Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-12
TIT FO2 Cat.
A Christmas Story.
BY FRANK PRATT.

CT course. when | tell this story Of
things that happened in the middle west
ern states, / do rot expect people to en-
quire too closely about the exact geo.
graphical position OF the cities where
they happened. | beg the reader not to
try to guess exactly where the two cities
are. They are two cities within half a
days journey of each other. both stand
ON the same river, and each has more
than 100000 inhabitants.
| make no mystery about it. that tlli 3
is tale of a Christmas reconciliation.
know the circumstances because | helped
to make them.
Living ON the border line between two
states, Strong could hardly be expected
to resist the temptation to run off with
Elise Bcrtshaw, cross the lire and marry
her. Nobody knew why her father oh
jected to the match; probably Mr.. Bert
shaw did not know himself; anyhow, the
reasons he gave were simply futile
First, he said Elise was tGo Young;
and that was nonsense, for the girl was
over %, at least she was by the time
she and Strong made that bleak, autumn
afternoon trip across the river into the
next state.
Then he said that Strong was an mn
stable young fellow who didn't know his
own mind; and that. as | was bold
enough to remark to Mr.. Bartshaw, was
quite inconsistent with the fact that
Strong had persisted in his wooing of
Elise for over two years. When | said
that the obdurate and unreasonable pa
rent pulled his gray moustache and def
antly asked me if thought MIR. Strong
could afford TO support wife, and ]
answered that the only trouble about
Mr. Strong was that he had more money
to spend than was good for him as 4
bachelor.
That ended my interview with Elise's
papa, He got out OF temper with me
because his own reasons werv worth
nothing, and | as good as told him so.
and he said | was "a special pleader
term which | suppose he, beng a law
yer, knew the meaning of and that +
was an impudent young man for coming
to him with a brief for Strong iii my
pocket" 1
The funny thing about II was chat IN.
I'll Strong openly appeared as q suitor
for the hand Of Elise, old Bertshaw never
had anything but good TO say OF Strong
always insisted on entertaining Strong
when he went over to that city and nj
ways came to see him when he-old
visited om city For Strong
and | lived, and still live, in the same
city, and in bachelor days we had our
rooms in common.
| would not for worlds have advised
either Strong on Elise Bertshaw to skip
across tue river and make runaway
match OF IL. hate runaway matches. If
only because | think them vulgar By
plainly expressing this opinion to Strong
after he had made up his mind without
my knowledge TO commit the runaway,
| incurred his resentment. He said h.
had intended to ask me to be best man,
but, as | entertained such a contempt for
both her aud him, he could not offend
my fastidious taste.
So it was that Strong went off down
the river to his lady love. went across
the river with her in the evening. mar.
ried her and brought her to our city
without my assistance | might as well
mention here that old Bertshaw refused
to believe this.
/ very soon found some one who hal
assisted them through. That was Polly
Harkms, | would never have suspected
Polly If she had not told me of it her.
self. Here Is The letter | got from her
a week after tho distressing event:
Please come over by an afternoon
train tomorrow aud drop in on me Mt s.
| want to talk to You"
Without the least idea what She want.
ed OF me, | went, and the first thing she
asked me was,
How are the dear young thines?"
III yen mean Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard
Strong | said, Il have not seen them
since they We're made one. They refuse
to include me among their friends"
IN see to that" said Polly. You
didn't act right, but, if youll help me d
little now, Ill get Leonard to forgive
and Elise
Il don't suppose you approve of such
proceedings | said. You wouldn't do
such thing yourself, would youy'
Any way she said, Il wouldn't tell
my friend as you did, that it was vul.
gar after ! knew he was going To do it.
And II YOU care TO know, | suggested
il"
was very much taken aback by this
frank confession Polly Harkins. | be-
lieyc. was Younger than Elise. but she
was supposed by everybody to be a girl
of exceptional good sense and discretion.
and old Bertshaw, in particular. strong
~ favored her as an associate and friend
of his daughter, who, he said. being
motherless girl, needed the companion
ship OF n mature MINI" that was
Polly.
But, in spite OF my feeling of amaze
ment. | said nothing. made no comment
on Polly's statement
| must have looked my feelings, for
Polly said. why? ?" just as if | had
spoken. Then She went on, Il hope YOU
don't think me vulgar. didn't so with
them myself oh, no! Now, in the first
place. You have to promise not 10 tell
a soul that l had ANYTHING To do with
the affair until give you leave, have
quite special reasons Tor demanding that.
You pronises"