The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-22

then, collecting himself. added: "Well.
give IL to Mrs. Everett, then"
She's not hyar. neither. sub. Dey
bot have went to the theayter"
Has Miss Everett also gone to the
theatre?" demanded Thompkins, icily.
angrily conscious of the astonishment
depicted on the young clergyman's
fact.
''She is downstairs in de music
ROOM" said Jim.
Thompkins scrubbed a few words
on his card which he told Jim to take
straight to Miss Everett. But Jim
didn't see the use of hurrying him
self too much. The bell had rung in
the midst of a private chat he was
having with the cook over a cold
bottle. Jim meant to be in at the fin
ish of that bottle.
Just as Jim started off on his en-
bassy, Thompkins recognized an old
college chum in young fellow who
strolled aimlessly into the room.
Thompkins with real delight in his
tones. And the strong hand clasp
and hearty "Gadi but I'm glad to see
you, old fellow" of the other was very
welcome.
Say, old man, 1 suppose you know
what I'm here for?" said Thompkins,
with an attempt at easy. POPULARITY.
NO, I'm earned II 90.
Look here. Norton" gasped Thomp-
kins, you don't mean to say that you
don't know that I'm going to be mar
ried here tonight"
1t was now Nortons turn to gasp.
We'll, why in thunder did you come
here to marry?" he demanded.
We'll. where in thunder else could
go to marry Miss Everett?" insquired
Thompkins.
Norton gave a subdued whoop.
''Thompkins, he said solemnly, this
storm party, and I'm the darn fool
that got it up. How on earth am !
going TO get out of this fix2"
"Oh, you won't have any trouble"
said Thompkins. whose spirits We're
nightly revived by what promised
to be an explanation of much that had
puzzled him. "Just pass the word
quietly among the fellows to take off
the crowd, and then go and explain
matters to Miss Elizabeth.
So Norton rushed off to get the
crowd started.
Say" he whispered to the first
man he saw. we've got to get out of
this. We've run in on a wedding, and
it's time now for the ceremony to be
pulled off,"
From group to group passed the
news. Following Norton's advice the
storm party stood not upon the order
of it's going. Leave-taking were dis
pensed with, the girls slipping out
with their escorts through the side
entrance.
Pretty soon Elizabeth, seated at the
piano, was interrupted by the entrance
of Jim with Thompkins' card. When
she stopped playing she was struck
by the hush which had suddenly fallen
upon the house. Not a soul was in
sight, except Norton, who at that mo-
ment entered the music room.
sWhere on earth are all the people"
asked Elizabeth.
"Dey seems to be gone, Miss Liz
buth," answered lin.
"Gone!" exclaimed the young lady,
then stopped to read the few lines
Thompkins had scrubbed on his card.
She could scarcely believe her eyes
as she read.
"I don't want to seem impatient,
dear, but can't you hurry things up
a little? / have brought the Rev. Mr..
Stivers to marry u.s. and the ceremony
had better begin If we are to get that
east-bound train. Have you the Ii
cense?"
Jim" said Elizabeth sharply, "who
gave you this card?'
"One OBJ de gemmen upstairs,
ma'am," answered Jim uneasily.
Mr.. Norton" said Elizabeth, turn
ing to him, maybe you can tell me
who is upstairs now?'
why, nobody but Thonpkins and
the preacher" answered Norton.
DO you mean to say that Wilbur
| Thompkins is upstairs sure enough %
asked Elizabeth, flush rising to her
cheek.
Where else should he be?" replied
the surprised Norton. you don't
know how awfully cut up we all feel
about running in on you tonight. AS
soon as Thompkins told me, advised
the crowd to scatter without stopping
for -takings"
do you mean to tell me, Mr. Nor
ton, that Wilbur Thompkins had the
impudence to bring a preacher out
here, and tell you that he and 1 were
to marry tonight"
Norton backed a step away from
the indignant girl. 81 may be mis-
taken" he said weakly, but that's
what 1 understood him to say"
"Of all the outrageous things" ex-
claimed the girl. Upon my word.
this card is the first I've heard of my
own wedding. Do you think he's gone
crazy?"
Norton thought to himself that it
looked very much that way, but he
said aloud: Hadn't you better see
him?"
"See him. indeed" she answered