Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-01-13
JOINING THE
PROCESSION


be careful and not get IN the way
when Snyder settled himself for a
peaceful hour before dinner with mai
md papers He helped adjust the pile
% a more correct vertical angle and
hen he noiselessy withdrew
Snyder uttered an expressive word
as he opened the first envelope It
contained the wedding announcement
Of man whom he had thought as
. confirmed bachelor as himself
r There II was In black and white
Hendrlckson vanished from the ranks
Of clubdOml
Ia kiad of daze Snyder ran
through the other envelopes The
contents of next to the last one gave
him another shock II was a brief
communication from Conybeare, who
built bridges and was a wanderer
whose home was in a trunk because OF
MS profession; yet Conybeare report
ed with cheerful nonchalance that he
was going to be married next month
to the finest girl on EARTH
Snyder sat carefully trying TO make
the two envelopes whose contents had
so upset him. meet at the edges, but
ne couldn't, because the announce
ment envelope was bigger than the
other Even the envelope couldn't be
retiring and properly apologize for
Hendrickson's foolishness. but had to
haunt the news as though 1t were
something to crow about
He had always considered Hendrick
son particularly level-headed fellow
lie and Conybeare had been like
brothers since their college days. It
had been one OF those friendships
which are so perfect that time and
distance have no effect on them and 1t
had been one of the things that con.
tribute to making life worth living
Yet Conybeare had thrown everything
over now for the sake OF some girl
Snyder felt oddly adrift and very
lonely He smiled a trine bitterly at
the memory of the phrase. finest girl |
on earth" That alone showed the be. |
fuddied state of mind Conybeare was |
In, for any one In a normal state OF
mind knew there were many fine won
en- on earth. In fact Snyder knew
several himself. He was not a woman
mater. by any means. but as he and
HendricksOn had many times decided
IN their talks and after-dinner smokes.
II was mistake to allow a woman to
have dominant place in ones life.
The man who married tied himself
down.
Snyder had been comfortably happv
In his club life and his friends. but
now two of the closest of these friends
had brutally abandoned him-had
struck their colors and bent their
necks to the yoke!
The longer he considered the situ
alton the more disgruntled Snyder got
He ate his dinner sullenly Even the ,
noiseless peace of the club dining
room, peace never achieved by a
dining room presided over by a chat
tering wife and a home cook. got on D.,
his nerves. He was upset and he
yearned to talk to some one. ;
Looking around the room. he saw a
no one he cared to join What he
wanted was intelligent sympathy Il
Women certainly caused all the trou-
Bile In the world and it was surprising h
considering what really charming per
sons they were on occasion. Anne "
Wilson. for instance s
He had known Anne for ten years II
md the Wilson house was a second {,
home TO him. The reason he liked TO n
20 there was that Anne had sense and Sc
lidnt get sentimental In fact she
eemed to look at things nearly from Il
lis point of view He was always sure
4 her understanding his ideas and d.
lie felt that she would be Just as in
ignant about Conybeare's and Hen
rickson's actions as ne was himself
he would think they had treated him
nfairly and themselves with poor ne
Judgment -
He resolved that when he finished of
lining he would run out to the VIII
ons and tell Anne all about II. In al
act, there was no one else now to hs
hon he could talk about 1t He was ne
are of Anne. If Convheare and Hen So
rtckson had only been content with m,
good. sensible friendship like that WI
lstead OF fancyine they were in love mi
~ HPN"'"S VN@tf thius sui, there
as some excuse Tor them. for women mi
the Anne Wilson stamp were rare. m'
lie was considering this when Al I'M
ltt ssuntered by and said something
What" Snyder cried. explosively.
Why dropped into the Joneses'
rs afternoon" Abbott explained W,
I'd the girls we're talking about II I
hey said it hadn't been announced +
u everybody was sure Anne Wilson She
A. engaged TO Trevors OF course. IN
may not be so w,
Snyder got to his feet. made for mis- Tn
at and hat and then dashed out OF 81 81
. club re-
lie found himself walking very fast
the direction OF the Wilson resi-
: - L