When he woke it was morning and grey clouds were drifting across the sky. Within sight, down a road, a trolley car went past into the city. Before him, in the midst of the marsh, lay a low lake, and a raised walk, with boats tied to the posts on which it stood, ran down to the water. He went down the walk, bathed his bruised face in the water, and boarding a car went back into the city.
In the morning air a new thought took possession of him. The wind ran along a dusty road beside the car track, picking up little handfuls of dust and playfully throwing them about. He had a strained, eager feeling like some one listening for a faint call out of the distance.
“To be sure,” he thought, “I know what it is, it is my wedding day. I am to marry Sue Rainey to-day.”
At the house he found Grover and Colonel Tom standing in the breakfast room. Grover looked at his swollen, distorted face. His voice trembled.
“Poor devil!” he said. “You have had a night!”
Sam laughed and slapped Colonel Tom on the shoulder.
“We will have to begin getting ready,” he said. “The wedding is at ten. Sue will be getting anxious.”
Grover and Colonel Tom took him by the arm and began leading him up the stairs, Colonel Tom weeping like a woman.
“Silly old fool,” thought Sam.
When, two weeks later, he again opened his eyes to consciousness Sue sat beside his bed in a reclining chair, her little thin white hand in his.