The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-27

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form, she threw her arms around her fathers
neck Che nearest, first, and dearest naturally
and kissed him, and then-Wonder of Wond ers-
she turned with little laugh to Tom. who
next, and embraced and kissed him. and then she
absolutely embraced and kissed them all.
The effect of this very curious. First, they
fell dead in love with her, and second. they sud-
denly dislike another. They each rushed up
to call that evening and, to be sure to be
first in the field, they all went at seven instead of
eight. Anita wasn't done dinner and they had to
wait together in the drawing-room. suffering from
a mutual dearth of remarks, and a tendency to
stare at Francis George, who was wearing his
first evening clothes for the first time.
But when Anita did come in she repaid them
for all the agony. by being just too jolly and nice
for words. She talked with them all, reminded
them of loads of good times which they had for
gotten, laughed over jokes which they finally be-
came sufficiently unembarrassed to impart to her,
and then when it was nearly ten o'clock and they
had eaten seven pounds of French candy and had
stuffed with lemonade and poundcake galore. she
suddenly jumped up from her chair, ran across and
squeezed herself in between Tom and Eddy on the
sofa, and. taking a hand of each and looking
about the rest, said, half-earnestly and half
smingly:
"And now I want to tell you all the secret;
want you TO KNOW DeIOIo anybody else KNOWS.
I'm to be married next month and please promise
to be my ushers"
At first they could hardly realize it. Tom bit
his lip and Eddy sneezed. Francis George. whose
poetic blood couldn't but show in way,
winked back tears, and Harry end Will, who had
been coldly distant to another ever since
leaving the station four hours before. clasped
hands involuntariy.
I'm going to be married in the church." Anita
obliviOuS O blows
dealing about her, land I'm going have five girls
from school for my maids and three and
yourselves for my ushers. We're going to Japan,
and perhaps all the way around the world after
wards"
There was a short pause and then Eddy said.
rather haltngly:
"Is he's he very old fellow"
'"'No," said Anita, che is thirty-two'; then she
added, would you like to his picture?'
"Well, I wouldn't mind" Eddy admitted, and
she drew out from her belt what they had all sup
posed to be her watch, and showed them hand
gold locket containing miniature of
good-looking with heavy brown mustache.
They looked at it one after the other and all re-
scented the mustache and its thickness.
Then Francis George rose solemnly and said:
well, 1 must be going I'll be very pleased
to help you in any way 1 can"
"Oh yes, we all WILL" they said.
THAT will be SO nice and dear Of YOU" said
Anita, rising she spoke. The rest of the COM
pany rose at the same time.
and I'm sure I congratulate you," said
Francis George, mournfully trying to live up to
the dignity of his costume
Eyes, he-he looks like a real good Sort" said
Eddy.
Thank you much' said Anita.
She offered them more candy, but they refused
firmly The zest had been taken from their appe-
titles. They could only bid their hostess and one
another goodbye and depart. The wedding took
place the next month and the boys took part and
did their duty splenddly, although Tom had a
splitting headache and Francis George nearly wept
at the altar. The seven mothers sat in the pews
just back of the families, and they shared the
emotions of Francis George when they saw all the
eight together before them AS for Anita's mother
the tears just poured down her face throughout
ceremony. for Anita looked absolutely babyish in
her white robe and she wept the more that it was
now fully decided that, after Japan, they should
go around the world.
Following the church ceremony there was
splendid wedding breakfast and big reception
and the boys did themselves no end of credit
straight through up to. and including the trying
minute when they each threw of their old
baby shoes after the bride.
Then ensued interval of peace-and college
for they all entered the next autumn even to Eddy
who had become quite thin with constant coaching.
At Christmas they heard from Anita, who hadn't
gone around the world after all, her husband hav-
ing decided in San Francisco that he hadn't even
time to go to Japan. Grooms do give their brides
such little surprises occasionally. and Anita had
made up for hers by having her mother visit her.
and exhibiting all her happiness to the latters
maternal appreciation 1t is really to be doubted
which Anitas mother enjoyed most, her visit
the coming home and telling about it. Anta's
mother was one of the dearest and sweetest OF
women. but she could not forbear referring fire.
quently in the company of her old friends Anitas
trials in house with twelve servants to Anita's
husbands set ways in never under any circum-