The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-12-02
A MOCK MARRIAGE.

lilies, too fine and too lazy to work, not
smart enough to have any occupation
whatsoever.
II have an idea" said N. Let's go
and SEQ T..
r.. was painter. For several successive
winters he had painted nothing but pur-
traits of Maria, but for some time past he
had given it up. Lately, however, she
and II. were again friends, and he painted
her once moro in all sorts of poses.
The two friends called on T. and in tie
course of the visit told him that he ought
to marry.
Let's have sham wedding for prac-
teal joke, " said 7. Il will be the groom. >
"And we will be the witnesses, said
the others.
"And the bride?"
Maria I'll teach her her part. You'll
see she will do it we'll.
Maria" said the others doubtfully.
And the mayor shall perform the cere-
mony," added T., with dig of his elbow.
THE mayor, echoed the friends once
more, somewhat alarmed, but not daring
to say so.
The same. The venerable marchcse,
senator of the kingdom, with his white
beard and scars obtained fighting for his
country and the presidency Of the old club.
T. seemed entranced with the idea.
1T will be killing. You, N, engage a
couple of hacks-cheap-a stick bou-
quets of flowers in the windows, and you,
B., engage 4 room for the breakfast at the
Three Roses What fun! And there must
be toasts Don't be frightened I will he
content with Asti Spumanti. We might
go afterward TO tho church to finish. l
know Il little priest in the country, and
when the mayor says, Will your we will
say, No 1 will see to the certificates
and the announcements, but the people
and the invitations and all that, who will
do that? Come, get some life into you!
1t will be the joke of the season"
You have the invitations printed, >
said N, land we will see to sending them
out"
1T must be a wedding in great style, -
said 7. Il will dress G.. up as footman,
with white cotton gloves and false whis-
kcrs, and hunt up mother for Maria.
We must order confetti
"Who will eat thcm:"
mo matter. Order them all the same.
1t must be well carried out, or / will have
nothing to do with it. The others agreed
with him
"And when you say No shall We laugh
or make a scene? Which would be bcst:'
1--WE can arrange that later" said L
We must have a rehearsal. In the mean
time talk it up. And now begone. You
have wasted my afternoon. l must finish
this priests cassock before dark
Then T., grasping them both by the
hand, said:
You are not as enthusiastic as You
V-f~c I wager at the last minute you
Jacis out. You haven't the nerve to see
it through. You are too young"
I've? You don't know US. ~
'All right, l will finish up the arrange
ments, and you swear to stand by to the
end
Three weeks later N, going to see what
B. was doing, met his uncle, the head OF
his family.
Aren't you in fine business to stand
up with that clown of T.? No one
knows what he may marry An honor
able name like yours demands certain con-
sidGrations."
''T. is Il good fellow, and b. is to be OF
the party"
$50 much the verse for him. 1 don't
how the mayor can consent"
''T. is a friend of theirs. He is received
everywhere. What would you have when
friend asks you:'
~ cannoo admire your choice of friends.
Take my advice ard try to get out of It, j.
Its too late now.
A minute later he repeated the dialogue
to b, whom he found directing invita-.
81 !, d;
to me- Let them talk" said he, shrug.
ging his shoulders but in his heart he.
too, was bothered. To tell the truth, nei
tier one of them had the courage to face
the tide as in their youth, but to admit ii
was 70 acknowledge that they were older.
when did he send you the invita-.
tions?"
"A couple of hours ago, with two lists
one for the men and one for the women
and the bill" n. read aloud:
:" u. L, requests the pleasure of your
company ct his wedding at the office of
the mayor and after at luncheon at the
Three Roses.
There was a silence.
For joke that is not so bad. Who
ever read such an invitation? They will
say that T. could not marry like any one
else
Yes And, silent and serious, they
began to direct in their best handwriting
the invitations.
Did you tell +. what we had decidcd?'
II thought that you were to do that"
All disagreeable things they left to each
other. AT this stage of the game Il.
would hardly accept any change OF pro-
gramme on their part
Ms valet entered. There is a boy
here from the mayors office to collect %
lire"
II do not UNDERSTANDABLE, yes-all
right" and B. hunted for the lire in his
pocket. They continued writing in ST.
ence.
81 say, b., we ought to tell r. that only
Maria had better say No Otherwise the
joke will be too evident"
Eyes, yes. And we can pretend to have
been fooled with the rest. After two or
three months we can say that it was all a
joke"
''Yes. Otherwise it seems to me that it
is little too bad for the mayor and his
wife. -
This idea cheered them up bit.
How do you suppose Il. will like the
idea of our not saying at once that it is a
joke"
"Ho must like it. Otherwise 1 will not
have any more to do with it,
The valet entered again. "There is u
boy here who says he has been looking for
the Signor \. at his palazzo and the club
and the hairdresser's and the cafe, and
finally they sent him here"
"What does he want?''
HE has bill for an order of confetti. 1"
GLOW much is it?''
Sixty three lire"
"Tell him to come to my house tomor-
row at noon. Hang tho billsl This joke
is getting expensive"
Yes. Do you want to stick the stamps
on these invitations? 1 will begin the list
of women. -
''Have you finished the men?"
mo; l only want a change"
AS B. wrote the names of the Baroness
L., of the Countess b., of all the elegant
women in his set, the vision of their
homes, their carriages, their personal Gle
gance, rose before his minds cye-thCir
husbands, the privilege of being received
In their parlors, and then a thought of the
disfavor into which he would fall-and he
had momcntary burst of courage and
tore up the envelopes already directed.
"What arc you doing?" said n.
81 draw tho limo on the women. 1t
would be too impertinent. y lady is al
ways IL lady And then his invitation is
so queer. They would see at once that it
was joke.
"And T.?'
"Wc will say nothing to him about it.
He will think all the invitations are sent
out as he planned"
This new stroke of genius cheered them.
They continued directing the mems inyi-
tations, but never was Joke carried on so