Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1911-04-13

to his entire satisfaction. He had but
toned and unbuttoned his waistcoat
, until his thumbs were blistered. He
had pulled it down in front and
buckled 1t at the back until the seams
threatened to give way.
Il say, old man." he yelled at the
bathroom door, do you believe in pre-
sentiments"
Bet do" screamed the best man.
Got one now"
Whats that" shrieked Tom.
A shaggy head appeared at the door
and amid the soapsuds came this,
I've presentiment that this is going
to be jolly cold proposition"
What, my marriage?"
What conceited ass you are, Tom.
! had reference to my shower"
The door closed just In time to re-
cefve well-aimed boot
By II the men were ready and on
their way to the house. AS they neared
1t, Tom became more and more nerv-
Gus. There seemed to be weight on
his heart that he could not lift At
that moment the best man was hang
ing out the cab window. cursing the
driver for the snail-like pace they were
pursuing.
Il say, Cabby, this is a wedding that
we are going to, not a funeral I'll give
you an extra half dollar II you hurry"
AN extra half, is 1t? You talk like
a politician. Well, sir, you might cor
rupt me, but this horse can't be bribed
and weddin's or funerals, his gait is
all the same. Rest easy while you can,
sir-the lady will drive you fast
enough once she gets the reins."
The best man was about to rail at
the Irish as nation, when Tom said:
IF anything should happen"
Jumping Jupiter, Tom, brace up,
You look as if you had curvature of
the spine Pull yourself together, will
you? Any girl that had such look.
ing object as you on her calling list
would be ostracized by good society
and one who would marry you would
be declared mentally incompetent"
All right, I'll pull up, but I've
beastly idea that something is going
wrong. Jack, old man, | can't do it.
I'm in love with Edna Cross, and not
with Eleanor I've just begun to real
lie IT.
You old poacher, then why did you
ask Eleanor to marry you, when you
knew that have loved her all my life
and have been trying to forget her
for months? Night after night | went
over and sat with Edna, trying to make
myself think | was forgetting Eleanor
And every night" said Tom, Il
went to see Eleanor because you were
over at Edna's and | had no right to
trespass on your preserves. A nice
mess we've made of 1t. What are we
going to do?"
Dor Why, that's easy enough" as
sured Jack. Il am going to be the
groom and you can Just slide back into
my boots as best man. Well blame
the whole thing on the printer. Trust
me- old man. said I'd see you through
this ordeal, and I'm going to keep my
word"
AS the cab finally reached the house
the men stepped out and we're ushered
into the room where the minister was
waiting for them. No word of explana-
ton was uttered, and the men took
their places by the minister who was
to pronounce them man and wife. The
wedding march was played and as
Eleanor in her gorgeous robes came
forth to meet the man Of her choice,
Jack Winston stepped forth and Of
fered her his arm Eleanor was speech
less, but too happy to resent, and be-
fore the gaping crowd the minister
tied the knot that made them one till
death do them part"
Then Jack began his explanations:
Simplest thing in the world" he
said. you see, Tom ordered the in
vitations, and Of course the printer
took 1t for granted that 1t was his
wedding a typographical err
/ ror, nothing more"
Eleanor's mother stepped In at this
moment and with naughty manner
inquired:
Then may I ask why Tom gave the
bachelor dinner-why Tom bought the
ring?"
Yes. mother" said Jack, with
very proprietary manner. you see,
was broke at the time, and Tom, as
you all know, Is Just loaded with
money, so gave him carte blanche to
just go ahead as If 1t was his own wed
ding and I'd pay him back in good
time. You see, / only came into my
inheritance yesterday, and that would
have been too late to order invitations,
give dinners, etc. Anyway. how could
you ever think that Tom was going
to marry Eleanor? Why, he's engaged
to marry Edna, and II you don't be-
lieve me, ask them for yourself
tell you it was typographical error
nothing more"
The color that suffused Edna's face,
and the smile that gloritied Jacks YER
flied the statement, and the guests
were in flutter of pleasurable excite
ment when, in the corner, Jack was
shaking Tom by the hand and say.
ing:
Didn't tell you I'd see you through
1t, old man."