Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-05-13
A Surprise Party.
(Original.l

enough to live on without doing any
thing, but good thing to have to help
a man to success who was ambitious.
Dudley Weybnrn was there, a good
natured, rollicking, devil may care sort
Of chap, with large fortune, which he
spent layishly ON his friends. He was
bent on marrying Laura Leonard, one
of the girls Of the party, but, though
she gave him considerable encourage
ment, would never say yes" to any of
his numerous proposals. Weyburn and
Midway were great friends, and one
day Midway said to the lover:
It's plain enough, Dudley, that Lau-
ra Leonard wants you. She's only fool
ing with you. Girls have queer whims.
and hers seems to be to bother you"
what makes you think she wants
me?" asked Weyburn, Frightening.
"Well, you're a deuced good fellow
young, handsome and rich. What else
would girl want? Now, TIL tell you
what you do. Well put Laura In a
trap. I'll propose a series Of mock
marriages and ask her to begin with
you. She can dress herself In bridal
f1nery. All girls love to do that I'll
get myself up as a parson, and we'll
have a marriage ceremony In presence
Of witnesses. Then after it's all over
we can take the ground that it's legal.
She'll be satisfied, only she'll want to
be married over again.
Weyburn after much persuasion con-
sented. Miss Leonard at first refused,
but finally consented also.
The performance was great sue
cess Miss Midway played wedding
march on the piano; the bride, followed
by her attendants, came down the
main staircase, while Weyburn, sup
ported by his groomsmen, filed out Of
the library, meeting the bride in the
hall and proceeding to the drawing
room, where they stood at one end Of
the apartment. 1t had been agreed that
the religious part Of the ceremony was
to be left out, which satisfied the bride
that there would be nothing binding
in the ceremony. The bride and groom
consented to take each other for better
or for worse, and they were pronounc-
ed man and wife. Congratulations fol-
lowed, and all proceeded to the wed
ding supper.
When Midway, who had agreed to
announce to the bride that she was
really married, an hour later took her
away by herself and told her OF the
fact he met with a reception far differ
emit from what he had expected
"Do you mean to tell me-" she said
turning pale, that I'm really married
| to Mr.. WeyburnT'
] "You took him for your welded hus
4 band and he took you for his weddet
| wife In the presence of Witnesses D
\ "But you are not clergyman, ant
you didn't put in any of the religion:
~ part of the service" She was growing
4 more terror stricken every moment.
Ii There is what is called Scotch
H marriage, In which two persons agree
ing to marry each other in presence O
witnesses are legally married"
4 "But this is not Scotland.
Il "Its impossible to tell exactly wha
constitutes a marriage. In this country
but since there is every probability o
your being married to Dudley Wey
burn, since he is young, handsome ant
rich, It seems to me best under the cir
cumstances you'd better call 1t a &c
You can have another wedding, swe
affair, you know"
"But don't want Dudley Weyburn.
This was said with such agony tina
Midway was terror stricken at wha
he had done.
"Great heavens, Laura! hope your
not in love with any one else"
II Eyes, I am" she said, bursting int
II tears.
III Midway was thunderstruck. AS 500
III as he had recovered himself bit cur
osity as to who was the possessor
the girls heart overcame all other col
siderations Could 1t be possible thu
with no fortune she could decline on
lb with very good fellow for husban
for some young man who must wor
for his livingf
'Tm awfully, sorry, Laura" he sai
,H soothingly. 1--WE didn't intend to {
against your wishes. Do you mind te
ing me who the man Is you wished
marryr
"oh, / couldn'tP' She buried her IA
In divan pillow.
~ There wouldn't be any improprie
- In your telling me In confidence"
Ter ''Not since / can't marry the man
ad lover"
,st Certainly"
~ "But 1t wouldn't be treating my hr
re- band right"
-, what consciencew said Medw'
- to himself. Then aloud: "Oh, tn
would be all right. He'd never know i
- 'sWell, since I'm married and Their
az nothing wrong or immodest about to
ing, the man love Isl
"Out with It, Laura. You'll feel b
or Ter when you've relieved your mind.
Ia ''You." abe whimpered.
No pen or pencil could ADEQUATE
picture the expression on Edwar'
. . face at the receipt OF this informati'
. The clock licked many seconds bef'
he moved: then he bent down and !