The Topeka state journal., 1905-07-24
THE EVENING STORY
From aYoung Mans Diary.

AIOAA a Aoung NAdH ; Oldrys
-. What should ike said Virginia,
is an elopement. Things are so prosy
nowadays"
For me-" said Archie. "a comfort
able wedding, with all my aunts from
the country and plenty of rice"
"Old shoes are delightful, too," L
supplemented. Il remember Andy
Lanes nuptials. One of the merry
guests threw particularly large shoe
and Andy went through his honey
moon with black eye.''
IF you think it is good TASTE" be-
gan Virginia, ito make fun of the
most sacred ceremony" Then she
stopped.
Archie again, reminds me of Tommy
Taggarts case. 1t was sad indeed.
Tommy is the modest, retiring kind,
and the moment the bridal party start
ed down the aisle and the guests be-
mind began to get up on their chairs,
he got stage fright. didn't blame him.
| was considerably stirred up myself.
However, as best man endeavored to
keep up.
Right in the front row the brides
mother was sobbing as if Tommy were
a worse custodian than the grave. IT
was dispiriting. BY the time the ring
was wanted Tommy wore an express
sion OF pitiful vacancy. He sought for
| 1T in his right coat pocket Nothing
doing. He smiled feebly and tried the
left side. Equally fruitless. He pur-
sued the search The bridal party fol-
lowed his movements with terrible
to burn like torchlfghts. The fifth
pocket yielded up bunch of keys and
the propitiatory way he held them out
would have affected you to tears. But
the minister smiled patiently and held
him for the contents of two more
pockets. He got a stray glove and a
gold watch. BY this time the maid of
honor was gfggling hysterically and
every usher's face was blank, with feel
ing 1t was lovely wedding"
Archie paused as if the story were
over
'.And the ring?'' said Bob.
Il had it. 1t was my special stunt to
hand it over at the right moment. For
tunately, 1 remembered in time to save
Tommy from taking wife on key
ring
THE only way to get married" said
Bob with decision. lis just to go and
do it,
Virginia spoke with emphasis. Every
GIRL said she, should have a large
wedding-500 invitations at least"
There was moment of Silence. Archie
broke it. 1 admired his courage.
Five hundred invitations" he unused.
Five hundred happy homes made mis-
erable. can see the saddened faces.
can hear the bitter voices-'That means
another present. What a bore these
| WSQQ1ISS are.
And what" murmured Bob, "does
| the bride draw? There are a great
many bonbon spoons and salad forks,
and whole room doesn't accommodate
| the olive dishes?"
But the wedding day." said I, "the
happy wedding day, with carpenters N
the parlor and walters in the dining
room. with friends over the telephone
and olive dishes at the front door and
with aunts everywhere. The groom, too
Io- f.E- u+1r 6inx
the wedding ceremony and knows he
| is going to forget every word the mo-
ment the wedding march strikes up
And now insisted Archie, 1.-The great
moment arrives. The preparations are
complete The groom's clothes have
| been tied into hard knots and seWed
! up in the arnlho1es. The brides trunks
have been opened and red pepper
| sprinkled among her shirtwaists, and al
| is well. Behold the nervous couple u1-
! der floral bell in the parlor. Behold
the second cousins blending their tears
Behold the minister doing what he car
| TO tighten the occasion and the best mar
| looking as if he were at funeral. AnC
behold the 500 invited guests file up tc
| kiss the bride and mutter something
unintelligible to the groom before they
! hurry to the dining room and the rea
/ business of the evening"
Not ALL Arch" added mot all
There are still the dear few who fol-
low to the carriage even to the station
with rice and old footgear. They are
the persons whose heads the groom
wants very much to punch
Bob rose. mot for me- said he, witt
| decision.
Virginia made no comment whatso
ever. Archie got uns too, and strollet
down the steps toward the street.
went inside to get my hat.
When 1 returned to the piazza Bot
! and Virginia were standing together.
heard Bob say. ''Of course, as big g
wedding as you like, just so you con-
sent to set it for next month"
Well knew it would have to come
sooner or later Bob's theory about the
way to get married doesn't help him
much, however. fer Virginia is bound tt
| have her way.-Chicago News.
GLOBE SIGHTS.