“‘Washington, D. C.—July 7—The British ambassador has just given out the following cablegram received from the Governor-General of the Bermuda Islands:—‘Please announce to press the marriage this morning in St. John’s chapel, Hamilton, of the Hon. Elizabeth Ardsley Ashley, eldest daughter of Lord Norbonne, Bart., of London, England, to Robert Benjamin Wilkins, Jr., only son of Robert Benjamin Wilkins, Sr., of Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. The ceremony was entirely informal.’” “I’m ordering three thousand words from our Bermuda correspondent,” went on Lindsay, “and I’m having London break the news gently to dear, old dad. I suppose if I came down on Sunday with the wife and the kiddies you could slip us into a few of your side-shows.” “Say,” responded Jimmy exultingly, “you’re goin’ to get a life pass good for each and every attraction within the big enclosure.” As he hung up the telephone and swung around in his swivel chair the door leading into the hall opened ever so gently and the pale and tear-stained face of Lolita Murphy peered through the opening. Jimmy gazed at her, open-eyed, as she came slowly into the room. He noticed that she had a crumpled bit of paper in her hand. “Jimmy,” she said timidly, as she held out her arms in appealing suppliance, “I’m just a—just a foolish small town kid. I didn’t understand—I didn’t understand.” Jimmy, in a daze, took the paper which she held towards him. It was another cablegram. He smoothed it out and the peace that surpasseth understanding settled down upon him as he read these words: HAMILTON, BERMUDA. LOLITA MURPHY, JOLLYLAND PARK, CONEY ISLAND, N. Y. WON’T IT EASE YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT A LITTLE TO KNOW THAT THE MAD IMPULSIVE THING I DID YESTERDAY AND THE RASH ACT I HAVE JUST COMMITTED IN THE CHAPEL HAVE TRANSFORMED ME INTO QUITE THE HAPPIEST WOMAN ALIVE—BOBBY HAS TOLD ME ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING AND HE FEARS THAT YOU MAY THINK YOUR FRIEND MR. MARTIN HAD A FINGER IN THE PIE—HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, MY DEAR—IT WAS JUST FATE. OUR BEST REGARDS TO YOU BOTH. ELIZABETH ASHLEY WILKINS. McClintock, coming into the room just then, tip-toed out again and closed the door softly behind him, thus proving himself to be a gentleman of singular tact and discretion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chapter Six