywerecoloredbyasun—
　　risehecouldnotsee。Heputhishandoverhersandclaspeditwithastrengthshefelt。Hereyelashestrembled，hermouthsoftened，buthereyeswerestillbrilliant。
　　"Willyoualwaysbelikeyouweredownthere，ifIgowithyou？"sheaskedunderherbreath。
　　Hisfingerstightenedonhers。"ByGod，Iwill！"hemuttered。
　　"That’stheonlypromiseI’llaskyoufor。Nowgoawayforawhileandletmethinkaboutit。Comebackatlunch—
　　timeandI’lltellyou。Willthatdo？"
　　"Anythingwilldo，Thea，ifyou’llonlyletmekeepaneyeonyou。Therestoftheworlddoesn’tinterestmemuch。You’vegotmeindeep。"
　　Freddroppedherhandandturnedaway。Asheglancedbackfromthefrontendoftheobservationcar，hesawthatshewasstillstandingthere，andanyonewouldhaveknownthatshewasbroodingoversomething。Theearnestnessofherheadandshouldershadacertainnobility。Hestoodlookingatherforamoment。
　　Whenhereachedtheforwardsmoking—car，Fredtookaseatattheend，wherehecouldshuttheotherpassengersfromhissight。Heputonhistraveling—capandsatdownwearily，keepinghisheadnearthewindow。"Inanycase，IshallhelphermorethanIshallhurther，"hekeptsayingtohimself。Headmittedthatthiswasnottheonlymotivewhichimpelledhim，butitwasoneofthem。"I’llmakeitmybusinessinlifetogetheron。There’snothingelseI
　　careaboutsomuchasseeingherhaveherchance。Shehasn’ttouchedherrealforceyet。Sheisn’tevenawareofit。Lord，don’tIknowsomethingaboutthem？Thereisn’toneofthemthathassuchadepthtodrawfrom。She’llbe
　　oneofthegreatartistsofourtime。Playingaccompani—
　　mentsforthatcheese—facedsneak！I’llgetherofftoGer—
　　manythiswinter，ortakeher。Shehasn’tgotanytimetowastenow。I’llmakeituptoher，allright。"
　　Ottenburgcertainlymeanttomakeituptoher，insofarashecould。Hisfeelingwasasgenerousasstronghumanfeelingsarelikelytobe。Theonlytroublewas，thathewasmarriedalready，andhadbeensincehewastwenty。
　　HisolderfriendsinChicago，peoplewhohadbeenfriendsofhisfamily，knewoftheunfortunatestateofhispersonalaffairs；buttheywerepeoplewhominthenaturalcourseofthingsTheaKronborgwouldscarcelymeet。Mrs。
　　FrederickOttenburglivedinCalifornia，atSantaBar—
　　bara，whereherhealthwassupposedtobebetterthanelsewhere，andherhusbandlivedinChicago。Hevisitedhiswifeeverywintertoreinforceherposition，andhisdevotedmother，althoughherhatredforherdaughter—in—
　　lawwasscarcelyapproachableinwords，wenttoSantaBarbaraeveryyeartomakethingslookbetterandtorelieveherson。
　　WhenFrederickOttenburgwasbeginninghisjunioryearatHarvard，hegotaletterfromDickBrisbane，aKansasCityboyheknew，tellinghimthathisFIANCEE，MissEdithBeers，wasgoingtoNewYorktobuyhertrousseau。ShewouldbeattheHollandHouse，withherauntandagirlfromKansasCitywhowastobeabridesmaid，fortwoweeksormore。IfOttenburghappenedtobegoingdowntoNewYork，wouldhecalluponMissBeersand"showheragoodtime"？
　　FreddidhappentobegoingtoNewYork。HewasgoingdownfromNewHaven，aftertheThanksgivinggame。HecalledonMissBeersandfoundher，ashethatnighttele—
　　graphedBrisbane，a"rippingbeauty，nomistake。"Hetookherandherauntandheruninterestingfriendtothetheaterandtotheopera，andheaskedthemtolunchwith
　　himattheWaldorf。Hetooknolittlepainsinarrangingtheluncheonwiththeheadwaiter。MissBeerswasthesortofgirlwithwhomayoungmanlikedtoseemexperi—
　　enced。Shewasdarkandslenderandfiery。Shewaswittyandslangy；saiddaringthingsandcarriedthemoffwithNONCHALANCE。Herchildishextravaganceandcontemptforalltheseriousfactsoflifecouldbechargedtoherfather’sgenerosityandhislongpacking—housepurse。Freaksthatwouldhavebeenvulgarandostentatiousinamoresimple—
　　mindedgirl，inMissBeersseemedwhimsicalandpictur—
　　esque。Shedartedaboutinmagnificentfursandpumpsandclose—clinginggowns，thoughthatwasthedayoffullskirts。Herhatswerelargeandfloppy。Whenshewrig—
　　gledoutofhermoleskincoatatluncheon，shelookedlikeaslimblackweasel。Hersatindresswasameresheath，soconspicuousbyitsseverityandscantnessthateveryoneinthedining—roomstared。Sheatenothingbutalligator—pearsaladandhothousegrapes，drankalittlechampagne，andtookcognacinhercoffee。Sheridiculed，intheraciestslang，thesingerstheyhadheardattheoperathenightbefore，andwhenherauntpretendedtoreproveher，shemurmuredindifferently，"What’sthematterwithyou，oldsport？"Sherattledonwithasubduedloquacious—
　　ness，alwayskeepinghervoicelowandmonotonous，alwayslookingoutofthecornerofhereyeandspeaking，asitwere，inasides，outofthecornerofhermouth。Shewasscornfulofeverything，——whichbecamehereyebrows。
　　Herfacewasmobileanddiscontented，hereyesquickandblack。Therewasasortofsmoulderingfireabouther，youngOttenburgthought。Sheentertainedhimpro—
　　digiously。
　　AfterluncheonMissBeerssaidshewasgoinguptowntobefitted，andthatshewouldgoalonebecauseherauntmadehernervous。WhenFredheldhercoatforher，shemurmured，"Thankyou，Alphonse，"asifshewereaddress—
　　ingthewaiter。Asshesteppedintoahansom，withalong
　　stretchofthinsilkstocking，shesaidnegligently，overherfurcollar，"Betterletmetakeyoualonganddropyousomewhere。"Hespranginafterher，andshetoldthedrivertogotothePark。
　　Itwasabrightwinterday，andbitterlycold。MissBeersaskedFredtotellheraboutthegameatNewHaven，andwhenhedidsopaidnoattentiontowhathesaid。Shesankbackintothehansomandheldhermuffbeforeherface，loweringitoccasionallytoutterlaconicremarksaboutthepeopleinthecarriagestheypassed，interrupt—
　　ingFred’snarrativeinadisconcertingmanner。AstheyenteredtheParkhehappenedtoglanceunderherwideblackhatatherblackeyesandhair——themuffhidevery—
　　thingelse——anddiscoveredthatshewascrying。Tohissolicitousinquirysherepliedthatit"wasenoughtomakeyoudamp，togoandtryondressestomarryamanyouweren’tkeenabout。"
　　Furtherexplanationsfollowed。Shehadthoughtshewas"perfectlycracked"aboutBrisbane，untilshemetFredattheHollandHousethreedaysago。ThensheknewshewouldscratchBrisbane’seyesoutifshemarriedhim。Whatwasshegoingtodo？
　　Fredtoldthedrivertokeepgoing。Whatdidshewanttodo？Well，shedidn’tknow。Onehadtomarrysome—
　　body，afterallthemachineryhadbeenputinmotion。
　　PerhapsshemightaswellscratchBrisbaneasanybodyelse；forscratchshewould，ifshedidn’tgetwhatshewanted。
　　Ofcourse，Fredagreed，onehadtomarrysomebody。
　　Andcertainlythisgirlbeatanythinghehadeverbeenupagainstbefore。Againhetoldthedrivertogoahead。Didshemeanthatshewouldthinkofmarryinghim，byanychance？Ofcourseshedid，Alphonse。Hadn’theseenthatalloverherfacethreedaysago？Ifhehadn’t，hewasasnowball。
　　BythistimeFredwasbeginningtofeelsorryforthe
　　driver。MissBeers，however，wascompassionless。Afterafewmoreturns，FredsuggestedteaattheCasino。Hewasverycoldhimself，andrememberingtheshiningsilkhoseandpumps，hewonderedthatthegirlwasnotfrozen。
　　Astheygotoutofthehansom，heslippedthedriverabillandtoldhimtohavesomethinghotwhilehewaited。
　　Atthetea—table，inasnugglassenclosure，withthesteamsputteringinthepipesbesidethemandabrilliantwintersunsetwithout，theydevelopedtheirplan。MissBeershadwithherplentyofmoney，destinedfortradesmen，whichshewasquitewillingtodivertintootherchannels——thefirstexcitementofbuyingatrousseauhadwornoff，any—
　　way。Itwasverymuchlikeanyothershopping。Fredhadhisallowanceandafewhundredhehadwononthegame。Shewouldmeethimto—morrowmorningattheJerseyferry。Theycouldtakeoneofthewest—boundPennsylvaniatrainsandgo——anywhere，someplacewherethelawsweren’ttoofussy。——Fredhadnoteventhoughtaboutthelaws！——Itwouldbeallrightwithherfather；heknewFred’sfamily。
　　Nowthattheywereengaged，shethoughtshewouldliketodrivealittlemore。TheywerejerkedaboutinthecabforanotherhourthroughthedesertedPark。MissBeers，havingremovedherhat，reclineduponFred’sshoulder。
　　ThenextmorningtheyleftJerseyCitybythelatestfasttrainout。Theyhadsomemisadventures，crossedseveralStatesbeforetheyfoundajusticeobligingenoughtomarrytwopersonswhosenamesautomaticallyinstigatedinquiry。
　　Thebride’sfamilywereratherpleasedwithheroriginality；
　　besides，anyoneoftheOttenburgboyswasclearlyabettermatchthanyoungBrisbane。WithOttoOttenburg，how—
　　ever，theaffairwentdownhard，andtohiswife，theonceproudKatarinaFurst，suchadisappointmentwasalmostunbearable。Hersonshadalwaysbeenclayinherhands，andnowtheGELIEBTERSOHNhadescapedher。
　　Beers，thepacker，gavehisdaughterahouseinSt。Louis，andFredwentintohisfather’sbusiness。Attheendofayear，hewasmutelyappealingtohismotherforsympathy。