The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-27
A Surprise Party.
forIginal.l


There was house party at Edward
Medway's, who had just come into
possession OF a modest estate not
enough to live on without doing any
thing. but good thing to have to help
q man to success who was ambitious.
Dudley weyburn was there, a good
natured, rolllcklng. devil may care sort
Of chap. with a 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 Eyes" to any OF
his numerous proposals. Weyburn and
Midway were great friends, and one
day Midway said to the lover:
Its plain enough, Dudley, that Lau-
"a 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 deuced good fellow
young, handsome and rich. What else
would girl want? Now, I'll tell you
what you do. Wen put Laura In a
trap. I'll propose a series OF mool.
marriages and ask her to begin with
you. She can dress herself in bridal
finery. All girls love to do that. I'll
get myself up as a parsen, and well
have 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 20 the drawing
room, where they stood at one end DC
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 aud 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 we'd
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 reception far differ.
ent from what he had expected.
do you mean to tell me-" she said,
turning pale, that I'm really married
to Mr.. Weyburn?
You took him for your welded hus.
band and he took you for his welded
wife7tn tie presence OF witnesses"
But you are not a clergyman, and
you didn't put in any Of the religious
part of the service" She was growing
more terror stricken every moment.
There is what is called Scotch
marriage, in which two persons agree
ing to marry each other In presence OF
witnesses are legally married"
"But this Is not Scotland"
cts impossible to tell exactly what
constitutes a marriage In this country,
but since there Is every probability Of
your being married TO Dudley Wey-
burn, since he is young. handsome and
rich, it seems to me best under the cir.
cumstances you'd better cab 1t a 60.
You can have another wedding, swell
AFFAIR, you know"
But don't want Dudley Weyburn"
This was said with such agony that
Midway was terror stricken at what
he had done.
Great heavens, Laura! 1hope you're
not in love with any oHeeise."
Yes, am" she said. bursting into
tears.
Midway was thunderstruck As soon
as he had recovered himself bit curl
osity as to who was Che possessor of
the girls heart overcame eli other con-
siderations. Could 1t be possible that
with no fortune she could decline one,
with very good fellow for q husband.
Ava SOhe yOuhB hA1A VIM A1u5b hUCh
for his livingg
I'm awfully sorry, Laura" he said
soothingly. 1--WE didn't fatend to go
against your wishes Do you mind tel.
ing me who the man Is you wished 20
mary?'
ooh, l couldn'ti' She buried her face
in divan pillow.
There wouldn't be any Improperly
in your telling me in confidence"
Not since can't marry the man
love?"
Certainly"
But 1t wouldn't be treating my hus
band right"
what a conscIenceF said Midway
to himself. Then aloud: ooh, that
I