Evening journal., 1909-08-27
A Surprise Party.
Ioriginall

enough to live on without doing any.
thing, but a good thing to have to help
a man TO success who was ambitious.
Dudley Weyburn was there, a good
natured, rollicking. devil may care sort
of chap, with large fortune, which he
spent lavishly 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
Medway were great friends, and one
day Midway said to the lover:
ITS 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 a girl want? Now, I'll tell you
what you do. Wen put Laura in a
trap. I'll propose a series of mock
marriages aud 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 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 a wedding
march on the piano; the bride. followed
by her attendants, came down the
main staircase. while Weyburn, sup
ported by his groomsmen, fled out Of
the library, meeting the bride in the
han and proceeding to the drawing
room. whore 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 Medway, who had agreed t
announce to the bride that she was
really married, an hour later took hel
away by herself and told her of the
fact he met with a 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.. Weyburnf"
You took him for your welded hus.
band and he took you for his welded
wife in the 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 a Scotch
marriage, in which two persons agree.
ing to marry each other I'm presence of
witnesses are legally married"
"But this is not Scotland"
ITS impossible 10 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 call 1t a go
| You can have another wedding, a swell
affair, you know"
But don't want Dudley Weyburn.'
This was said with such agony tha
Medway was terror stricken at wha'
he had done
"Great heavens. Laura hope you're
not in love with any one else"
Yes, am" she said, bursting int,
tears.
Midway was thunderstruck. As sooi
as he had recovered himself a bit curl
Gsity as TO who was the possessor o
the girls heart overcame all other con
sideradons Could It be possible tina
with no fortune she could decline one
with a very good fellow for a husband
for some young man who must wor
for his living?
I'm awfully sorry. Laura he SAT-
soothingly We didn't intend 10 g
against your wishes. Do you mind tell
ing me who the man Is you wished Z
marry
"Oh. couldn'tg' She buried her fac
I'm n divan pillow.
There wouldn't be any impropriet
In your telling me in confidence"
"Not since / can't marry the man
lover"
Certainly"
"But il wouldn't be treating my hus
band right"
What a consciencew said Medwa
to himself. Then aloud; "Oh, tina
would be all right. He'd never know IL.
We'll. since I'm married and there
nothing wrong or immodest about tel
ing, the man ! love is''-
"Out with n, Laura. You'll feel bel
ter when you've relieved your mind.
''You." she whimpered.
No pen or pencil could adequatel
picture the expression on Edward
face at the receipt Of this information
The clock licked many seconds befor
he moved; then he bent down and pu
his arms around the girl.
"Oh. don'tr' she moaned. I'm mai
ried."
Married be hangedr' he exclaimed
"I'm a lawyer. and I know that 4
America it's the intent Of both partie