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Pickles and Pearls
"Y\ hy — why, I never heard you express yourself like this before !" exclaimed Mr. McTodd.
"Because, papa," explained Lola, "I never felt in this way before. My grievous experiences have taught me a lesson. I am not the wild, harumscarum girl I was a short time ago. Charlie rescued me from the whirling machinery of the works — his strong arm stayed the great wheel, and. I was spared by that act of heroism."
"We give him credit for that," said Mr. McXodd."
"When that awful bomb was in my hands," pursued Lola, "who caught it away and flung it from the window ?"
"Charlie ! Yes, that was Charlie."
"And now," continued Lola, with increasing vehemence, "who has captured a base pretender, single-handed, turned him over to the police, and saved me from a worse disaster than any that had threatened me before ?"
"No one can deny that Charlie did that." admitted Mr. McTodd. "I am indebted to him in many ways, my child."
"Then be kind to him now. papa," begged Lola, "and be kind to me!"
"What's this? What are you thinking of ?"
"I have promised "to be Charlie's bride, and I cannot, oh. I cannot, allow him to go out of my life!"
There was silence, broken only by the twitter of birds and the tinkle of falling waters. Charlie waved his cane in a perturbed manner. He doubted the evidence of his senses. So did McTodd.
"Say that again, Lola," said the pickle king hoarsely.
She repeated her words, deliberately and with emphasis. There was not the least doubt but that lovely Lola McTodd meant exactly what she said.
"But your ambition!" cried her father.
"What is ambition beside love?" the daughter countered.
"My ambition then — the ambition to be appointed purveyor of relishes to his majesty the king!"
"That is nonsense!" declared Lola. "Why should I allow your vaulting, illconsidered ambition to stand between me and happiness ?"
"Well, since you feel that way about it, I can make no protest." Silas McTodd had not yielded without a struggle, but the struggle was over, and his mind was at ease. "I might have known that the prophecy could not be set aside, and that we would have to vield to its relentless decree first or last. Charlie !"
"Yes, sir."
"Your hand."
Charlie put out his hand, and in it the pickle king placed the hand of his loved daughter.
"It is fate," said Silas McTodd resignedly, "and it is impossible to avoid one's destiny by going 'cross lots. Be kind to my dear girl, Charlie." and his voice shook. "This afternoon I will take you in as a partner in my pickle business. When the engagement is announced it will sound better if you can be referred to as the junior partner of the firm of McTodd & Chaplin. 1 hope you young people will be happy !"
The pickle king left them, then. At a turn of the walk, he halted for a rearwa rd glance. Charlie and Lola were in each other's arms ! And Charlie was murmuring, although in a voice which did not carry to any ears but those of Lola's :
"It was a dream, all right, but it has come true !"
"My hero!" murmured Lola
THE END.