“Alta Lynn, M.D.” — A Novel by Nellie Bly — Chapter One

MARRIED FOR FUN.

“I dare you to marry me — now — to-night!”

Four young people were riding down a country lane — two girls, two young men — when this bold challenge was made.

Three of the merry riders greeted it with wild shouts of laughter. The happy sounds mingled with the jingle of the horses’ hoofs until the wooded hills, then touched by the magic brush of autumn, sent the echo ringing back like elfish spirits jeering at them.

“Take him up, Pet, and let me stand for witness,” the foremost girl rider cried jokingly, glancing over her shoulder at the fair face of her friend.

“Do you dare, Pet?” demanded the handsome young man who had issued the challenge, placing his hand on her horse’s mane and trying to see into the timid, downcast eyes.

“You can dare Pet Darlington out of anything,” the other girl laughed, adding encouragingly to her friend, “Take him up, Pet, and see how quickly he will back out.”

“Alta Lynn, you naughty girl! If I should do such a thing you would be the very first to say I did wrong,” cried Pet in a soft, babyish voice, her lips forming a most bewitching pout above the daintiest dimpled chin in the world.