Show F with an W ag ajeh banners tot B DanL 1 leers bu 13 i emilia E mili e lorina I 1 Q emilie loring service CHAPTER XVI continued 24 I 1 m I 1 in modeling for the last time can t you get out of if it no that s decisive I 1 have a pres en ent ifor for you but this doesn doean t seem to be jast the moment to produce it you seem to dislike me more than ever I 1 thought we might play round together if you can t or wen t III join a bunch of friends who wanted to date me up for some eort sort of fete this afternoon they were all excited about a plan to surprise somebody about something I 1 didn dian t listen I 1 was anxious to lo 10 cate you see you tonight be fore I 1 leave brooke the sky was like a huge sapphire the sunshine was rose tinted the ocean a tumbling mass of emeralds A fragrant breeze a mere tion of a breeze ruffled the bright orange flame vine on top of the high spanish wall which enc loed three sides of a garden open to the sea a garden filled with tables set in gay borders which were filmy rocks frocks there were faces above the tables faces under large hats and men s faces with no hats at all from a moorish gallery drifted male voices singing to the accod pani tiani ment of guitars as brooke stepped from the automobile which had brought her to the charity fete cartons tons inc had staged the wed ding party of the style show with meticulous attention to detail even to sleek chining cars to bring the bride and bridesmaids to the ornate grilles which w K ore re the garden gates Ile reporters porters were there and camera men hordes of them all the frills and appurtenances of a wedding ex capt groom and ushers madame celeste chic in black and pearls was flushed with excite ment under her make up her french accent was noticeable for its absence as she whispered last instructions wait until the singers stop girls the e moment the orchestra strikes the first note of the wedding march start don t get flustered don t get out of step you re all lovely P A violin sighed a soft note others joined until strings and harps and woodwinds swelled into the wedding march from lohengrin bridesmaids their lips carlet their eyes shining between dark masca raed lashes passed between the iron grilles and moved slowly up the ribbon outlined aisle drag ging their gold slippers a little in time to the rhythm of the in music and the swish of their taffeta slips the first two were dressed sed in bil lowy rose orange net behind them at a short distance came two more in a lighter tint then two in soft t yellow then a fourth pair in ivory and then the bride in snowy satin SQ soft in texture that it trailed in ishma folds slowly she came with head slightly bent eyes ably on the mass of white trans laal vaal daisies and stevia she carried brooke felt the surge of motion as everyone stood up a tribute to madame celeste s stagecraft the wedding procession was so perfect that habit had brought the audi ence to its feet she must keep her attention on the girls in front why had mark trent come to palm beach this heavenly musie made one all trembly inside would she never reach the spot where she was to turn three stairs to mount be fore she reached it something pulled at her eyes like a magnet she looked up A group of men was standing near the step all wore white suits with blue shirts and identical ties of java print each one had a boltonn ere of deep blue bachelor buttons in the lapel of his coat all were smil ing broadly she could feel the r re pressed excitement mark trent was with them his face went col orless with surprise as his eyes met hers in the instant before she bent her head again why was he here was this the fete a bunch of friends had urged him to attend the stairs onel two three she was up the bridesmaids had deployed to face the audience she had almost thought congregation the orange color frocks were at the ends of the semi circle the tints paled till they came to the snow white bride her veil had been thrown back time for her to turn the music swelled into a paean of triumph it looked miles to the iron grilles beyond which stood madame celeste she was safely down the steps she mut smile ready she heard the whispered word saw the men in white who had been standing beside the stairs hurdle the guarding ribbon one offered his arm to her urged huskily quick 1 let s put it through she looked up mark trent all the bitterness and pain went out of her heart it was as if a great wall she had built between them had crumbled to a heap which she could cross in a flare of gorgeous happi ness she slipped her hand under his arm I 1 it would be you she said and smiled in the second before they were in step with the music be hind her she heard peals of laugh ter girls voices men s voices then applause A woman called how ilow price priceless lessl the men are coming out with the bridesmaids bridesmaid sl brooke stopped at the intricate iron grille she withdrew her hand from trent s arm walked back a step or two dosed her bouquet among the bridesmaids waited to see it scatter in four parts turned and ran out through the gateway to the limousine reporters and camera men flocked after her machines clicked mark trent fairly lifted her into the car he blocked the door from cun curl ous eyes as he bent forward and kissed her on the lips it was a ten der kiss there was reverence in it there was a promise in hie hi eyes but laughter in his voice that s an important part of the ceremony isn t it ita hold out your left hand brooke he pressed a ring on her finger this is what I 1 had for you he turned away as madame ce leste hurried up back to the salon she gave the order to the chauffeur with the air of a queen on location she pushed aside billows of tulle and sank into the seat beside brooke who hid her left hand in the satin folds As she drove home from car ston s inc dressed in the tweeds in I 41 I 1 V 41 it would be you o 0 she said which she was to travel brooke kept looking at the ring on the third fing r of her left hand the soft flush of a tropical evening was stealing forward when she entered the patio the glamour of night was settling over the dark mystery of the sea the afterglow turned the masts of the distant yacht to red gold birds twittered sleepily the fronds of the royal palm stirred gently A man who was pacing back and forth came to ward her quickly brooke brookes s pulses which had been none too steady broke into a quickstep I 1 thought you would be flying through the air by this time mark she tried to say indifferently did you think I 1 would leave leaie my bride she avoided his disturbing eyes bride the wedding party turned into a not riot didn dian t it ita it was fun great theater just a minute dearest stop and get your breath while I 1 explain my part of it I 1 told you that I 1 met some men I 1 knew this morning they were all excited over a plan to surprise a wedding party at a fashion show with groom and ush ers they were a lot of boys all set for a lark made me feel young just to listen to their fooling when I 1 found you wouldn t play round with me I 1 joined them I 1 didn dian t know till the last minute that picked me for the groom not a tactful selection and I 1 refused the honor but when I 1 saw you coming up that aisle well they would have had to battle over my dead body to take my place forgive me will you his caressing voice sent a ripple along brooke s veins there s nothing to forgive I 1 thought it was fun then we 11 let that ride for the present we ve got to hustle I 1 have a message for you from your mother from mother where did you get it how you dearl I 1 phoned her ten days ago phoned I 1 not to england to england it s being done some you know of course I 1 know don t don t be 0 o wooden wooden his laugh sent brooke s hands behind her to clasp each other first I 1 was a silent policeman now I 1 in wooden that also we will take up later I 1 didn dian t know what you had written your mother about the new will I 1 thought she should understand that your income was the same as when she left otherwise she might not dare spend money to rush home for the premiere of sam s play this week it is not the same as when she went away your mistake it is she ar rives in new york tomorrow tomorrow Tomor rowl 1 I 1 don t care what it costs fly I 1 thought you d feel that way I 1 have reservations for us for the night plane he glanced at his watch throw some things into a suitcase air weight remember I 1 have a car outside we have just time to make the flying field was che he real was anything real brooke asked herself as the auto mobile burned up miles and the broad road flowed away from it it was alive enough now the palm beach world was hastening to eat drink and be merry above t through rough the warm black velvet dome dripped a million or two stars A magic night shining auto mobiles gracefully long and low others silent powerful fast pro vided glimpses of gay wraps films of chiffon glints of lame smooth heads waved coiffure sparkling jewels the sombre black of eve ning clothes chairs propelled by boys with faces dark as chunks ol 01 obsidian held gayly appareled oc capants she glanced at mark trent beside her was he real As if he had divined her question he touched the ring on her left hand like it Is it big enough gorgeous enough it s perfect then you 11 wear it always wont you you know that I 1 love you have loved you from the moment I 1 caught you up from in front of that roadster that I 1 want you to marry me don t youa you you didn dian t think for a minute that I 1 would leave you behind here did you his hand tightened on her here he caught her close his eager ardent lips on hers stopped her unsteady voice the car drew up with a jerk the driver pulled open the door we made it boss he stopped put his full moon face into reverse reminded over his shoulder you ve got three minutes boy waiting for your bag if you ve decided not to go mark trent jumped out turned to brooke coming she put her hand in his 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