While Everett Whitmer attended to some personal matters in town, Gene had proudly written the first check on his newly acquired account. He had made it payable to the most prominent jeweler in Kingsford; in his pocket was a lovely wedding ring. In another, longer jewel case was a string of exquisite pearls. He had engaged a suite of rooms at the Hotel Elite and had left his suitcase there. He had even time to make an appointment with the very Reverend Franklin Duncan to perform the marriage ceremony at two o'clock.

Gene's hear pounded rapidly beneath his vest, as he waited in the station with his uncle. The train whistled before coasting in alongside the depot. Everett busied himself in gathering up his belongings, he had been studying some literature concerning things that would be discussed in the meeting at Placerville, he must pack this material, carefully, in his briefcase. There was no real hurry as the train would stop there for at least ten minutes. Gene stood just outside the door of the depot. Laura Mae stepped from the train and came toward Gene, her face beaming with happiness.

"Well, you got here safely," Gene said to her, "Uncle is in here, do you want to see him?" He relieved her of her traveling bag and suitcase.

"It might make things complicated for us, I would rather not see him now. You go to him and I will go to the ladies waiting room until the train goes."

Gene set her baggage back out of the way, where he could watch it and Laura Mae disappeared with the line of passengers without Everett noticing her.

"Board!" the brakeman called as Everett mounted the steps.

"Have a good time, but be careful, my boy," Gene's uncle advised him before he disappeared into the coach. The whistle blew again, a puff of white smoke arose and the train crawled out of town, its noise growing fainter as it acquired distance from the station.

The sun was shining brightly as if it were smiling at the joke the young couple was going to play on Eli Porter. The rose bushes near the depot were in full bloom, bowing gracefully as a gentle breeze passed over them. A bluebird lighted near to bid the visitors to Kingsford, "Welcome!", as Laura Mae stepped from the waiting room and joined Gene in the main station.

"Well, here we are," she laughed, "Now, what are we going to do?"

"Will you want to do your shopping now, before the ceremony?" Gene asked.

"Are you getting a new suit to be married in?"

"I hardly thought it would be a good idea to buy more clothes for the moths to get into while I am away, I may be dressed in khaki for years. Who knows? Why do you ask me that?" Gene said.

"Well, I would rather be married in what I have on, too; traveling suits are permissible, aren't they?"

"Sure, we have until two o'clock to be ready. I made the hour late enough for you to have time to shop after you arrived if you wanted to," he explained.

"Thanks, Gene, you always remember to do things just right, you have always been so considerate of me," she said, smiling up at him. She looked so fresh and young with just wisps of fluffy golden-brown curls showing where her straight brimmed sailor hat crushed them down. She wore a navy-blue jacket and a skirt of serge, with a creamy white silk waist showing were the jacket opened in the front.

"What shall we do until two o'clock? Anything you say goes, you know,"

Gene said.

"Oh, what shall we do? We could go sightseeing or window shopping or something like that." She was not sure what she would like to do. Suddenly, she remembered a conversation she had overheard once.

"There is a place I should like to visit and that is the City Public Library, I have heard that it is wonderful for a city of this size."

"Very well, I will take you there and any other place you would like to go," Gene assured her. "We had better stop at the Court House on our way. We will need a license, you know," he said, blushing shyly. "We will have to bribe them not to put the news in the papers."

A taxi was summoned and directed to the Hotel Elite, where Gene had Laura Mae's baggage taken up to their rooms. From there, they went to the Library. They were both very much interested in good books and enjoyed being where there were so many. Laura Mae's keen eyes observed every detail.

"I would just like to spend all the time that I would like in here." She sighed deeply.

"I would, too, if you could be here with me."

When they left the building, Gene asked, "Now where shall we go?"

"There is a park not far from here that is a pretty place to see," Gene suggested; he was well acquainted with the city.

"Oh, I would love to see it." Laura Mae was so happy and proud, as she walked by her lover's side until they came to Patricia Lane's Park. They entered and decided to look at the zoo first.

"Gene, what kind of animal is that?" The girl's eyes were wide with interest and curiosity as they stepped closer.

"It says that it is a coyote, but it is a little different color from any that I have ever seen."

"I've never been lucky enough to see the wild ones, but I have lain awake at night lots of times and listened to them howl among the willows along Cotton Creek. From the noise they make I imagined that they are larger than that."

"This is only a young one, about half grown, I would say," Gene explained.

"Oh, I see," she answered. It seemed to her that Gene knew everything and she did not know very much; he never made fun of her for not knowing the thing he knew, but was kind and always glad to tell her what he knew in his easy straight forward way. This they went from one cage to another, looking at the lions, tigers, and bears, commenting on each.

"Oh, Gene, look at the seal swim." She tugged excitedly at his arm. "Ooh! I was sure it was going to smash its head against the cement, but I guess it knows just how far to go."

"Yes, it learned that from experience. Shall we go and see the birds? They have a good variety."

"Let's do! You know how I love birds." Laura Mae's heart suddenly felt so light that she put her hand over it to make sure it had not gone out of her body into space; no, it was there, but it was all in a flutter. She was not just sure whether she felt an urge to giggle or cry as she happened to remember why she and Gene were together in Kingsford.

"Oh, look, Gene, there is a pond and row boats!"

"I was going to have shown that to you next, how would you like another boat ride like the one we had up at Sulphide Springs that time?" He smiled at the memory of their first boat ride together.

"I would like to have another ride, only make it last longer than that one did, Miss birch won't be here to wave us to come to shore."

They secured a boat and went rowing out over the calm blue water, with a refreshing breeze blowing across their faces, it was fun to drift like that, thinking only of the present. There had been some unhappiness in the past and with the war and unseen things ahead there might be unhappiness in the future.

At length Gene looked at his gold watch, which had been a graduation present from his uncle, "Gee, honey, we had better be getting back to earth, it is almost time for the big event of the day."

"Gene, is it nearly two o'clock already?" Laura Mae was surprised. Time always had to pass so fast when she and Gene were together, the day would soon be spent and she would have to tell him goodbye.

"We will just have time to get to the Reverend Duncan by two o'clock if we get a cab," Gene told her and turned the boat around to row toward the landing.

The urge to either to giggle or cry still gripped Laura Mae as she walked up to the cobbled walk to Reverend Duncan's house, that stood in the shadow of the gray church house, with windows of bright colored glass. She was holding Gene's arm; it made her feel just a little more secure.

A simple ceremony was performed, with Mrs. Duncan and the Reverend's sister acting as witnesses. The lovely little ring was placed on the girl's finger. Then the minister said, "As this ring was placed on the girl's finger, then as the gold in it will not tarnish, neither shall the love these young people have for each other tarnish as the years pass on." The gentle minister blessed them, wishing them all the success and happiness the world could give.

The happy newlyweds went to the café where Gene had made reservations for a table in a private serving booth. He had ordered roses to be used as decoration on the table, where a wedding dinner was to be served for two. He had sent roses and Bridal Wreath to their room in the hotel.

They were very happy as they sat in the café looking across the narrow table with its crystal-like goblets and shining silverware, into each other's eyes. Gene reached out and took one of Laura Mae's soft warm hands into his own and gave it a loving squeeze.

"My Bride, you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen I love you so much! Why have you never given me a picture of yourself in return for the one I gave you two years ago?"

"Father had us have family group pictures taken, but he has always been opposed to us girls having individual photographs, but at school last winter, we had to have our pictures for the annual book. I brought one of them for you to have if you would like it." Laura Mae opened her purse and handed a postcard-sized picture of herself to Gene.

"Thanks, dear, I shall keep it always. Aren't you going to autograph it for me?" he asked when he noticed that there was nothing written on the picture.

"Oh, surely, I forgot." He handed her his fountain pen and as she was writing, "Lovingly, Laura Mae," Gene took from his pocket a clean, white card.

"I would like to see how your new name looks written by you." Gene smiled as he made the suggestion. The girl took the card and with perfect penmanship, she wrote, "Mrs. Laura Mae Whitmer," and below it, she wrote, "Mrs. Eugene Whitmer."

"Fine!" Gene exclaimed. "That certainly looks good to me, I will keep it as a keepsake, a souvenir is priceless!" He put the card and the picture into his inner coat pocket. "By the way, I have something else here that you may want me to give back to you."

"What is it?" She was eager to know what he had.

"Do you remember what you said about this once a long time ago?" He took from his pocket the card that had held a little gold dramatic club pin all those years, from the time they were in high school. "You said that when you took it back, our friendship would either be ended or else it would be clinched together securely. Do you want it now that we're married?"

"Gene, does that little pin mean anything to you, having had it all this while?" she questioned.

"Yes, it means a lot to me, Laura Mae."

"Then keep it, I want you to have it."

"Thank you, sweetheart, I shall wear it in the thickest fight in France id I ever get over there." His remark made the bride look very sad. She had been so happy all day long that she had almost forgotten that there was a horrible war. If the waiter had not brought in a bounteous tray just then, she might have found herself in tears. No, she would eat and be cheerful. No matter what sorrow the future might bring, she must make this day as near perfect as possible.

When the meal was finished, they went shopping. Laura Mar would have to keep her word and buy some new dresses to take with her to Denver. They visited several shops together. They found two dresses in which Laura Mae looked the most beautiful. One was a lustrous, white satin evening gown, with twinkling spangles on it. The other was an Alice blue frock, for afternoon wear. They were the two dresses that Gene liked best and Laura Mae liked them too, but when she learned the prices, she knew that she could not get them with what her father had allowed her for dresses.

"If they are the ones you like best, I will pay the shop keeper for them now," Gene said aside to Laura Mae, "But if you do not like these, we can look somewhere else."

"Why, Gene, I will pay for them, I can't let you buy my dresses."

"I would like to know why you can't; I am your husband, am I not?"

"Of course, you are, my dear, but Father gave me the money to buy my dresses," she insisted.

"Get you some others with that, then, these will be from me." Gene convinced her that he had the right to buy things for his wife, so they took both of the pretty dresses.

The clerk, in the Hotel Elite, eyes the young couple closely, with an unconcealed grin on his face, as Gene checked out the key to the rooms he had engaged. He put his pencil back of his ear in its customary position and watched the newlyweds' step into the elevator and disappear. It always gave Laura Mae the feeling that the door of the elevator was the mouth of a huge monster, yawning, and whomever anyone walked into that mouth the hungry jaws always closed behind them. The dizzy feeling the elevator gave her was swallowed up by joy.

"Gene, it's gorgeous! I never expected anything so-so nice," her voice was just a little bit unsteady.

"Our wedding night only comes once, you know, dear, I am glad you like it here." Gene was proud to be able to make his wife so happy, he could not have spent so much money if it not been for the inheritance.

"And flowers-they are lovely- I adore them, Gene, it is all too perfect to be true," she said as she removed her hat and laid it carefully on the dresser, then fluffed up her hair while she glanced at her reflection in the mirror.

"I got these for you to wear to the theater tonight, sweetheart," he said as he drew the long jewel case from his pocket and opened it before his bride, standing there so young and beautiful, her eyes wide with excitement at the happy surprise.

"Gene, dearest, how can I thank you for-for everything!?" Tears welled up into her pretty brown eyes; it was almost too much for her, too much joy all at once. A sob shook her body. Gene saw the tears forming and caught her in his arms.

"What is the matter, dear?" he asked sympathetically.

"I'm-I'm so happy I want to cry," was all she could manage to say. He crushed her gently to him, stroking her fluffy, golden-tinted hair. He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her eyelids, while tears dropped one by one onto the creamy white silk blouse, she relaxed in his arms. "I have a right to let him love me now," she thought, "It is none of Father's business we are married, he is my husband and I am his wife."

"I didn't know that you were crying because you were happy. I thought perhaps you were sorry already that you had married me," Gene remarked, smiling, as he led her to the lounge where she might rest. He sat on a huge plush cushion at her feet, where he could hold her hand and look into her eyes so full of love for him.

"Gene, I am sure I will never be sorry that I have married you, never, never!" She smiled at him and wiped away a lingering tear.

"Maybe your father will be able to convince you that I am the worthless infernal whelp he thinks that I am, then you will be sorry," he teased.

"Did Father ever call you that?"

"He was so angry the day I went out in the field to ask him for his consent to marry you, that I hardly think he knew what he called me, but I have wondered dozens of times since just why it is he hates me so.

"If he called you an infernal whelp, I shall never forgive him for it," she said with a spark of fury in her eyes. "He has no reason at all to dislike you. He has been angry at your uncle for years because he won't sell that east strip of timber land, and then you know your uncle belongs to a different church."

"So, he hates me because of an old grudge against Uncle. Someday I will prove that I am a worthy son-in-law. Maybe, he thinks I can't support you. It will be a joke on him when he finds that I have a little money." Gene was grinning, determined that someday Eli Porter would respect him.

"Gene, he will learn to like you regardless of money or anything else if he will just let himself have a chance to get acquainted with you. I think you are wonderful." She patted his wavy hair, then took one of his cheeks in each hand and drew his face nearer so she could put her head down and press her lips to is. "My prince, my gallant prince," she cooed with a smile on her face.

The minutes flew by for the lovers until it was time to dress for the theater. Gene went to his room while Laura Mae washed her face, combed her soft, long hair and changed into evening attire. He came back into her room in time to tie the bows on her satin slippers and fasten the clasp on her pearl necklace.

"You are stunning, sweet," he said as kissed the back of her neck. When they stepped from the taxi onto the sidewalk in front of the Royal Theater, the bright, colored lights dazzled Laura Mae, as they flickered and flashed to make the signs more attractive. Then she imagined she was dreaming, as Gene handed in the tickets and guided her through the entrance, and across soft carpets toward the usher, who showed them their places. Laura Mae found herself sinking toward the plush-backed seat with a soft comfortable cushion. It was restful to be there sitting beside Gene. Her eyes swept the beautiful interior, she noticed the elegant boxes, the arched dome overhead with all its brightly colored paintings. The unique shaded lights along the sides and the rich lustrous curtains on the stage attracted her. She felt a thrill creep through her as the orchestra down in front sent out sweet, harmonious strains of music.

How different this was from the little show back home in Oakdale. Laura Mae compared the two in her mind. Eli Porter thought the picture shows were worldly and unreligious, so Laura Mae had attended only two shows in her home town and to those she had gone on the sly without her father ever knowing about them, for he had thought she was out in the high school building at the time. "Father has always tried to crush joy and happiness for me all through my life if I have either I have to sneak and steal it. The idea of having to steal happiness!" she thought, with a feeling of resentment. "I know Mother's hopes have been badly crushed, too." Hush, she must not think those thoughts about her father; to think of him would spoil her happy day, she must keep her eyes on the screen, for the beautiful curtains had parted and folded back and the show was running. In the darkness of the theater, Gene's hand sought hers and he held it.

Snuggled close to Gene that night, Laura Mae lay with Gene's strong arm under her shoulder, the warmth of passionate kisses still on her lips, she wondered if the day had been real or if it had been only a beautiful dream.