her Tabitha or Gloriana had been on the ocean;
and with rapturous hearts they drank in every detail of their brief
trip, counted the flying fish that darted out of the water on either
side of them, watched the foam dashing high against the bow of the
vessel, wondered at the long ribbon of silent water which the ship left
in its wake, and were sorry when suddenly Myra called, "There's the
island. We are almost there. Now for the fun! There's a bride and
groom on board."

"How do you know?"

"Didn't you hear the whistle blow?"

"Sure, but I supposed it was to tell the islanders that we were coming.
Doesn't it always whistle?"

"Yes, but not like it did just now. That's the way they have of
letting the folks at Avalon know when there is a recently married
couple on board. Then the men are ready and waiting at the dock with a
wheelbarrow."

"A wheelbarrow! What on earth do they want of a wheelbarrow?" demanded
both girls at once.

"Just for fun. They cart the groom all around the island in it and
make a fearful racket. Regular chivari."

"How mean!" cried Gloriana compassionately.

"Oh, it's fun," Myra declared. "They like it. I believe an Avalon
citizen who didn't get treated that way would feel insulted, really.
Here we are at the landing, and there is the wheelbarrow brigade. It's
Murphy, the ice-man, who got married this time. See, he's as proud as
a peacock at the prospect."

"Yes, but look at the poor little bride," said Gloriana indignantly.
"She is scared stiff."

"Bet she's game," replied Myra, after a quick scrutiny of the little,
shrinking woman, clinging to the arm of the big, burly Irishman, as
they stepped briskly down the gangplank.

"Do they put her in the wheelbarrow, too?" cried Tabitha in amazement.

"Oh, dear, no----"

"They will this one," said the bride with startling suddenness, having
chanced to overhear both question and answer. "If they cart my Pat
around town in that kind of a rig, they cart me, too." And to the
delight and amusement of the crowd gathered to greet the _Cabrillo's_
passengers, the little lady tucked herself in the barrow beside her
husband and was trundled away by the surprised citizens, who had never
wheeled just such a cargo before.

"'Here comes the bride'," a voice began to sing; the crowd took it up,
and amid a shower of bright-colored confetti, the plucky bride
disappeared down the street still seated beside her smiling Pat.

So intent was T