between-class students. Three girls in cheerleaders' uniforms pushed by, one beating a tin pie pan with a wood spoon, the other two carrying a big sign advertising a baseball pep rally.
'Does your side still hurt you?' Dorothy asked, concerned for his grim expression.
'A little,' he said.
'Do you get those twinges often?'
'No. Don't worry.' He looked at his watch. 'You're not marrying an invalid.'
They stepped off the path onto the lawn. 'When will we go?' She pressed his hand.
'This afternoon. Around four.'
'Shouldn't we go earlier?'
'Why?'
'Well, it'll take time, and they probably close around five or so.'
'It won't take long. We just fill out the application for the license and then there's someone right on the same floor who can marry us.'
'I'd better bring proof that I'm over eighteen.'
'Yes.'
She turned to him, suddenly serious, remorse flushing her cheeks. Not even a good liar, he thought 'Are you terribly sorry the pills didn't work?' she asked anxiously.
'No, not terribly.'
'You were exaggerating, weren't you? About how things will be?'
'Yes. We'll make out okay. I just wanted you to try the pills. For your sake.'
She flushed more deeply. He turned away, embarrassed by her transparency. When he looked at her again, the joy of the moment had crowded out her compunctions and she was hugging her arms and smiling. 'I can't go to my classes! I'm cutting.'
'Good. I am too. Stay with me.'
'What do you mean?'
'Until we go down to the Municipal Building. We'll spend the day together.'
'I can't, darling. Not the whole day. I have to get back to the dorm, finish packing, dress... Don't you have to pack?'
'I left a suitcase down at the hotel when I made the reservation.'
'Oh. Well you have to dress, don't you. I expect to see you in your blue suit.'
He smiled. 'Yes ma'am. You can give me some of your time, anyway. Until lunch.'
'What'll we do?' They sauntered across the lawn.
'I don't know,' he said. 'Maybe go for a walk. Down to the river.'
'In these shoes?' She lifted a foot displaying a soft leather loafer. 'I'd get fallen arches. There's no support in these things.'
'Okay,' he said, 'no river.'
'I've got an idea.' She pointed to the Fine Arts Building ahead of them. 'Let's go to the record room in Fine Arts and listen to some records.'
'I don't know, it's such a beautiful day I'd like to stay...' He paused as her smile faded.
She was looking beyond the Fine Arts Building to where the needle of station KBRI's transmission tower speared the sky. 'The last time I was in the Municipal Building it was to see that doctor,' she said soberly.
'It'll be different this time,' he said. And then he stopped walking.
'What is it?'
'Dorrie, you're right. Why should we wait until four o'clock? Let's go now!'
'Get married now?'
'Well, after you pack and dress and everything. Look, you go back to the dorm now and get ready. What do you say?'
'Oh, yes! Oh, I wanted to go now!'
'I'll call you up in a little while and tell you when I'll pick you up.'
'Yes. Yes.' She stretched up and kissed his cheek excitedly. 'I love you so much,' she whispered.
He grinned at her.
She hurried away, flashing a smile back over her shoulder, walking as fast as she could.
He watched her go. Then he turned and looked again at the KBRI tower, which marked the Blue River Municipal Building; the tallest building in the city; fourteen stories above the hard slabs of the sidewalk.
He went into the Fine Arts Building where a telephone booth was rammed under the slope of the main stairway. Calling Information, he obtained the number of the Marriage License Bureau. 'Marriage License Bureau.'
'Hello. I'm calling to find out what hours the Bureau is open today.'
'Till noon and from one to five-thirty.'
'Closed between twelve and one?'
'That's right.'
'Thank you.' He hung up, dropped another coin into the phone and dialed the dorm. When they buzzed Dorothy's room there was no answer. He replaced the receiver, wondering what could have detained her. At the rate she had been walking she should have been in her room already.
He had no more change, so he went out and crossed the campus to a luncheonette, where he broke a dollar bill and glared at the girl who occupied the phone booth. When she finally abdicated he stepped into the perfume- smelling booth and closed the door. This time Dorothy answered. 'Hello?'
'Hi. What took you so long? I called a couple of minutes ago.'
'I stopped on the way. I had to buy a pair of gloves.' She sounded breathless and happy.
'Oh. Listen, it's-twenty-five after ten now. Can you be ready at twelve?'
'Well, I don't know. I want to take a shower...'
'Twelve-fifteen?'
'Okay.'
'Listen, you're not going to sign out for the week end, are you?'
'I have to. You know the rules.'
'If you sign out, you'll have to put down where you're going to be, won't you?'
'Yes.'
'Well?'
'I'll put down 'New Washington House.' If the house mother asks, I'll explain to her.'
'Look, you can sign out later this afternoon. We have to come back here anyway. About the trailer. We have to come back about that'
'We do?'
'Yes. They said I couldn't make the formal application until we were actually married.'
'Oh. Well if we're coming back later, I won't take my valise now.'
'No. Take it now. As soon as we're through with the ceremony we'll check in at the hotel and have lunch. It's only a block or so from the Municipal Building.'
'Then I might as well sign out now too. I don't see what difference it'll make.'
'Look, Dorrie, I don't think the school is exactly crazy about having out-of-town girls running off to get married. Your house mother is sure to slow us up somehow. She'll want to know if your father knows. She'll give you a lecture, try to talk you into waiting until the end of the term. That's what house mothers are there for.'
'All right. I'll sign out later.'
'That's the girl. I'll be waiting for you outside the dorm at a quarter after twelve. On University Avenue.'
'On University?'
'Well you're going to use the side door, aren't you?-leaving with a valise and not signing out.'
'That's right. I didn't think of that. Gee, we're practically eloping.'
'Just like a movie.'
She laughed warmly. 'A quarter after twelve.'
'Right. Well be downtown by twelve-thirty.'
'Good-by, groom.'
