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。