Free A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin

said I couldn’t make the formal application until we’re 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. We’ll be downtown by twelve-thirty.’
    ‘Goodbye, groom.’
    ‘So long, bride.’
       
    He dressed meticulously in his navy blue suit, with black shoes and socks, a white-on-white shirt, and a pale blue tie of heavy Italian silk patterned with black and silver fleurs-de-lis. On surveying himself in the mirror, however, he decided that the beauty of the tie was a trifle too conspicuous, and so he changed it for a simple pearl grey knit. Viewing himself again as he refastened his jacket, he wished he could as easily exchange his face, temporarily, for one of less distinctive design. There were times, he realized, when being so handsome was a definite handicap. As a step, at least, in the direction of appearing commonplace, he reluctantly donned his one hat, a dove grey fedora, settling the unfamiliar weight cautiously, so as not to disturb his hair.
    At five minutes past twelve he was on University Avenue, across the street from the side of the dorm. The sun was almost directly overhead, hot and bright. In the sultry air the occasional sounds of birds and footfalls and grinding tramcars had a rarefied quality, as though coming from behind a glass wall. He stood with his back to the dorm, staring into the window of a hardware store.
    At twelve-fifteen, reflected in the window, he saw the door across the street open and Dorothy’s green-clad figure appear. For once in her life she was punctual. He turned. She was looking from right to left, her pivoting glance overlooking him completely. In one white-gloved hand she held a purse, in the other, a small valise covered in tan aeroplane cloth with wide red stripes. He lifted his arm and in a moment she noticed him. With an eager smile she stepped from the kerb, waited for a break in the passing traffic, and came towards him.
    She was beautiful. Her suit was dark green, with a cluster of white silk sparkling at the throat. Her shoes and purse were brown alligator, and there was a froth of dark green veil floating in her feathery golden hair. When she reached him, he grinned and took the valise from her hand. ‘All brides are beautiful,’ he said, ‘but you especially.’
    ‘ Gracias, señor. ’ She looked as though she wanted to kiss him.
    A taxicab cruised by and slowed in passing. Dorothy looked at him inquiringly, but he shook his head. ‘If we’re going to economize, we’d better get in practice.’ He peered down the avenue. In the glittering air a tramcar approached.
    Dorothy drank in the world as if she had been indoors for months. The sky was a shell of perfect blue. The campus, unfolding at the front of the dorm and stretching seven blocks down University Avenue, was quiet, shaded by freshly-green trees. A few students walked the paths; others sprawled on the