Page:By Sanction of Law.pdf/369

 him in the doorway, touching his arm affectionately.

"Come in children. Come in." Father Buntin noted shrewdly the condition of Bennet's face and commented:

"Youth will ever fight for love, eh, Boy?"—SoBoy?—So [sic] you're running away?—Well, you're both of age and know your own minds."

"Yes, Father, we love and want to marry," Bennet said simply.

"This is a serious step you take. Few young people realize nowadays how serious. They become enamored of a face or the eyes or some other feature and immediately believe themselves in love and want to rush to the altar. Love and marriage are serious things. They present serious problems both of the present and future. Have you considered all these things?"

"We have, Father." Father Buntin looked long and silently at Bennet. "If it were not for the difference in feature I should say I had met you somewhere. Let's see." He stroked his chin ministerially. "Ah—" he sighed. "I have it. Aren't you the young man I met at Charleston, with Dr. Tansey?"

Bennet nodded his head affirmatively. "That's it.—That's it. You're Mr. Bennet.—I sense it all now. You came down here to get a girl. Well, she seems well worth coming for—and fighting for," he added. "I take it you're eloping." Bennet nodded. "In that case you're in a hurry."

"Yes, Father."

"We'll lose no time then. Daughter, step this way.