"I presume you consent?" the judge asked, with a smile at the girl.
"I—I want to be happy," she said, simply. Her bosom was heaving, her pansy eyes were fastened upon the magistrate with a look of pleading that drove the smile from his lips. She clung to Anthony's arm as if she feared these strangers might tear him away.
"You understand, Judge, she's of age; so am I. They want to force her to marry a man she doesn't—"
The muffled strains of music ceased. There came the faint clapping of hands.
"Madre de Dios!" Miss Garavel cried. "We are too late." She beat her little palms together in desperation.
There was a breathless interval. Then the music began again, and to its throbbing measures the marriage ceremony was performed. As the last word was pronounced, Mrs. Runnels burst into tears and hid her face against her husband's breast. Runnels himself held forth a shaking hand to Kirk, then patted the bride clumsily upon her shoulder.
"I know you will be happy now, Mrs. Anthony," he said.
With an incoherent cry of delight, Kirk folded his wife in his arms, and she kissed him before them all.
"Senor, I will love you always," she said, shyly.
During the progress of this scene, Allan Allan of Jamaica had stood frozen with amazement, a door-knob wedged firmly into the small of his back, his eyes distended and rolling; but when Mrs. Runnels collapsed, as at a signal he too dissolved in tears.