Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Arlington, March 30.

for starting from New York falls on April
g. This is March 80. Giving myself pare
twelve hours to settle my business anairs'
1 can reach Alexandria by Z pm. April l.
which would just allow US time to De coih-
fortably married, catch the 1880 east
bound train, which will put us in New York
by the Sd.
Sweetheart, can't you be ready to marry
me the minute l reach your house! VIII
bring the minister out in the carriage Win
me- and am writing under the same cover
to your father asking him to have the IL
cense ready for me.
Darling, don't say no! What would a
+our of the world be to me without your
This letter will reach Alexandria the night
of the 3lst, and you'll get 1t the morning OF
April l. If you are the kind of girl l. think
you are, you'll live up to your promise.
"WILBUR THoMPKINs.
"P. S-For gracious sake, don't let the
Judge forget the license
This excited scrawl Thompkins carried to
the most office himself not daring to risk the
yery slightest chance of delay by trusting
1t to a street mail box. Then he set ABOUT
Strengthening out his business aHalrs LOT
prolonged absence. He was careful not 10
make the announcement of his matrimonial
plans public among his acquaintance, only
mentioning 1t confidentially at the club 10
a few of his intimates.
In the midst of other preparations ne dld
not neglect to write for the Arlington pa
pers notices worded as he thought, with
elegant reserve, which announced 70 the
world al large the marriage or MISS Eliza
beth Everett of Alexandria to Wnbur
Thompkins of Arlington, on the evening OF
April /. The notices went on to state tnat
the marriage ceremony was SAID at the
home of the charming bride.
He confided his notices to the respective
society editors of the two daily papers, ex-
frOr nlpQgpS
crecy till April 3 when they were to be
published. He ordered copies to be sent
not only to his own friends, but to
those of the young lady whose addresses
were known to him. That nobody might
feel neglected, his foresight caused him to
order a large bundle of them to be mailed
to the bride-elect's mother for distribution
among friends unknown to him. Then,
with the comfortable consciousness that he
had provided against all contingencies, he
went to complete some little purchases at
his haberdasher'S.
Wilbur boarded the train for Alexandria
that night with a comfortab BILE conviction
that he had arranged for everything. He
felt as good as married already. Elizabeth,
he reflected, was such sensible girl she
was sure to fall in with his plans Cad!
but he had forgotten the wedding ring.
Well, he could get 1t in Atlanta, where he
had to wait to change cars
The Everett home in Alexandria was In
the suburbs. There was no suburban mall
delivery, so the daily home coming of
Judge Everett from his office was always
fraught with a little pleasureable excite
ment to his family, particularly to Eliza
beth. Now 1t happened that when he
brought Thompkins' letter in due course
Of mail, Elizabeth was upstairs in her
kimono. She ran to the bannisters. and,
leaning over, called out, ANY mail, papa?"
Miss Elizabeth Everett is honored with
four letters"
'"Oh, please throw them up to me-" she
begged, throwing out her hands to catch
them with a pretty gesture.
Judge Everett separated her letters from
the others, and threw them up to her, one
by one. till he came to the last which
CHANGED to be Thompkins'. That impor
tant letter struck against the oaken facing
Just below the railing, and was DETECTED.
II struck the wall above the top of the
mantel mirror a smart tap, then absolutely
and entirely disappeared.
'It has slipped behind the mirror" said
the sG judge :, ONT D.n, 9" ordered Elizabeth
with the calm confidence of the American
daughter that papa" can do anything
he Is told to do. But Judge Everett proved
unequal to this emergency. The stepladder
and the butler We're called to his aid, but in
vain. The mirror was a handsome, massive
affair. and was not to be moved without
taking down the entire mantel.
elizabeth" said Judge Everett, seating
himself hot and perspiring, on the hatrack,
"if you are expecting a letter that will give
you $40 worth of pleasure I'll telephone for
a cabinet man at once"
Elizabeth dimpled, then pouted. who
was 1t from, papa7'
How do known" he rejoined.
asked.
"Handwritingi Stuff None of your cor
respondents have any handwriting" he an
swered. They all sprawl frightful-looking
heiroglyphics over the paper"
50 the letter, which Thompklns had posted
so carefully, was given up as lost though
Elizabeth, as she went upstairs. gave lin
gering look at the mirror and said visit
fully: "Oh, dear, l wish 1 knew who it's
from"
The ever thoughtful and provident Thomp-
kins. on reaching Alexandria that night,
hurried to hotel. leaving a carriage In
waiting: After arranging his toilet he
rushed to the carriage. He felt a trife dis
appointed that neither Judge Everett nor
his son had met him at the train. AS he
enjoyed the sensation of rapid progress
over the smooth pavement he felt In his
vest pocekt to solace himself with the pres-
ence of the little envelope Containing the
crisp, rustling greenbacks which he ha6
ready Tor the minister's fee. He drew ont
his hand as II he had been stung. He missed
the wedding ring which he had bought in
Atlanta. Neh' III
Best jewelers. store in town." he ordered
eSStedly; as ne thrust his head from the
himself In the blazing interior of Bvno's
fashionable store.
A-a-a ring" he answered the salesman
WISHES. lie felt excited
and he was afraid he showed it. Several
people turned to look at him as he followed
the man to the showcase.
What kind of ring would you like. sir ~
asked the salesman.
Why-er-a wedding ring" answered
Thompkins, turning red.
He thought he heard subdued litter he
hlnd him. He was certain that the blonde
girl showing spoons at the same counter
was laughing, but when he looked severely
at her she appeared so solemn that he felt
more comfortable On the whole however.
ne was anxious to get outside of the lew
elry store. Handing the clerk a bill he
started for the door as soon as he got the
ring.
Hold on. sir!' shouted the clerk. "You'r re
leaving your changer and he held out $40
conspicuously.
Instead Of feeling properly grateful tn
/ him. Thompkins was conscious Of keen de-
sire to lay the officious fellow low. Give II
! to the poor,' he growled charitably. pull
l Ing away from the clerk. and sprinting for
his carriage He hoped the clerk would
think him an imbecile millioaire. His hopes
! were partly realized but 1t was just as well
for his feelings that he didn't know which
part.
, He proceeded thence to the office of the
Avalanche Here he left one Of his neatly
! prepared little marriage notices such as he
/ had given the Arlington papers Elizabeth
had such short time for her arrange
ments." he refected-this thoughtful
rNr,z ttx = e t~.xN 49,