The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-01-10
A Social Prank
toriginal.l

1t was gay winter in Beverly.
The young people Of the town had
caught the spirit Of mirth and as the
season progressed gave themselves up
to 1t more and more. The shape it took
was social pranks. A rumor was start
ed that Alan White had eioped with
Susie Carr, The pail kept under cover
for a few days. then appeared at an
evening party together. received con-
gratuIations, then laughed at their
dupes. A bah once set rolling will
roll on till 1t meets some obstruction,
No sooner had the mock elopement
succeeded In decelving every one than
certain hoys and girls decided there
must be a mock E;lrriage
The pie sell ted for principals
were rye Towle and Jessie Troxell.
SutllC ''spoontng" had been noticed
betwc4.s the pair 10 give color to a we'd
ding. 4 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 Ii 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 SER 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
maneas Of the committee and assumed
full management There was no op-
position 10 this TIL It was learned that
they were mourning the expenses OF
real wedding. but since Tracy and
Miss Dexter. who were wealthy. offer.
ed 10 pay all bills they were permitted
to proceed at their own breaEneck
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.
Recognising Miss Troxell's sacrifice
and to keep her up to compliance with
the scale on which the prank was to
be pin cd. the committee sent her ar.
ticles which formed quite respectable
troussaau. This done, they ordered Q
Thousand invitation cards. Miss Trox.
ellis d0mlcile 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 a
la De
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 or course he was
In the secret and had declined till noti-
fed that at the proper time the bride
was to say mo" instead OF YES"
Then the SELF was to come out, and
the festivities were to proceed with a
dance.
For weeks even before 1t was known
that there was to be a wedding Mr..
Tracy and Mrs, Dexter were hard at
work. Miss Dexter buying the trous-
seau and Mr., Tracy engaging the han.
ordering howers-ln short. attending
60 the details. After the cards We're out
a multitude OF matters were 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
engagement but from that time on
they kept in their own homes, and Miss
Troxeli 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, We're on tiptoe OF
excitement Mr., Tracy and Miss Dex-
Ger figured mp the expenses and con.
eluded that the prank should be very