Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-02-09
A Social Prank
GOriginal.l

It was gay Winter HI peVerv. The young people of the town had caught the spirit of mirth and as the season progressed gave themselves up to it more and more. The shape 1t took was social pranks. A rumor was start ed that Alan White had eloped with Susie Carr. The pair kept under cover for few days, then appeared at an evening party together, received con gratulations, then laughed at their dupes. A ball once set rolling will roll on till 1t meets some obstruction. No sooner had the mock elopement succeeded in deceiving every one than certain boys and girls decided there must be mock marriage.
 The couple selected for principals were George Towle and Jessie Troxeh. Sufficient "spooning" had been noticed between the pair to give color to wed ding. A committee of one was sent to Towle to sound him on the subject and returned with the report that he would not object. Miss Troxell took time to consider the matter, but when 1t was announced that a goodly number of wedding presents might be expected and the donors would not be likely to take them back after having learned of the 'sell'' she consented. Thereupon the details of the affair were arranged by a 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 1t was learned that they were lncurrlng the expenses of real wedding. but since Tracy and Miss Dexter, who were wealthy. offer ed to pay all bills they were permitted to proceed at their own breakneck pace. This was definitely settled be- fore the bride and groom would con sent to such extravagant outlay for a mere prank and for which they might be held accountable
 Recognizing Miss Troxeips 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 a thousand invitation cards. Miss Trox- elps domicile being very small, the wedding was appointed to take place in Harmony hall, where such social functions were held as comprised too many people to get comfortably in . dwelling The cards were no sooner out than wedding presents began to pour in. A young minister who had been brought up with the boys and girls interested was engaged to per. form the ceremony. Of course he was | in the secret and had declined till noti- | fled that at the proper time the bride was to say No" instead of Yes" Then the "sell' was to come out, and dance
 For weeks even before it was known that there was to be wedding MT Tracy and Mrs. Dexter were hard al work, Miss Dexter buying the trous seau and MT. Tracy engaging the hall ordering flowers-in short, attending to the details. After the cards were ou 6 multitude of matters were thought ol that had been overlooked
 The only thing that might possibl! excite suspicion was the action of thu bride and groom. They were neve seen together and until after the cardl were out would not acknowledge thei engagement, but from that time oI they kept in their own homes, and Mis- Troxell especially would see no one.
 When the night of the mock weddin, came on, the committee, who. excep the couple who were to be mock mar ried and the clergyman, were the oni. ones in the secret, were on tiptoe O excitement MT. Tracy and Miss Dex
 ter figured up the expenses and con
 cluded that the prank should be yer,
 successful to be commensurate wit
 the cost. When the hall was dlled wit
 guests Tracy sent carriages for tn
 groom, the bride and the clergyman. As Miss Troxell entered Miss Dex
 ter was much pleased to hear some on
 say: What an exquisite costume!
 wonder who designed it." The en trance of the couple was signal fo ] the guests to arrange themselves Ii
 their proper space, leaving one end o
 the hall for the bridal couple. Trac
 was bit worried because they acted he said, "as If they were going to ge divorce instead of being married. The groom approached the clergy man from the left, the bride from tn right. The members of the committe
 pushed forward through the crowd {
 a white ribbon that had been stretche 3 across the end of the hall in order catch every word and note the exprei
 slons of surprise on the faces of tn guests when the bride should bring ou
 the unexpected "No."
 The clergyman began the service 1 ? the tone usual to the solemn right ( Q matrimony, and when he came to th , words. Do you take this woman to b , your welded wifef Towle answere in a sonorous voice. "Yes." And q you take this man to be your wedde
 husbandT the clergyman asked of th
 bride.
 The sensation that had been al
 ranged for the guests was experience by the committee. In clear. Arr voice the bride answered, Yes" The secret of how Mir. and Mir
 Towle were furnished with a weddin