The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-07-08

NINA. friend had happened on the
scene In time to present him; the
young woman had said+it was a pity
mat ne should have been put to sc
much trouble ON her account, and he
had recited foolish speceh-he had
read 1t in a French novel-to the ef
feet that any man should consider it
an honor to be her slave.
he had certainly not gone out of his
way to met her, nor tried to extend
the acquaintance beyond the first
meeting And as for his foolish
speech, it was preposterous to torture
1t into an offer of marriage. But there
was her letter, and there was no mis-
taking it's meaning.
mistake of the postman, of
course he thought at first, but the
address on the envelope, Mr.. Richard
Broadhurst, 81 George street." settled
that point against him.
NO; it's intended for me- Now,
this is pretty situation. Has a man
no protection against marriageable
girls?'
The letter made it clear, provokingly
clear. that Miss Virginia Hamilton
looked upon him as a sutton, and that
she was graciously yielding to his en-.
treaties.
Why one would think from this" he
said, that had thrown myself at her
feet and begged her to be my wife,
when. confound her, l wouldn't-but
WHAT'S the use of storming around
about it? l must get this matter
Strengthened out"
For Richard Broadhurst was the last
man on earth who was thinking of
marriage.
But. after all, why not? The bold:
ness OF the thought both startled and
amused him. 1t came back. Why. not?
He could not answer the question, al
though he called up all his old-time
. prejudices and all the arguments
which to him had seemed to prove
conclusively that he should never
marry.
He remembered that Miss Virginia
was not bad to look upon, that she
gave evidences of refinement, and that
her manner was pleasing. True, he
had noticed a certain haughtiness in
her bearing, but that, he thought,
would be for the world and not for the
man she loved. His old ideas about
marriage might be all right SO far as
the rest of the women in the world
was concerned, but Miss Virginia
well, that was another matter. A wife,
after all-if Miss Virginia were the
wife-might not be the worst thing in
the world.
After accepting his offer of marriage
which he had not made-Miss Vir-
ginia had written that she would re-
main with her aunt in New York till
week before the wedding, the date of
which, he learned from her letter, was
three months hence.
suppose" she had written, that
you will call upon your old friend Mr.
Gay to act as groomsman. Mr. Gay
was the friend who had introduced
them
Evidently" Broadhurst laughed, |
there isn't much for the modern
groom to do but to appear at the right |
time and put his neck into the yoke.
The Eride-tobe picks out the groom,
hints ut whom she would like to be
best man. names the place and date
OF the wedding, and looks after things
generally. But for the fact that there
couldn't very we'll be wedding with
out a groom, l suppose they would
eliminate him. But I'll let Miss Vir
gln!a manage this little affair.""
H.
being inexperienced in such matters,
he was going to put himself into Gays
hands, and asked him to look after
such little, details as his bride-to-be
had not thought to arrange.
He was in fever of excitement till
Gays answer came, but it treasured
him. It'was as follows:
"Old hand at the business, and will
see you through 1t. Congratulate you
on the bride you are to get Now, old
man, keep cool and don't get excited.
Above all, don't do foolish things. Just
buy your wedding clothes, be sure to
get here on time, and don't worry
about anything else. will attend to
Ill little Details"
he then gave minute instructions as
o the clothes the groom should wear.
Really, he's an accommodating fell
ow,' Broadhurst thought, but
should like to have something to say
n this matter. The groom seems to
'e almost as unimportant factor in a
Wedding as an unpreferred creditor
Nnere the assets are ten cents on the
lollar."
Then followed three months of az.
tasy, intermixed at times, it is true.
With the fear that something might y
lash the cup of newly found bliss from
lis lips.
The weeks passed without Broad.
lurst hearing again from Gay or from q
Hiss Virginia. A week before the date
# the wedding, he thought that per.
APPS he ought to 60 over and see them. {
tut feared to intrude. They were I
usy, no doubt. with the arrangements,
nd would not care to be bothered by 1
ne who was to play the minor part of
room. So, impatient though he was,
e concluded to await his cue before
ppearing on the scene. Then, there
'ere his own arrangements to look
fter. For the fiftieth time he received
ne solemn assurance of his tailor
lat his wedding clothes were perfect.
Finally, his wedding day arrived, e
nd he was at the railroad station two n