The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-07
buckled 1t at tAe back until the seams

bet l d." screamed the best man.
Got one now"
whats that" shrieked Tom.
A shaggy head appeared at the door
and amid the soapsuds came this,
eve a presentiment that this is going
to be a jolly cold proposition"
what. my MARRIAGE"
"What conceited ass you are. Tom.
I had reference to my shower"
The door closed just In time to re-
ceive a well-aimed boot.
Ely II the men were ready and on
their way to the house. As they near
ed 1t, Tom became more and more
nervous. There seemed to be a 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 wedding that
We are going to. not a funeral. I'll
give you an extra half dollar II you
hurry"
IAN extra half. is it? You talk like
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 II you had curvature of
the spine Pull yourself together. will
you? Any girl that had such a look
ing object as you on her calling list
would be ostraeized by good society
and one who would marry you would
be declared mentally incompetent"
"All right, I'll pull up, but I've a
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
ize H."
you old !oacher. 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 max" myself think | was forgetting
Eleanor"
"And every night" said Tom. 81
went to see Eleanor because yon were
over AZ Edna's and had no right to
trespass on your preserves. a nice
mess we've made of It. What are we
going to do?"
"Do? Why. that's easy enough" as
surcd Jack. Il am going to be the
groom ana you can just slide back in.
to my boots as best man. Wen 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 ont and were usher
ed into the room where the minister
was waiting for them. No word of OK.
PLANTATION was uttered, and tho men
took their places by the minister, who
was to pronounce them man and wife.
The wedding march was played and
IS Eleanor in her gorgeous robes
zane forth to meet the man of her
'hoice. Jack Winston stepped forth
md offered her his arm. Eleanor was
speeches., but too happy to resent.
md before the gaping crowd the min
ster tied the knot that made them
me "till death do them part"
Then Jack began his explanations:
simplest thing in the world" he
'aid. "iou see, Tom ordered the in
and of course the printer
ook il for granted that il was his
Wedding merely typographical err
or. nothing more"
Icanor's mother stepped iii ut this
moment and with naughty manner
inquired:
Then may ask why Tom gave the
bachelor dinner-why Tom bought the
ing"
Yes, mother" said Jack. with
cry proprietary manner. "You see.
was broke at the time. and Tom, as
on all know. is just loaded with mon
y. so | gave him carte blanche to
ust 60 ahead as II 1t was his own
Wedding and Id pay him back in good
line. You see, only came into my
yesterday. and that would
ave been too late to order invitations.
I've dinners. etc. Anyway, how could
on ever think that Tom was going to
harry Eleanor? Why, he's engaged
. marry Edna, and II you don't be.
eve me, ask them for yourself. I
I'll you It was typographical error
nothing more,
The color that suffused Edna's face.
nd the smile that glorified Jacks
erified the statement, and the guests
ere in flutter Of pleasurable ex.
ltement when. in the corner. Jack !
as shaking Tom by the hand and ,
lying: ,
Didn't I tell you I'd see you ,
trough It, old MANI" !