Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-15

A SOCIAL PRANK.

was social prankS. \ rumor was start
ed that Alan White had eloped with
Susie Carr. The pair kept under cover
for a few days, then appeared at an
evening party together, received con-
gratulatious, then laughed at their
dupeS. 4 ball once set rolling will
roll on till it meets some obstruction.
No sooner had the mock elopement
succeeded in deceiving every one than
certain boys and girls decided there
must be n mock marriage.
The couple selected for principals
were George Towle and Jessie Troxell.
Sufficient ''spooning" had been noticed
between the pair to give color to we'd
ding. A committee of one was sent to
Towle TO sound him on the subject and
returned with the report that lie would
not object. Miss TroXell took time to
consider the matter. but when it was
announced that goodly number of
wedding presents might be expected
and the donors would not be likely to
take them back after having learned of
the ''selP' she consented. Thereupon
the details of the affair were arranged
by self constituted committee of six
three young men and three girls.
Ned Tracy and Kate Dexter cOnsti-
tuted themselves chairman and chair
maness of the committee and assumed
full management There was no op-
position to this till it was learned that
they were mourning the expenses OF q
real wedding, but since Tracy and
Miss Dexter. who were wealthy, offer
ed to pay all bills they We're permitted
to proceed at their own breakneck
pace. This was definitely settled be-
fore the bride and groom would CON
sent to such cXtravagant outlay for
mere prank and for which they might
he held accountable.
Recognizing Miss TroXell's sacrifice
and to keep her'up to compliance with
the scale on which the prank was to
be played, the committee sent her ar
ticles which formed quite respectable
rousseau. This done, they ordered
thousand invitation cards. Miss TroX-
ellis domicile being very small, the
wedding was appointed TO take place
in Harmony hall. where such social
functions We're held as comprised too
many people to get comfortably in n
dwelling The cards were no sooner
cut than wedding presents began to
pour in. 4 young minister who had
been brought up with thc boys and
girls interested was engaged to per
form the ceremony. Of course he was
in the secret and had declined till mott
fed that at the proper time the bride
was to say NO instead of Yes
1,a 70
the festivities were to proceed with a
dance.
For weeks even before it was known
that there was to be Il wedding Mr..
Tracy and Mrs. Dexter were hard at
work, Miss Dexter buying the trous
seau and Mr.. Tracy engaging the hall,
flowers in short, attending
to the details. After the cards were out
n multitude of matters We're thought of
that had been overlooked.
The only thing that might possibly
excite suspicion was the action of the
bride and groom They were never
seen together and until after the cards
were out would not acknowledge their
anga cement. but from that time on
they kept in their own homes, and Miss
Troxell especially would see no one.
When the night of the mock wedding
came on, the committee, who, except
the couple who were to be mock mar
ried and the clergyman, were the only
ones in the secret. were on a tiptoe Of
excitement Mr.. Tracy and Miss DeX-
ter figured up the expenses and con-
Guided that the prank should be very
ftrI 20 Il 70 writ
he cost When the hall was filed with
guests Tracy sent carriages for the |
groom, the bride and the clergyman.
As Miss TroxeIl entered Miss DeX- |
err was much pleased to hear some one |
Jay: What an exquisite costume. | |
Wonder who designed it." The en- |
rance Of the couple was signal for |
he guests to arrange themselves in |
heir proper space. leaving one end of |
he hall for the bridal couple Tracy |
vas bit worried because they acted. |
Ic said, las If they were going to get |
divorce instead of being married"
The groom approached the clergy |
nan from the left, the bride from the
light The members of the committee
'ushed forward through the crowd TO
white ribbon that had been stretched
cross the end of the hall in order to
atch every word and note the express
ions of surprise on the faces of the
.uests when the bride should bring out
he unexpected No
The clergyman began the service in
he tone usual to the solemn right of
natrimony, and when he came to the
words, ''Do you take this woman to be
our welded wife?" Towle answered
n a sonorous voice, YES" And do
ou take this man to be your welded
the clergyman asked of the
ride.
The sensation that had been ar
anged for the guests was experienced
y the committee. In a clear, firm
dice the bride answered, yes"