El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-20
The Herald's
Daily Short Story


acceptance of the invitation. They
merely stated that they would have
much pleasure in being with Mr.. and
Mrs. Hilary Jones on September 49,
BE with us-where?" cried Hilary.
1.-THE thing can't be intended for US at
all"
By this time Mrs Hilary Jones.
thinking that probably the remaining
envelopes might contain some solution
TO this prize puzzle, had the second en-
velope open. The enclosure in this was
more Illuminating.
MIR. and Mrs. Duncan c. Prestwick
have much pleasure in accepting Mr..
and Mrs. Hilary Jones's kind invitation
to the marriage of their daughter Flor
ence with Mr.. Maurice Dean on Septem-
Der 49,"
For a minute Mr.. and Mrs Hilary
Jones stared at one another in blank
amazement. I
But this is Infamous she ex-
claimed.
At 20 minutes past IL that day a
messenger brought a note round to
Maurice Dean at his office Maurice
opened it with trepidation, for he rec
ognized Hilary Jones's handwriting.
The note was to the point, but it was
not very informing. 1t merely said:
Dear Mr.. Dean:-If you can come
round at once for a few minutes con-
versation with me I shall be glad.
Hillary Jones'"
Dear Mr.. Dean" instead of Dear
Maurice" was hardly reassuring. Maui
rice prepared to obey the summons
which strong cup Of black coffee,
partaken of at a restaurant on the way,
did~little to alleviate.
ed Hilary Jones was pacing the car
pet in his private room. He had been
doing that nearly all the morning, to
the depreciation of the carpet and
rather to the Amusement of the clerks.
who wondered what stiff business
problem he had in mind
Mr.. Dean. sirP' announced a clerk.
SHOW him in! And please see,
Barnes, that no one disturbs us whilst
he is here"
Maurice entered The look on Hill
airy Jones's face as he silently Of
fered his hand and as silently motion
ed him to a chair was not prepos-
sessing. He then sat down himself
and regarded Maurice for fully Is sec
onds before he broke the silence
Well, sir Your explanation!"
Explanation. Mr.
*
plain. if you please, the mysterious let
tiers that now by every mail are find
ing their way to my house"
oh, Mr.. Jones, it really isn't Joke"
A joke, sir! Do I look as though
1 thought it a joke?'
No, not at all-er-but 1 felt I must
let you know that it is serious-that
we-Florence and I-are serious. too"
GU do not need to acquaint me
with the fact that it is serious If on
a certain date you had dozens of unin-
V1ted guests coming"
But they've really been properly
lnVited-every one of them. Unless
you give away the 4fact they need
never know anything was wrong"
silence, sir. 1 will not be dictated
to as to the policy I am to pursue.
MY duty, OF course, is plain-to de-
nounce you as a scheming, unprincipIed
underLand-'
Here Maurice rose. The string of
epithets, gradually growing more and
more superlative, lent him courage.
Mr. Jones, hear my side of it. hear
our side of it. You drove Florence and
myself to this by Withholding your
consent. L was desperate Before she
went away to Seaford we had practi-
| calIy decided to elope within a month
or two II you didn't give your consent
nave made the way clear for the
Ih1ng to be done decently and in or
der Won't it be much better for you
to let events take their course?"
Jones hesitated; he wished he had
brought his wife with him or had re-
qu1red the culprit's presence at his
nome. The matter was very difficult
one to decide alone
Wen resume this conversation" he
finally said, I'm my own house to-
night Good day."
And Maurice, dissatisfied, had to
beat a retreat
When he had gone Hilary locked
the door and again began wildly pac-
ing the floor
Women had probably already bought
eight guinea dresses for the Septem-
Der Is event People had already
marked the date in the calendar. and
had put off other engagements that
they might be present. To announce
that there would be no wedding on
the 18th would be to upset the whole
social order.
Worse still, it would make both Mr.
and Mrs. Hilary Jones appear perfectly
ridiculous. And not only ridicuIe but
contempt would be poured upon them
Ihey would be the most unpopular peo-
PIE in Brownswood Park If they had
not created the practical joke, they had
certainly by their silent attitude al
ready given it countenance Calmly
to intimate now that no wedding would
take place would kindle a fire of in
dignation through the community
that might take years to die out.
Let the wedding take place as per
the invitations issued, and such
highly honored guests as Sir George
and Lady Kempton, Boniface Mount,
NJ. P, would not only congregate be-
meath their roof, but send handsome
presents as we'll
Hilary Jones cleared his throat
Florence, Mauricer he began, and
the face Of the male criminal bright
ened, for it was the first time that
day that Mr.. Jones had addressed him
by his christian name. Mother and 1
have again discussed the matter this
evening. We are Observation-Disclosures