The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-10-12
BELATED
HAPPINESS

| nounced the interesting news 10 ner.
| why. it's the most absurd thing
ever heard Of"
At this rather unusual form OF con-
| graduation her brother Leonard
| laughed
"On the principle that there's no
fool like an old fool?" he inquired
| well, since we're in for adages, as
one might say, prefer It's never too
late to mend And. joking aside, I'm
surely the luckiest fellow In the
world to have the finest and best girl
in the world saved for me all this
time. | can hardly believe it's true"
From that moment his sister al
ways said he never had a glimmer
Of intelligence until after the wed
ding
The affair had developed with re-
markable suddenness while Leonard
was passing the holidays with his Sis
ter. Leonard and Martha Tyler had
known each other from childhood. So
there was more than one covert smile
and sarcastic comment when, after
going east and remaining for year
Leonard returned and. at the ripe age
of forty-five, fell desperately in love
with Martha aged forty.
Leonard came west again week
before the wedding-another evil
dence of insanity, his sister said.
The day before the wedding he and
Martha disappeared as completely as
If the earth had swallowed them up.
It was ten o'clock that morning be-
fore Mrs. Ward realized that her
brother had left the house without In
forming anybody as to his intentions.
She called up Martha's sister, with
whom Martha had made her home,
and asked If Leonard were there. the
two had gone out together some time
before.
Didn't they say anything about
getting a license?" inquired Mrs
Ward.
Martha's sister was sure that moth
ing of the sort had been said in her
presence. Mrs. Ward hung up the
telephone receiver and then gave her
self up to the hopeless process OF try
ing to convince herself that James
couldn't have been such an idiot as
to forget the marriage license.
At eleven o'clock that night Leon
ard wandered in, happy and without
the license. To do him Justice, he
was quite as much disturbed as the
most exacting sister could have
wished when he was told that there
would be barely time in the morning
for them to go down and get 1t and
return for the ceremony.
He rose bright and early the next
morning and seemed so alive to the
seriousness Of the occasion that his
sister allowed him to leave the house
without any misgiyings rs to what he
might do while away However, as
time passed and he did not return,
her serenity deserted her. She fid-
geted uncomfortably for Is minutes
or so. then called UP Marthas home
She was informed by the maid who
answered the telephone that Leon
ard had lust left the house. A subse-
uuent short interview with Martha's
sister revealed the fact that Martha
and Leonard only few moments be-
fore, when both their toilets should
have been well on the way to COM
pletion, had been found reading po-
etry in the library.
"He certainly is crazy" said Leon
ards sister, almost in a tone OF awe
Not bit more crazy than she is"
said Martha's sister.
Fifteen minutes after Leonard had
returned home and then had disap-
reared into his own room, with strict
instructions from his sister not to do
any more foolish things until after he
was married, Mrs. Ward heard
meek voice calling from the hall
Carrie" the voice was saying. II
wonder if you could help me-"
Mrs. Ward went to the door Of her
room and looked out. In the hall,
looking thinner and more forlorn
than she had any idea he could look.
stood her brother. In one hand he
held a small Jar about half full OF
some sort of yellowish, greasy con
coctiOn. In the other an uncomfort
able looking towel With the towel
he now and then gave futile dabs Mt
his face. down wficn was sliding In
slippery streams the other half Of the
contents of the jar mingled with slip
perry brooklets of soapy water,
what is ito" he asked, forlornly
81 thought tit was a shampoo. but
it seems so queer"
Mrs. Ward snatched the Jar ont of
his hand. "Why you great idiot"
she said with more force than 20.
likeness. its goosegrease It's ap-
propriate enough, I'm sure"
For minute she gave herself up
to the Joy of contemplating him. Then
she took him firmly by the arm and
led him back to the bathroom, where
she soaped him and stood him on his
head in the washbowl and rinsed him
and then began the process all over
again. within half an hour Of the
time set for the wedding she pro-
nounced him sufficiently cleaned.
Some time later, just after en-
bracing the bridegroom, who looked
so rare that he might have been
called raw, Mrs Ward turned to the
bride.
Martha she said, 1--WE always