She kissed his gray hair and
passed out from the room, closing the door gently behind her.
David and Christine were married at seven o'clock. The shadow which
hung over the household, the grievous exigency which made haste so
imperative, did much toward suppressing the joy and gladness that
under other conditions would have filled the house and the hearts of
all therein. Mr. Portman, gray-faced and taciturn, gave the bride in
marriage. There were but three witnesses outside of the family. Joey
Noakes and Ruby were there and a single college friend to whom David
had gone in the stress of necessity.
Mother and daughter said their farewells in private. Christine sobbed
in her mother's arms, imploring her to come away with them at once, to
be happy forever. Mary Braddock's eyes were dry and burning, her hands
were cold, her heart like ice.
"I will come some time, my darling, but--not now. You must make your
home before I come to see you in it. I shall go abroad, as I told you
this afternoon. Father agrees with me that it is the thing to do under
the circumstances. When I return, my child, I will come to see you in
Jenison Hall.
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