The day after her decree was granted Georgia Talbot Connor and Mason Stevens went by automobile to Crown Point, Indiana, where, with Albert Talbot and Leila Frankland as witnesses, they were presently assured by a justice of the peace that they now were man and wife. She was compelled to cross the state line for the ceremony because the laws of Illinois forbade her remarriage within a year; and she thought that she had waited long enough, the state legislature to the contrary notwithstanding. The party of four, when they returned to Chicago had a bridal dinner in a private room, with white ribbons and cake. When it was finished Georgia kissed L. Frankland for the second time in their lives. The first time was in the automobile on the way back from Crown Point. "Good-bye, Al," she said to her brother. "You must come to see us in Kansas City soon." "Yes, indeed," said Stevens. "I certainly will," promised Al. "And mama," she spoke a little wistfully, "tell her we'd like her to come too if she would. Tell her, Al." "Yes, all right." "I'll send you something every week for her. Maybe, I'm not sure, maybe I'll keep on working." "Maybe you won't," Mason interjected with conjugal promptitude. "Don't be too sure," she laughed, "and anyway, if you don't behave nicely I can always go back to L. Frankland." When the man and his wife were alone in their room he returned to the moment of their betrothal. "Dearest," he said, "when the priest went out and left us--" "Yes." "I felt almost as if he were trying to lay a curse on us." "Yes, that was the meaning of it." "When he said you couldn't receive absolution." "Yes, our--their teaching is that without absolution a soul in sin is damned eternally." "And you will never be afraid?" he asked, almost fearful of his wonderful new happiness. She pressed her husband's hand against her breast, so that he felt the strong and steady beating of her heart. "No," she answered him, "I will never be afraid. For I believe that God will understand everything." THE END.