The Washington herald., 1908-08-26
AUDREY'S APHASIA.
By EPES w. SARGENT.

Il had been rubbing It in to ask Dick
Fitzgerald to act as one Of the ushers at
the Craven -SIountford wedding. Dick
had been in love with Audrey Craven long
before Sir Henry MOuntford had come
across the water IN search OF a bride
and a bank account
Mrs Craven had shrewdly argued that
with Dick acting as one Of the ushers she
would put a stop to the last shred Of
gossip For several years their friends
had looked for the announcement Of
Dicks engagement 70 Audrey. and the
new turn OF afairs had not met with
popular approval If Dick was an usher
he might seem to give countensace 10 the
alliance
No one blamed Audrey for the engage
ment Mrs. Craven. had she been a man.
would have achieved credit as a ward
boss. In her feminine sphere she hectored
her family. the charitable societies Of
which she was invariably the president.
and even the rector OF St. Jude-s recog-
nized God. Mrs. Craven. and the bishop
/ IN that order.
When S.r Henry was grac.ously pleased
/ to accept Mrs. Craven's diplomatic over
3 AaACE LA4EaA @EL AlaAA ACs-AAAArtA LIN AtAAD
as sealed. and. with a nUrmUred Poor
Audrey" gave their attention 70 other
affairs. The announcement that Dick was
10 be one ot the ushers brought forth an
/ additional Poor Dick" but he rather
| enjoyed his duties, as. standing on the
! steps Of St Jade's. he explained 20 the
wedding guests that the service was post
/ poned owing 70 the absence Of Miss
( Craven
! We only know what word was sent
up from the house" he assured Ms
/ Ponders- Miss Craven went out 70 visit
/ Nell Testra last night She left 50 early
Z that no esoort seemed necessary. but she
did not teturn home No one knows what
/ happened Mrs. Craven Is prostrated-
Sir Henry2 understand he Is taking II
very badly.
He bowed her away and turned 10 the
next corner There had been 70 time 70
recall the Invitations and the six ushers
were too bsy 10 give more than pass
+ ing attention TO any one person
S.r Henry was taking IL very badly IN
I deed He was storuing Up and down
I the long hall Of the Craven home. and
! between disappointment and wounded
pride. the fo0dgates OF speech were
/ opened and his language would have done
credit 10 a stable boy.
/ Mrs Craven shut herself into the libra
I " long before he had concluded his re-
marks. and the stoEd butler, aided BY the
| coachman. elected Sir Henry from the
7 house to the huge delight of the reporters
who had vainly besseged the front door
for the last hour or so
Then Mrs. Craven took 70 her bed and
vowed that daughter Of hers should never
marry into the British nobility. while
J Carver Craven hurried down 10 the po-
lice station 70 ask that a general alarm
be sent out
/ Nothing came OF this action. and. after
a couple OF days. the papers dropped the
I sensation. Dick was distracted Two days
Z before the ceremony Audrey had assured
him that things would turn out au nigh,
and had tod him not TO worry. but heg
long SILENCE argued that she had not been
able to make things 50 as sle had
planned and that she had killed herself
rather than marry man she cid not
+. love
\ n the hope Of dlstracting his mind. the
senior Fitzgerald inJrUsteG him with q
commission to Chicago, and Dick, glad
70 get away for a few days. took the
train. after exacJing q promise that he
should be Informed BY wire Of any de-
velopuent.
The trip seemed interninabIe. but at
last he reached town and established
himself al a hotel he could not see the
people he wanted until the following
morning. and 70 dispel his loneliness ne
hunted Up jim Dalton
Dalton and he had been chums IN The
/ college days before Dalton had gone
west 70 study medicine he was interne
in one OF the hospitals now, and after
dinner Dick and he went out
{ Want TO see the auinals2'' asked his
chum after the first food OF questions