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In A Pullman Car – A Love Story
by
The young girl and her mother blamed themselves for his hurt and had paid him every kindly attention. He had gathered the story of the petted daughter, and in his enfeebled state their acquaintance made rapid progress. Even now it required no acute observer to surmise the ravages of the little god. No one interfered, and for once the course of true love seemed to glide smoothly on.
He had confessed his aversion to to the prospective mother, and endeavored to elicit sympathy by picturing to young Eloise what it would be to have another fill her dear father’s place. At such times her face was impenetrable, and he intuitively grew to avoid the topic.
Ere Charlie was able to get about, young Leslie had fallen in love with the whole family; and when he had sought and obtained the dimpled hand he had so coveted in the Pullman car, laughingly told the mother he was not so sure but that after all she was the one he loved best. A smile passed over the regular features as she said meaningly:
“Only love me as a son, my boy, and I think we can be happy in each other. But remember, a mother-in-law is a dangerous animal!”
Mr. Leslie was so happy in his son’s good fortune,–for so he evidently considered it–that he declared there must be a double wedding.
“You shall have your way,” he added, with some pique; “and not see Mrs. Dana till we meet at the church. Afterward, I’ll risk the meeting!”
Some two months after the accident the programme was carried out. But the Raynors had remained at the farm-house till the appointed day, the young people growing all the while so distractingly fond of each other, that the really short time seemed to drag with leaden wings.
Quietly one morning, in the presence of intimate friends, and quite in the old-fashioned way, the two pairs of lovers walked up the church aisle to the minister in waiting. The ladies wore rich traveling-suits, and carriages waited to convey the immediate members of the family to the wedding breakfast. The younger bridegroom saw nothing but the sweet face at his side, though he started perceptibly when the service revealed that his father’s bride and his own bore the same musical name of Eloise.
When the first carriage closed with a snap, there was a relaxing of ceremony, and an interchange of congratulations, earnest, though somewhat amusing. For when Hervey raised his eyes to the despised mother’s face, he saw there the soft features of Mrs. Raynor, while his father smiled in contented expectancy. His own face was a study!
“Raynor?” he stammered. “Why I thought–I understood–“
“You said Raynor,” was the teasing reply; “we never did.”
“And whom have I married?” was his next question, with a grotesque grimace at the demure young person beside him.
“Eloise Dana, an’ it please your lordship. Do you mean to get a divorce?”
“It’s all right, my boy;” cheerily said his father, while all three heartily enjoyed the denouement. “It was only a little harmless plot, you know, to bring you to your senses! Besides, you were in too delicate a state of health to bear the truth!” This with decided relish.
“Bring me to my senses!” echoed the other. “You have about run me crazy! Here I’ve gone and married my wife’s brother to his sister, and the fathers and mothers are all fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law. But, my dear mamma,” he added, with an ‘Et-tu-Brute’ look at the amused lady, “I did not think you would play me false!”
“The temptation was too great,” she confessed, “after I saw your name on the tell-tale suit case; own the truth now, that as Mrs. Dana, you would never have fallen in love with me!”
“Ah, well,” he gave in, “let’s kiss and make friends. As for you, young lady,” he exclaimed with mock fierceness, “I shall exact the most implicit obedience. I must get even somehow.”
“No–no–I did not promise to obey–brides never do nowadays,” and the little gloved hand went up to his lips in protest.
Catching it fast, he threatened to proclaim the first time her hand had ever touched his lips, all unconscious though she was, and amid blushes and happiness all around, they arrived at the house, where the whole story had to be rehearsed to delighted friends, beginning with midnight vision in a Pullman car.