The Detroit times., 1911-12-25
- COLONEL -
~ TODHUNTER ~
@<MSSOLl1 N|"|
DfR,ntf b. SAUNDERS
0IMSSOLM
N observation-disclosures
css,rsA. isu. rAs Bsbss Merrill co@ps-s

certainly can't afford to take no
chances on losin' her You shorely
do need preacher as soon as you
can get him, suh-there amt no two
ways about that"
All OF which accounts for the fact
that Mrs. Todhunter and Mary and
the Colonel were the guests OF the
Lipscombes at supper that same eve
ming. This was not by any means
the first time such a thing had hap
pened, and the minister and his wife
were frequent guests of the Todhun-
tiers. The Colonel. therefore, met with
no difficulty In ''tolling" Mrs. Todhun-
ter into the trap set for her.
Nevertheless, being a man of hon.
est soul Colonel Todhunter looked
guilty when, soon after supper. there
came a knock at the front door and
the Reverend Mr.. Lipscombe was
summoned to his study. Fortunately,
however, Mrs. Todhunter was entire
easy conscience revealed itself In his
facial expression without exciting
her attention.
utes or more. When he returned
Its Sim Birdsong and Miss An
gelicia Exall," he said. They want
me TO marry them.
To the preachers wife an an
nouncement OF this nature had ceased
to be a novelty But Mrs. Todhunter
was aroused to instant and absorbing
interest and Mary was vastly excited.
Its runaway wedding!" Mrs.
T<k1A Let. ii -
her sentimental being responding to
the appeal of romance. Just as sure
as we're sitting here, they've eloped! :"
The Reverend Mr.. Lipscombe nod
ded.
That is true. Mrs. Todhunter," he
replied. And have consented to
perform the ceremony. | feel that II
| is right for me to do so. They are q
good and worthy young people, they
love each other, they are both OF age,
and | know that the girls mother Is
| trying to marry her to richer man
in spite OF the fact that she loves Sim
Birdsong instead Under the circum-
stances. | would not feel justified in
refusing to marry them"
| Then, after a moments silence,
And now, Colonel and Mrs. Todhun-
ter" he resumed, II want to ask you
to act as witnesses to the wedding. II
will greatly please the young people.
and told them felt sure you would
consent TO do SO. hope you are both
willing. and shall be very much
obliged"
Mrs. Todhunter became suddenly
fiustered. Il don't know just what TO
do" she wavered. Not that l disap-
prove of what Sim and Angelica are
doing under the circumstances, but
mothers are mighty resentful, Mr..
Lipscombe! wouldn't thank any
woman for helping my own daughter
Mary. to elope with young man
didn't like. and | know Mrs. Exall
won't thank me, either"
Mary" remarked Colonel Todhunter
casually, you amt a-helpin these
young folks to elope. They've already
eloped. They're a.goin' to get married
whether you see 'em or not. All that
Mr.. Lipscombe asks is that you'll wit
ness the ceremony. I'd do IL, IL was
you. II may help poor little Miss An
gelica to keep her courage up and
feel bit cheerful, Mary"
This was plausible argument. Mrs
Todhunter beamed on the Colonel. In
reality. there was nothing she more
dearly loved than helping youne
people TO get married
We'll, now, that certainly is the
truth. Colonel Todhunterl" she cried
We didn't know a thing about 4,
till this blessed minute, did we? And
II amt our fault that we happened
to be here at this precise moment
either. II does seem to me 1t wouldn't
be just right to refuse-and do feel
ought to help 'em, now that they've
gone this far The poor thingsl"
Whereupon the Reverend Mr.. Lips
combe, Mrs. Lipscombe, Colonel Tod
hunter and Mrs. Todhunter and Mary
marched to the relief OF Sim Blrdsone
and Miss Angelica Exall. They found
the young couple. dismally frightened
perched very close together on one
OF Mrs. Lipscombe's old-fashioneC
horsehair sofas. Something like
look OF dazed recognition came into
Sims panic-stricken eyes as they rest
cd upon Colonel Todhunter's famlliaI
face, and he essayed to smile crate
fully, but the smile was appalling II
its unlikeness to any ordinary human
effort In that direction. AS for Miss
Angelica Exall, she was pathetic n
her fright and illustration. Mrs. Tod
hunters motherly heart melted at tn.
sight OF her and she went straight
4 n. n.