Drums Afar An International Romance Author:John Murray Gibbon General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1918 Original Publisher: J. Lane Subjects: World War, 1914-1918 Fiction / Romance / General Fiction / Romance / Contemporary Fiction / Romance / Historical History / Military / World War I Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illust... more »rations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IX AS soon as he heard the news, Charles chased after Kelly to congratulate him. The American's rooms were empty but he was found in Tom Quad on his way from the J. C. R. with a box of cigars under his arm. "Yes, old man," he said, "it's true. I won out after all. At first I thought some other fellow had the inside track, but it was only the fence she put up to keep out the hoboes. You see I don't exactly look like gilt-edged stock, and she could afford to be choosey. She looked like a million dollars to me the first time I saw her -- England certainly is one land for peaches, and Viola is the ultra of the bunch. Lucky? Gee, I should say!" "When is the fatal day?" "Not a day too soon. Her mother said December, but I rooted for July. Got to work off the honeymoon before the Fall and get busy earning the rent. Say, Fitz, old man, I'm counting on you to put me wise to all the rules and regulations." "I'll do my best," said Charles. "Is the ceremony to be in church?" "The betting points that way. Mother-in-law-to-be put me next to a sky-pilot -- friend of the family -- Socialist guy with large feet who preaches hell in Bedford Park -- quite a lively duck who seems inclined to do the trick." "What is he like? Got a black beard?" "That's him. A good scout from the looks of him." "Yes, he is -- I know him. I'll be there," said Charles. When Eights Week came round, Viola arrived with Mrs. Kelly triumphant ch...« less