Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
IS UPSTAIRS"

aware dat you is an Ap'l fool"
Thompkins, already irritated almost tc
knocking message save wanton insult. Elk
cusing himself to the puzzled preacher, he
hurried downstairs and met Norton in the
hall.
Il suppose you've had Miss Elizabeth'a
messenger" said Norton. What are you
going to dor
DO? When mans been insulted by q
woman as l have, there's but one thing to
do, and that's to get OUT
wei, don't see what you expected
when you tried to marry a girl without
counting her first returned the other man.
by jingo!" said Thompkins wrathfully
I've done all the counting I'm going tc
do"
You've got to wait and have talk with
the judge" said Norton.
Look here, Norton said Thompkins
I've got round-trip ticket for tour OF
the world to last 179 days. I thought was
glad I had 1t before, but, Lord! man,
wouldn't take millions for 1t now. My pres
ent ambition is to get clean to the end OF
the world and fall off. Give Stivers his fee
and explain matters to him like a good fell
low" and literally tearing himself loose
from his friends OBTAINING hands, Thomp-
kins hurried down the steps to his carriage
All through that melancholy night on the
sleeper, whenever he thought Of the mar
riage notices in the morning papers, he
pulled the blanket up over his head and
groaned aloud.
Thompkins, however, was not the only
man who was uncomfortable that night.
Norton and the Rev. Mr. Stivers had q
pretty bad quarter of an hour themselves
while awaiting the return of Judge and
Mrs. Everett from the theater. The Judge
was Infatuated, and 1t occurred to Norton
that Thompkins was lucky to have had a
round-trip ticket around the world Mrs
Everett, like the accomplished woman OF
the world she was, maintained her poise
"of course, Elizabeth she said, you
you let him go without an explanation?"
Explanation, the devil!' roared the
judge.
II wouldn't have listened to word from,
| him for anything" said Elizabeth
You and your father would be very in
teresting in novel," said Mrs Everett
with the same cool decision; but all this
! high and mighty nonsense is nothing but a
| stumbling block In real life. The only thing
| for you to do Is to become Mrs. Thompkins
soon as possible
| The judge and Elizabeth were too much
astonished for utterance. Mrs. Everett CON
tlnued: Your father must telegram al
| once to Mr.. Thompkinss family and find
| out at what point he expects to land. Their
We must wire him to wait there till we ioir
| him with Elizabeth. Once we arrive. we
must insist upon an immediate maria pe
| The young people can then settle ii wifi
| themselves whether they complete the ton,
| together or whether they separate imme.
aiateiy. IN the latter case. we will remain
| l.
society good deal OF forgetting can be
zone IN year. am sure we can trust tho
nonor OF these two gentlemen to assist u,
| lence." %
| Martha" said the Judge, ..you dom.
seem to realize that our daughter has beer
| insulted!' DSeA
| We'll, II she has, that is no reason wh,
she should be laughed at" answered hi,
| wife ooolly. i'
1t needed only glimpse of the morn,ns
paper with Thompkins startling announce
ment to show the reluctant judge the wis
dom Of his wife's reasoning So Eiizabeth
with her father and mother, started In ho
pursuit Of the bridegroom. '0
| Thompkins. on landing, found a cabl,
message awaiting him. 1t is needless t.
say that Mrs Everett had Composed n
and to this day the cost Of that message /,
a solemn secert in the Everett family. Il
| ran thus:
Horrible mistake. Wait for US wher,
| you are. We follow with Elizabeth on tn,
next steamer. Some explanation must b,
| possible between you two"
Thompkins waited, Of course. That I,
| why the month Of May found Mr. and Mrs
| Wilbur Thompkins at Paris.