Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-01-10
A MOCK MARRIAGE.

~ 0h "0AO "a VIA PPOD4V0 olAlC0
of the reading table at the club, gazing
out of the window at the rain that was be.
ginning to fall.
That was all that was wanting. What
could they do now?
They were i~nseparable friends, of the
sort that come finally to have the same
ideas, gestures, ever to resemble each
other physically, belonging to good fam
lilies, too fine and too lazy to work, not
smart enough to have any occupation
whatsoever.
II have an idea" said N. Lets go
and see T."
4. was painter. For several successive
winters he had painted nothing but por-
traits Of Maria, but for some time past he
had given it up. Lately, however, she
and Il. were again friends, and he painted
her ono more in all sorts of poses.
The two friends called on T. and in the
course OF the visit told him that he ought
to marry.
Lets have u sham wedding for a prac-
teal joke" said 7. II will be the groom"
"And we will be the witnesses" said
the others.
s'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 a dig of his elbow.
1.-The mayor" echoed tho friends once
more, somewhat alarmed, but not daring
to say SO.
The same. The venerable marchese,
senator of the kingdom, with his white
beard and scars obtained fighting for his
country and the presidency of the old club.
L. seemed entranced with the idea.
ut will be killing. You, N, engage a
couple Of hacks-cheap-and stick bou-
quets of flowers in the windows, and you,
B., engage a room for the breakfast at the
Three Roses. What fun! And there must
be toasts. Don't be frightened. l will be
content with Asti Spumanti. We might
60 afterward to the church to finish. 1
know a little priest in the country, and
when the mayor says. VIII your we will
say, NO. l 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 T.. II will dress G. up as a footman,
with white cotton gloves and false whis-
kers, and hunt up a mother for Maria.
We must order confetti''-
"Who will eat them"
mo matter. Order them all the same.
IT, rpvyct bn xrua11 M rr,iol ont rn r will ho-o
nothing to do with It," The others agreed
with him.
"And when you say No shall we laugh
or make a scenep Which would be best?"
1--WE can arrange that later" said T.
1--WE must have a rehearsal. In the mean
time talk 1t up. And now BECOME. You
have wasted my afternoon. must finish
this priests oassock before dark"
Then T., grasping them both by the
hand, said:
"You are not as enthusiastic as you
were. / wager at the last minute you
back out. You haven't the nerve to see
it through. You are too young"
1--WE? You don't know u.s."
"All right, I will finish up the arrange
ments, and you swear to stand by to the
y,
Three weeks later n, going to see what
3. was doing, met his uncle, the head OF
MS family. 5,
"Arent you IN nm business to stand
up Win tnat clown OF a ~ NO II
knows what he may marry. An honor
able name y K yours demands certain con-
siderations."
~. Is q good fellow, d. is to be OF
the party.
> much the worse for him.. don't
ike this ~, and, moreover, don't see
how the mayor can consent"
IT. is a friend OF theirs. He ia received
everywhere. What would you have when
. friend asks your"
II cannot admire your choice OF friends.
Take my advice and try to get out of 1t"
It's too late now"
A minute later he repeated the dialogue
20 b., whom he found directing invita-
lions. They have said the same things
to me. Let them talk, = said he, shrug-
cling his shoulders, but In his heart he,
too, was bothered. To tell the TRUTH mel
Their n Of them had the courage to face
the tide as In their youth, but to admit 1t
was to acknowledge that they were older.
When did he 9 you the invita-
tionss"
"A couple OF hours ago, with two lists
One for the men and one for the women
q the BILL" N. read aloud:
~. i. requests the pleasure Of your