The Mock Marriage

"Thus grief still treads upon the heel of pleasure,
Married in haste, we may repent at leisure."--Congreve.

It seemed to Anna when Friday came, that human experience had nothing
further to offer in the way of mental anguish and suspense. She had
thrashed out the question of her secret marriage to Sanderson till her
brain refused to work further, and there was in her mind only dread and
a haunting sense of loss. If she had only herself to consider, she
would not have hesitated a moment. But Sanderson, his father, and her
own mother were all involved.

Was she doing right by her mother? At times, the advantage to the
invalid accruing from this marriage seemed manifold. Again it seemed
to Anna but a senseless piece of folly, prompted by her own selfish
love for Sanderson. And so the days wore on until the eventful Friday
came, and Anna said good-bye to Mrs. Standish Tremont with livid cheeks
and tearful eyes.

"And do you feel so badly about going away, my dear?" said the great
lady, looking at those visible signs of distress and feeling not a
little flattered by her young cousin's show of affection. "We must
have you down soon again," and she patted Anna's cheek and hurried her
into the car, for Mrs. Tremont had a horror of scenes and signals
warned her that Anna was on the verge of tears.