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〃And then; Larry; what should I do? Where would I go? You are going off。〃
〃And you will come with me。〃
But Jane's wise head was thinking swiftly。 〃I might come across with Papa;〃 she said。 〃We were thinking〃
〃No;〃 cried Larry。 〃You come with me。 He will follow and pick you up in London。 Hurry; come along and tell him。〃
〃But; Larry; this is awful。〃
〃Splendid; glorious; come along。 We'll settle all that later。〃
He dragged her; laughing; blushing; almost weeping; to the study。 〃She says she will do it to…morrow; sir;〃 he announced as he pushed open the door。
〃What do you say?〃 said the Doctor; gazing open…mouthed at him。
〃She says she will marry me to…morrow;〃 he proclaimed as if announcing a stupendous victory。
〃She does!〃 said the Doctor; still aghast。
〃Good heavens!〃 exclaimed the Colonel。 〃To…morrow? We are off to…morrow!〃
Larry swung upon him eagerly。 〃Before we go; sir。 There is lots of time。 You see we do not pull out until after three。 We have all the morning; if you could spare me an hour or so。 We could get married; and she would just come along with us; sir。〃
Jane gasped。 〃With all those men?〃
〃Good Lord!〃 exclaimed the Colonel。 〃The boy is mad。〃
〃We might perhaps take the later train;〃 suggested Jane demurely。 〃But; of course; Papa; I have never agreed at all;〃 she added quickly; turning to her father。
〃That settles it; I believe;〃 said Dr。 Brown。 〃Colonel; what do you say? Can it be done?〃
〃Done?〃 shouted the Colonel。 〃Of course; it can be done。 Military wedding; guard of honour; band; and all that sort of thing。 Proper style; first in the regiment; eh; what?〃
〃But nothing is ready;〃 said Jane; appalled at the rush of events。 〃Not a dress; not a bridesmaid; nothing。〃
〃You have got a 'phone;〃 cried Larry; gloriously oblivious of difficulties。 〃Tell everybody。 Oh; sir;〃 he said; turning to Dr。 Brown with hand outstretched; 〃I hope you will let her come。 I promise you I will be good to her。〃
Dr。 Brown looked at the young man gravely; almost sadly; then at his daughter。 With a quick pang he noted the new look in her eyes。 He put out his hand to her and drew her toward him。
〃Dear child;〃 he said; and his voice sounded hoarse and strained; 〃how like you are to your mother to…night。〃 Her arms went quickly about his neck。 He held her close to him for a few moments; then loosing her arms; he pushed her gently toward Larry; saying; 〃Boy; I give her to you。 As you deal with her; so may God deal with you。〃
〃Amen;〃 said Larry solemnly; taking her hand in his。
Never was such a wedding in Winnipeg! Nothing was lacking to make it perfectly; gloriously; triumphantly complete。 There was a wedding dress; and a bridal veil with orange blossoms。 There were wedding gifts; for somehow; no one ever knew how; the morning Times had got the news。 There was a church crowded with friends to wish them well; and the regimental band with a guard of honour; under whose arched swords the bride and groom went forth。 Never had the Reverend Andrew McPherson been so happy in his marriage service。 Never was such a wedding breakfast with toasts and telegrams from absent friends; from Chicago; and from the Lakeside Farm in response to Larry's announcements by wire。 Two of these excited wild enthusiasm。 One read; 〃Happy days。 Nora and I following your good example。 See you later in France。 Signed; Dean。〃 The other; from the Minister of Militia at Ottawa to Lieutenant…Colonel Waring…Gaunt。 〃Your suggestion approved。 Captain Gwynne gazetted to…morrow as Major。 Signed; Sam Hughes。〃
〃Ladies and Gentlemen;〃 cried the Colonel; beaming upon the company; 〃allow me to propose long life and many happy days for the Major and the Major's wife。〃 And as they drank with tumultuous acclaim; Larry turned and; looking upon the radiant face at his side; whispered:
〃Jane; did you hear what he said?〃
〃Yes;〃 whispered Jane。 〃He said 'the Major。'〃
〃That's nothing;〃 said Larry; 〃but he said 'the Major's wife!'〃
And so together they went to the war。
End