The Perils of Pauline | Page 8

knows everything I have or ever make is hers, and I can't
think of a more satisfactory way of spending it than on her."
"That's fine, Harry," laughed the father, "you have just the ideal frame
of mind and the proper sentiments for a modern husband. You will find,
too, that women are very reasonable. If a man gives his wife all he
makes, plus the vote, and lets her do just as she pleases -- she'll usually
let him live in the same house with her, and even get up early enough to
see him at breakfast once in a while."
"I agree to everything," declared Harry, with the reckless abandon of
youth in love. "But I want to know how soon Polly is going to marry
me."
Pauline, who had said nothing in answer to the preliminary skirmishes,
now recognized the main attack and opened up in reply.
"I told you I would marry Harry some time, but not for a year or two.
You admitted that a writer ought to see life in order to write well . So
there you are. I must have a year or two of adventure. There are a
thousand things I want to do and see before I settle down as Mrs. Harry
Marvin. Suppose we say two years."
Harry staggered back as if from a blow. Two years! How preposterous!
He couldn't live that long without Pauline. In vain he hurled his protests
and objections. She stood, sweet, unruffled, sympathetic, but as firm as
the Rocky Mountains. The old man listened to the debate for some time

without comment. Then he pressed a button on his desk.
In answer came Raymond Owen, the secretary. He had shown the good
taste to retire from the library as soon as the conversation became
personal. From the vantage point of a room across the hall he had been
quietly listening, and decided it a rather unfruitful piece of
eavesdropping. He appeared the faithful, deferent employee in every
line as he entered.
"Come here, Raymond," directed the old man, as sharply as a
commanding officer, "and you, Harry, and you, Pauline."
They obeyed and quickly lined up before his chair with rather surprised
faces, for Mr. Marvin only called them Pauline and Harry when he was
very serious.
"Raymond, this is the situation: My son loves Pauline and wants to
marry her at once. I have no objection; in fact, I would like to see them
united at once, but Pauline demurs. She loves Harry, but feels she
ought to have two years to see life before settling down. Two years is
too much."
"I should say so," growled Harry.
"But, as my old grandfather, who has been gone these forty years now,
used to say: 'When a woman will, she will, and when she won't, she
won't -- and there's an end on't.' I don't blame her for wanting to have
her own way. It's the only plan I've found to get along in this world, but
you can't have all your own way. You have to compromise. So Polly is
going to have one year -- that's enough.
"During that year, Raymond, I'm going to put her in your care. You are
older and more prudent than either Polly or Harry and will see that she
comes to no harm. Take her anywhere she wants to go -- around the
world if she likes, to do anything within reason. Do you agree?"
Mr. Marvin looked at Owen, who accepted the duty as calmly as if it
were an order to post a letter. Polly also consented after a moment's

hesitation. Harry alone protested and argued. It was a hopeless case and
he yielded to overwhelming odds.
This matter settled, Mr. Marvin's mind returned to the mummy and his
curious delusion that it had come to life. While Owen perused Pauline's
story and that willful young woman herself tried to cheer up her
disconsolate lover, the old man returned to the mummy. He had
searched for the bracelet on the right wrist, but, after all, perhaps the
Egyptian might have slipped it onto her left wrist in her hurry to get
back.
"There it is," he shouted suddenly; "there it is - the bracelet. She wore it
on her wrist and he told her to give it to Polly."
Mr. Marvin held in his hand a bracelet of scarabs linked together. It
looked to him to the very one the reincarnated mummy had worn.
Harry and Pauline in wonder came to him, and it was well they did.
The excitement and exertion had again overstrained his failing energies.
He tottered, and they were just in time to save him from a fall.
It was another of his fainting spells, and they lowered him gently into