The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-11-04
John Henry $
Wedding
By GEORGE v. HOBART


: Clara J. had said YES" and the
next evening waded into the Van.
:: Wv yer mansion to drag, -Papa's and
Mammals consent away from them.
:: So long as 1 played light comedy
roles knew was hot favorite with
= the old folks at home. but when it
i came to doing leading part and
:. walking of with the daughter, be-
gan to get uneasy for fear they'd
reach for the egg basket and hand me
a few unripe scrambles
7 When l squeezed through the por-
there ! found the old lady and gentle
man very busy discussing their plans
for summer trip.
where are you going to spend the
summer, John?" inquired Father, Civ
ing me limp paw, which l shook
hurriedly and then handed back to
him.
! Here was an opening-a grand
chance to butt in right at the go off.
= "Well, to tell you the solemn, we
haven't decided yet" l answered.
J WEI" they both echoed.
"Why, John, thought you were
: playing lone hand?" said the old
:, gentleman. 1--WE always known you
as young man who could walk up
and, down Easy street without a
/ guardian or time-card. This is the
first time ever heard you speak of
pull-back! Whence the WEI"
=. II always thought you were free to
go and come as you pleased, JOHN
9the old lady put in :: = >.
Here was my chance to climb the
family tree and knock down the fruit,
but for some reason or other the
blood seemed to rush to my voice,
and l went backwards like a crab.
Papa had fixed me with his steel
blue eyes. and could see by mothers
expression that she was beginning to
set me back as one Of those double
life leaders
My collar began to faint and my
hands grew nervous and wanted to
fight each other.
"The fact is. ladies' and gentlemen
er-1 mean Mr.. Vanvivver, and you,
too. Mother-er-thatf is"
Then I grabbed a catfish grin and
sat there till 1 used it all up. was
over the edge. Say, this marriage
business Is immense after the whistle
blows. but the preliminaries make me
sick
You seem to be little to the
bad this evening, john" said Father,
and Mamma began to shake her head,
as though she had a mental tintype
OF me far out on the road to ruin, and
walking fast.
went at them again. "As mat
ter of fact. merely dropped around
this evening to inquire If you could
that is to say, II 1t Is possible for you
to give me-to give me your-your-
er@"
Overheard again and not life pre-
server In sight.
It was pitiful.
Most extraordinary attack of hest
tatiOn ever knew you to have" said
Father, while Mamma simply sat there
and focused me with her sad, re-
irroachful lanterns.
CA Adpo ycu uCCu W
brace you up" suggested the old gen.
tleman.
needed sanitarium and corps
of efficient physicians, but I didn't
say so.
At that moment was doing
chump act never before eQualled in
the history of the world. My eyes
looked like couple of vacant lots
and I had reversed grins, and was
now using the style most affected by
stuffed leopard.
1.-THE boy may be suffering from
1ncipient brain fever, or is he in
love-" whispered the old lady.
"Huh!" exclaimed Papa: lin love,
eh? That's it. When's the wedding?
who's the girl? Sorry to lose you,
John. but the best of friends must
part in the divorce court. Ha, ha!"
That cackle went right through me
and splashed on the wall behind me-
The old man was fierce joke pusher
Come on now, john" he con-
tinued; who is she? Have you told
Clara? She'll be lonely. for you are
certainly the best time killer she ever
had. Speak out; we are your friends,