Part 2 (1/2)
”Anywhere. Bombay--Australia? Let's make it a stunner, dear--let's do it up right.”
”And be married away over there? Oh, Hugh!”
”Certainly. They can marry us over there as well as anywhere. Here, I'll write the names of ten places and we'll draw one from my hat.” He sat down before a table and feverishly wrote upon the backs of a number of his calling cards the names of as many cities, his companion looking over his shoulder eagerly. Without ado he tossed the cards into a jardiniere in lieu of a hat. ”Draw!” he said tragically.
”Wait a minute, Hugh. What have we to elope from? There isn't the faintest objection in the world to our marriage.”
”There you go--backing out!”
”No; I'm just as willing as you, but doesn't it seem rather absurd?” Her hand hung over the jardiniere irresolutely.
”It will be the greatest wedding tour that mortals ever took. Draw!”
”Well, then, there's the card. Mercy!” she cried, dropping a card on the table. ”That's a long distance, Hugh.”
He picked up the card and his face paled a little as he read:
”Manila!”
They sat down in the chair, she on the arm as before. After a moment he glanced at her perplexed face, and asked:
”Are you afraid to go, Grace?”
”It isn't that, Hugh. I was just wondering if we could reach Manila by the twenty-third of May. It is unlucky to change the wedding day after it has been once selected,” she said softly.
”Grace Vernon, you are an angel. I was afraid you would show the white feather. It's a go, then--Manila! We can start next week and get there in good time.”
”Next week? Impossible!” she cried in alarm.
”Nonsense! You can get ready for a trip to New York, making your preparations for a sea voyage secretly. I'll attend to all the details.
It will be easy. No one will ever dream of what we are doing until we cable the news home to your aunt.”
”Oh, I must tell Aunt Elizabeth!”
”Not much! That's no way to elope. We must do it correctly or not at all. n.o.body is to know until we are really married. Can you get ready in a week?”
”If I really must.”
”Can't take any more time than that if we want to reach Manila in time for the wedding.”
”Oh, Hugh! We can't go to Manila!” she cried, suddenly starting to her feet in distress. ”My Uncle Harry lives there. He is my mother's only brother and he's been there since the close of the war. He's in the hemp business. Oh, dear! How provoking!” she concluded almost piteously.
”It's fine!” he exclaimed jubilantly. ”We can be married at his home.
I'm sure he'll be happy to have us. You can write and tell him we're coming, dear. Lord!” with great relief in his voice, ”that simplifies matters immensely. Now we have an excuse for going to Manila. But above all things don't cable to him. Write a nice long letter and mail it just before we start.”
She was silent a long while, staring soberly at the blaze in the grate.
”There'll be no bridesmaids and ushers over there, Hugh.”