The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-18

1 other around her ample waist Had she closed her eyes she might have passed for a placid, amiable person whose angles of disposition had also become curves But Mrs. Beaver did not close her eyes. She opened them as widely as the geog- raphy of her face would permit and cool ly surveyed Joe Ridder.
 Mrs Beaver was a born manager; she had managed her husband Into an un- timely grave, she had managed her daughter from the hour she was born, she had dismissed three preachers, in- duced two women to leave their hus- bands, and now dogmatically announced herself arbiter of fashions and conduct in Rear Ninth street.
 No, she cant see you" she said firm ly in reply to Joes question. She's going out to a dance party with Mir l Schenk.'
 trembled in her presence.
 "Somewhere's down town" said Mrs Beaver, ito a real swell party
 'He oughtnt to take her to no down | town dance,' said Joe his indignation | getting the better of his shYness. 'I | don't want her to go and I'm going to ] tell her SOL
 "In-deedl' said Mrs. Beaver in scorn. 'And what have you got to say about it? guess Mir. SchenlSs got the right to I take her anywhere he wants to-
 What right?" demanded Joe, getting ! suddenly bit dizzy and blind. l -fu going to give her real handsome tur- quoise ring, 14-carat gold"
 Didn't Mittie send me no word?" fal- tered Joe.
 "No" said Mrs. Beaver unhesitatingly, though she had in her pocket a note for him from the unhappy Mittie.
 Joe fumbled for his hat T guess , better be goin'," he said. lump rising ominously in his throat. He got the gate open and made his way half dazed around i the corner. As he did so he saw a pro- cession of small Riders bearing joyously down upon him.
 "Joe,' shrieked Lottie arriving first, Nav says hurry on home; we got an- i other new baby to our house." 1 During the weeks that followed Rear Ninth street was greatly thrilled over i the unusual event of a home wedding. l The reticence of the groom was more ! than made up for the bulletins of news issued daily by Mrs. Beaver. To use that worthy ladys own words, "she was in 1 her elementsl" She organized various committees-on decoration, on refresh ments, and even on the brides rousseau. tactfully permitting each assistant to l contribute in some way to the general | grandeur of the occasion. | q am going to have this a real showy wedding" she said from her point of vantage by the parlor window, where she 1 sat like field marshal and issued her orders Those paper fringes want to go clean across every one of the shelves, 1 and you all must make enough paper roses to pin round the edges of all the curtains Ever things got to look say and festive"
 'Mittie don't look very gay,' ventured one of the assistants. "I seen her in the kitchen cryin' minute ago"
 "Mtties fool" announced Mrs. Beav- CT calmly. "She don't know good thing when she sees it Get them draperies up a little higher in the middle, I'm goin' to hang silver horseshoe onto the loop"
 The wedding night arrived and the Beaver cottage was filled to suffocation with the elite of Rear Ninth street. The guests found it difficult to circulate free ly in the room on account of the elab- crate and aggressive decorations, so they stood in silent rows awaiting the approachjnr ceremony. As the appointed hour grew near and none of the groom's family arrived few whispered com ments were exchanged.
 ''It's most time to begin," whispered the preacher to Mrs. Beaver. whose keen black eyes had been watching the door with growing impatience.
 ''Well, we won't wait on nobody" she said positively, as she rose and left the room to give the signal
 In the kitchen she found great conster- nation; the bride. pale and dejected in all her finery, sat on the table, all the chairs being in the parlor
 "Whats the matter?" demanded Mrs. Beaver.
 women In tragic tones.
 Ben Schenk ain't here?" asked Mrs. Beaver In accents so awful that her list eners quaked. Well, I'll see the reason why!' and snatching a shawl from a hook she deliberately crushed a coffure that had been erected with infinite pains. Out into the night she sailed. picking