-
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
violets, and then ran to
Poughkeepsie in two hours.
Sylvia Preston was a lovely girl, with blue eyes, brown hair, and perfect
figure, clear white skin, and just twenty. She was delighted to see him, and
said she would love to christen the Callisto or do anything else that he
wished. "But I am so sorry
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you are going away," she went on. "I hate to lose you for so long, and we
shall not even be able to write."
"Why couldn't we be married now," he asked, "and go to Jupiter for our
honeymoon?"
"I'm afraid, dear," she answered, "you would be sorry a few years hence if I
didn't take my degree;
and, besides, as you have asked those other men, there wouldn't be room for
me."
"We could have made other arrangements," he replied, "had I been able to
persuade you to go."
"Won't you dine with us at Delmonico's this evening, and go to the play?" she
asked. "Papa has taken
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A Journey in Other Worlds a box."
"Of course I will," he said, brightening up. "What are you going to wear?"
"Oh, I suppose something light and cool, for it's so hot," she answered.
"I'll go now, so as to be ready," he said, getting up and going towards the
door to which Sylvia followed him.
A man in livery stood at the step of the phaeton. Ayrault got in and turned on
the current, and his man climbed up behind.
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
-104-
On turning into the main road Ayrault was about to increase his speed, when
Sylvia, who had taken a short cut appeared at the wayside carrying her hat in
one hand and her gloves in the other.
"I couldn't let you go all by yourself," she said. "The fact is, I wanted to
be with you."
"You are the sweetest thing that ever lived, and I'll love you all my days,"
he said, getting down and helping Sylvia to the seat beside him. "What a
nuisance this fellow behind is!" he continued -- referring to the groom --
"for, though he is a Russian, and speaks but little English, it is unpleasant
to feel he is there."
"You'll have to write your sweet nothings, instead of saying them," Sylvia
replied.
"For you to leave around for other girls to see," answered Ayrault with a
smile.
"I don't know what your other girls do," she returned, "but with me you are
safe."
Ayrault fairly made his phaeton spin, going up the grades like a shot and down
like a bird. On reaching New York, he left Sylvia at her house, then ran his
machine to a florist's, where he ordered some lilies and roses, and then
steered his way to his club, -105-
where he dressed for dinner. Shortly before the time he repaired to
Delmonico's -- which name had
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A Journey in Other Worlds become historical, though the founders themselves
were long dead -- and sat guard at a table till Sylvia, wearing his flowers
and looking more beautiful than any of them, arrived with her mother and
father, and
Bearwarden, whom they knew very well.
"How are the exams getting on, Miss Preston?" Bearwarden asked.
"Pretty well," she replied, with a smile. "We had English literature
yesterday, and natural history the day before. Next week we have chemistry and
philosophy."
"What are you taking in natural history?" asked Bearwarden, with interest.
"Oh, principally physical geography, geology, and meteorology," she replied.
"I think them entrancing."
"It must be a consolation," said Ayrault, " when your best hat is spoiled by
rain, to know the reason why. Your average," he continued, addressing Sylvia,
"was ninety in the semi-annuals, and I haven't a doubt that the finals will
maintain your record for the year."
-106-
"Don't be too sure," she replied. "I have been loafing awfully, and had to
engage a `grind' as a coach."
After dinner they went to the play, where they saw a presentation of Society
at the Close of the
Twentieth Century, which Sylvia and Ayrault enjoyed immensely.
A few days after the Delmonico dinner, while Bearwarden, Cortlandt, and
Ayrault sat together discussing their plans, the servant announced Ayrault's
family physician, Dr. Tubercle Germiny, who had been requested to call.
"Delighted to see you, doctor," said Ayrault, shaking hands. "You know Col.
Bearwarden, our
President, and Dr. Cortlandt -- an LL. D., however, and not a medico
."
"I have had the pleasure," replied Dr. Germiny, shaking hands with both.
"As you may be aware, doctor," said Ayrault, when they were seated, "we are
about to take a short trip to Jupiter, and, if time allows, to Saturn. We have [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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