Her bosom was heaving,
her pansy eyes were fastened upon the magistrate with a look of
pleading that drove the smile from his lips. She clung to
Anthony's arm as if she feared these strangers might tear him
away.
"You understand, Judge, she's of age; so am I. They want to force
her to marry a man she doesn't--"
The muffled strains of music ceased. There came the faint clapping
of hands.
"Madre de Dios!" Miss Garavel cried. "We are too late." She beat
her little palms together in desperation.
There was a breathless interval. Then the music began again, and
to its throbbing measures the marriage ceremony was performed. As
the last word was pronounced, Mrs. Runnels burst into tears and
hid her face against her husband's breast. Runnels himself held
forth a shaking hand to Kirk, then patted the bride clumsily upon
her shoulder.
"I know you will be happy now, Mrs. Anthony," he said.
With an incoherent cry of delight, Kirk folded his wife in his
arms, and she kissed him before them all.
"Senor, I will love you always," she said, shyly.
During the progress of this scene, Allan Allan of Jamaica had
stood frozen with amazement, a door-knob wedged firmly into the
small of his back, his eyes distended and rolling; but when Mrs.
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