Then he gave her the great bunch of pink roses he had brought, and explained:
“I have great news, my darling girl. I have just heard that father arrived home unexpectedly last evening, and although it seems strange and rather discouraging that he has not sent word down to me, still I shall do my duty by going up to call on him, and if he has forgiven me I shall bring him down to call on his new daughter. If he should be angry I will soon return alone!” And with a stifled sigh of keen anxiety, he embraced his trembling bride and hurried away.
Left alone, she threw herself down nervously to rest on her couch, quite frightened at the idea of meeting the great, rich senator, her husband’s father.
She need not have been so nervous and uneasy had she but known.
Hours slipped away, and Charley did not return, and her suspense grew almost unbearable.
Mrs. Cline came in at last with such a pale, indignant face that the nervous young bride nearly fainted with dread.
“Something dreadful must have happened to make you look so strange,” she cried uneasily, adding: “I fear you have had bad news for me.”
Her heart nearly stopped its beating when Mrs. Cline answered angrily:
“Bad! I should say so, but try to hear it the best you can, dear young lady, for that high and mighty man, your husband’s father, has had Mr. Charley arrested and clapped in jail on a charge of insanity!”