The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-05-03
:.>7!@..>1!&. 49, 1,1!l..>>!&
Lawson Puts ASunder
<Copyzight. 1911. By Associated Literary Press.>
Ky M. J. PHILLIPS

The complacent Mrs. Melbourne
glanced keenly at her daughter tor a
moment. rs 1t such a terrible thing.
Jean-the ceremony, l mean? Anoth-
era formal one"
Van Sluyck leaned forward eagerly
in his chair. II don't think it's 4
calamity. Jean. You know how I feel
how I've always felt"
Jean stole peep at Edwy Lawson
from under her long eyelashes. He
was digging vicious holes in his desk
blotter.
Il don't know" she sighed. II
couldn't think what to do until I was
sure the law called it a-marriage."
Mrs. Melbourne rose. She was posi-
lively beaming. THANK you so much.
Mr.. Lawson. Mr.. Melbourne will send
you a check. Come, dear"
Ferdy, caressing an insufferable
little mustache, was also beaming.
Edwy felt like biting him.
Mind, I don't say positively this
ceremony is binding" he said wick
eddy. Il would have to know all the
| circumstances; and, come to think
of it, there Is supreme court decision
of 1876 that has a bearing on certain
mock marriages. will look that up
and call tonight to let you know" he
finished, boldly.
There's no hurry" began Mrs. Mel.
bourne, quickly.
"Oh, yes there Isl" assured Jean.
who had been dashing her eyes with
| her handkerchief. do come up,
Edwy."
That evening the attorney was strid'
ing back and forth like menagerie
exhibit. He and Jean were alone In
the coy back parlor. The nght-hearted
| house party was making merry else
! where.
Edwy sat down az far as possible
from Jean. He did not dare 60 near;
there was subdued pensiveness
about her altogether unaccustomed
and charming. He wanted to cuddle
| and to comfort her, and he hadn't the
right, or the money to give him the
right.
WELL" be began, as cheerfully as
possible, "the rs decision has moth
ing to do with your case. The cere'
mony is legal and binding"
Jeen sighed and looked down at
her intertwined fingers. "Oh. well.
she said. gently, Il don't know that
it makes much difference. Every
bcdy's delighted-Ferdy and his moth
er and my mother"
Il thought your mother was" 70
marked Lawson.
you did,"
eyes, did; Van Sluyck hasn't any
thing but money. He's catch"
why, Edwy!" There was an In.
jured look in her dewy eyes.
And so are you dslighted," he
charged, hsrsb,S. HE can give you
a flock Of auhomobilee, and a forty
room houes. Bah, money, money
money! It's the only :hing that counts
nowadays"
She bridlcd. "You shouldn't talk 80
Mr.. Lawson. I have perfect right
to abide by the law"
"You haven't" E1wy's voice was
sharp with misery. THAT marriage
must be anuulled."
Must be annulled-wAy?
Because l want you m;seH-and
I'm going tc have you"
He gathered her hands to hts breast
and kissed the pink re.ms.
Jean swayed toward him. "Oh
Edwy," she whispered, II was afraid
you were never going to say it,"
After a while, some minutes-o1
maybe hours-later, Jean remarked
demurely: II really don't think an an
nulment is necessary, Edwy. Yor
see, when Polly asked me II I'd love
honor and obey Ferdy, didn't sa,
Yes"
You didn't" ccried Edwy excit
eddy.
Il said, NO, never. I WOULDN'T
promise to obey any man."
Affectionate mirthfulness buhblet
up in Edwy's eyes. "You little SET
lawyer. you! That really does pu
the whole thing in the catalogue O.
Jokes" But" he continued. shrewd
ly, why didn't you tell he that il
the office this afternoon"
Her burrowing movement fixed {
few more grains of rice powder in thu
shoulder Of his coat. Because
wanted to tell you-he@e!" she whis
pered.