Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-13

and loyal boy in future2 We were the
old. affectionate trio again, each con-
stantly doing something to enhance the
happiness of the others. 90 the months
rolled by. Charlie won promotion at the
bank, but In spite Of all this he be-
trayed a restlessness at times which it
was useless for him 10 endeavor TO hide
from me. This was not TO my liking,
and determined TO make him aware Of
the fact at the first opportunity. One
chilly. disagreeable evening in the fall
we We're detained indoors by a depress-
ing drizzle of rain. Charlie could not
entirely Danish his 'blues. " and I took
him in hand. In an hour l had learned
enough 10 satisfy me that he was des-
perately in love with Marion but that
be could not make mp his mind that he
had sense enough 10 make her under
stand his passion. / led him off into a
political discussion and by retiring time
he was glad to drop asleep and leave
the world 10 darkness and 70 me. And
then l planned
The following evening l made an ox-
Gus" T. leave him and posted off 20 call
on Marion. IL was the first time l bad
ever presented myself at her home IN
attended 10y Charlie. 1 saw at once that
she made mental note Of the occur
renee. The evening passed pleasantly
II could have passed in 10 other way in
such girl's society--and | was about
to take my departure
Marion. / said, "you have been as
4 sister 10 ne The deep rc~uect-nav.
affection iu which hold yuu einbold-
ems me to speak to you in confidence on
a subject in which l am profoundly in
terested -
She looked at me very, very seriously.
but said never word. proceeded:
"You and Charlie have h,cn very
quiet about the mntter. did not think
either of you would treat me in that
WAY"
"Why. how you do talk. Jim, Whist
in the wcsii is the matter Goodness
me. what have we what have l done -
Her manner was am92omcut itself
"Why. Marion. yuu two rascals have
il all arranged very nicely. So YOU
think. Nou are 10 slip away and get
married. then return and just knock
me speechoSs with the news.
'WeN, did ever hear such talk in
my liter' She was making the house
ring with hey merry laugh.
"Mv dear girl. let me speak serious
ly. ! have a little secret myself. I'm
going 10 Cuba. 10 be absent quite awhile
several months. in fact. But before /
leave L want 20 see you Charles wife
Now, l want you two 10 get your heads
together and reset that date. bring il
close 10 hand and permit me To witness
the ceremony. Do this just To oblige
me. l haven't broached the subject 10
Charlie. hut I'm going TO do 81 this
very night I'm sure he'll do anything
for me. the dear fellow. and / don't see
why you can't think as much of me
and of my feelings rs he does, do You -
Indeed / don't. she said with
sweet emphasis
When reached home, Charlie looked
up from his magazine and greeted me
with:
''Well. young man, give an account
of yourself. Where have You been To
nightr"
"Been over having talk with Ma
rion
he was all attention.
Been talking mighty seriously To
her. l went on. Subject. matri-
mOny.
1.-The devil you say"
Precisely. Asked her TO get mar
ried.
"H-o-l-y M-o-s-e-sl And may l ask
when this highly interesting event is to
come OFF,"
He never in his life addressed me SO
| deliberately. His sarcasm hurt me. but
felt that deserved il.
whenever You say the word. Char
lie"
"Mey What have TO do with it2''
''Why, can't you see, You idiotic
loVeable old fool? You re the chap who
Is To do the marrying. not me-"
Jim, for heavens sake. speak with
some degree of sense. You haven been
drinking, l know. but you re befuddled
some way, certain Explain yourself.
SIR This just bit savagely.
| couldn't worry him longer. SO |
unfolded my scheme l had simply
paved the way for him All he had To
do was to go to the dear girl and avow
himself like the noble, manly, brave
fellow that he was, and-the minister
would do the rest
Remember what you said to me
that internal hot day in July down in
Nicksburg, Charlie2 You said Obey
orders and trust To me That's all I've
got 10 say to you now. Obey orders and
trust To me.
few evenings following this Seance
Charlie and | made a call ON Marion
l managed to slip away unobserved
Well, you can guess Charlie obeyed me
TO the letter. That was 30 years ago.
Prosperity overwhelmed the couple
with favOrs. He is a director in the
bank, a stakeholder in big corporation
and has a cash account that runs away
off into a string of figures. She is the
same kind. gentle. gracious Marion
Time evidently thinks as much of her
as l do. for he has not placed one gray
hair in her dark locks. They live away
ont III the suburbs. and you will see me
every Saturday in this car ON my way
To spend the Sabbath with Charlie and
Marion-and the rest of the family .
They re all home but Jim He's my
nameSake Jim's inst graduated from