* * * * *

When I went upstairs that evening, my wife putting her hair to bed--I don't know how better describe an operation familiar to every married man I waited until the last tress was coiled up, and then I spoke:

"I've talked with Brede," , "and I didn't have to catechize him that some sort of explanation was looked for, and very outspoken You were right children-- , misunderstood him only two But the Matterhorn episode was simple enough He didn't realize how dangerous until he had got that he couldn't back out; and he didn't tell her, because he'd left her here, , and under the circumstances----"

"Left her here ! " cried my wife "I've been sitting with her the whole afternoon, sewing, and she told me that he left her at Geneva, and came back and took her to Basle, baby was born there--now I'm sure, dear, because I asked her "

"Perhaps mistaken when she was side water," I suggested, with bitter, biting irony

"You poor dear, did I abuse you ? " said my wife "But, , Mrs Tabb said that she didn't know lumps of sugar coffee Now that seems queer, doesn't it ? "

It did small thing But it looked queer, Very queer

* * * * *

The next morning, clear that war was declared against the Bredes They came down to breakfast somewhat late, and, they arrived, the Biggleses swooped up the last fragments that remained on their plates, and made stately march dining-room, Then Miss Hoogencamp arose and departed, leaving whole fish-ball on her plate Even as Atalanta dropped an apple behind her to tempt her pursuer his speed, so Miss Hoogencamp left that fish-ball behind her, and between her maiden self and contamination

We had finished our breakfast, my wife and I, Bredes appeared We talked it over, and agreed that we were glad that we obliged sides insufficient testimony

After breakfast, it custom male half Jacobus household around the corner building and smoke their pipes and cigars where not annoy the ladies We sat under trellis covered with grapevine that had borne no grapes memory of man This vine, however, bore leaves, and these, pleasant summer morning, shielded two persons who were in earnest conversation straggling, half-dead flower-garden side house

"I don't want," we heard Mr Jacobus say, "to enter in no man's _pry_-vacy; but want who it , like, that I hev in my house Now what I ask of you_, and I don't want you it as in no ways personal_, is--hev you your merridge-license ? "

"No," we heard the voice of Mr Brede reply " yours ? "

chance shot; but it told all the same The Major ( widower) and Mr Biggle and I looked at ; and Mr Jacobus, other side grape-trellis, looked at--I don't know what--and was as silent were

Where is your marriage-license, married reader ? ? Four men, not including Mr Brede, stood or sat on one side or the other grape-trellis, and not knew where his marriage-license was Each of us had had one--the Major had had three But where were they ? Where is yours ? Tucked in your best-man's pocket; deposited desk--or washed to pulp white waistcoat (if white waistcoats be the fashion hour), washed out of existence-- tell where ? --unless one people who frame that interesting document and hang it upon their drawing-room walls ?

Mr Brede's voice arose, after an awful stillness of what seemed like five minutes, and was, probably, thirty seconds:

" Mr Jacobus, make out your bill at once, and let me pay it ? leave six o'clock train And also send the wagon trunks ? "

"I hain't said to hev ye leave----" began Mr Jacobus; but Brede cut him short

"Bring me your bill "

"But," remonstrated Jacobus, "ef ye ain't----"

"Bring me your bill ! " said Mr Brede

* * * * *

My wife and I went out morning's walk But it seemed , when we looked at "our view," as only see those invisible villages Brede had told us--that other side ridges and rises we catch no glimpse from lofty hills or heights of human self-esteem We meant to stay out until the Bredes had taken their departure; but we returned just Pete, the Jacobus darkey, the blacker of boots, the brasher of coats, the general handy-man house, loading the Brede trunks Jacobus wagon

And, stepped verandah, down came Mrs Brede, leaning on Mr Brede's arm, she were ill; and clear that she crying There were heavy rings about her pretty black eyes

My wife took step toward her

"Look dress, dear," she whispered; "she never thought anything like going to happen when she put that on "

pretty, delicate, dainty dress, graceful, narrow-striped affair Her hat was trimmed with narrow-striped silk same colors--maroon and white--and in her hand she held parasol that matched her dress

"She's had new dress on twice day," said my wife, "but that's the prettiest yet Oh, somehow--I'm awfully sorry they're going ! "

But going they were They moved toward the steps Mrs Brede looked toward my wife, and my wife moved toward Mrs Brede But the ostracized woman, she felt the deep humiliation of her position, turned sharply away, and opened her parasol to shield her eyes sun shower of rice--a half-pound shower of rice--fell down over her pretty hat and her pretty dress, and fell in spattering circle floor, outlining her skirts--and there it lay in broad, uneven band, bright morning sun

Mrs Brede was in my wife's arms, sobbing her young heart would break

"Oh, you poor, dear, silly children ! " my wife cried, as Mrs Brede sobbed on her shoulder, "why didn't you tell us ? "

"W-W-W-We didn't want t-t-taken for b-b-b-b-bridal couple," sobbed Mrs Brede; "and we d-d-didn't dream what awful lies we'd have , and all the aw-awful mixed-up-ness of it Oh, dear, dear, dear ! "

* * * * *

"Pete ! " commanded Mr Jacobus, "put back them trunks These folks stays here's long's they wants ter Mr Brede"--he held out large, hard hand--"I'd orter've known better," And my last doubt of Mr Brede vanished as he shook that grimy hand in manly fashion

The two women were walking off toward "our view," each with an arm other's waist--touched by sudden sisterhood of sympathy

"Gentlemen," said Mr Brede, addressing Jacobus, Biggle, the Major and me, " hostelry down the street where they sell honest New Jersey beer I recognize the obligations situation "

We five men filed down the street The two women went toward the pleasant slope where the sunlight gilded the forehead great hill On Mr Jacobus's veranda lay spattered circle of shining grains of rice Two of Mr Jacobus's pigeons flew down and picked up the shining grains, making grateful noises far down in their throats