The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-07-31

them that the other would eventually
get both estates | finally got them to
consider a union. John was willing to
meet Margaret and look her over. Mar
garet, when / took her up on her invi-
tation to bring him along" backed
out, saying that she didn't propose to
be trotted out like a horse for sale.
But she failed to suggest any other
method, and began to think the mat
ter was entirely off when she made
the following remarkable propositions:
Since you think ] must either lose
my fortune or marry this woman hater
l will marry him. But won't live
with him. win that serve the pur-
poser
at would help matters, and you
might learn to love him."
Love him? Nonsenser'
"Well, I'll send him to call on you"
81 don't wish to meet him"
"Then how will you marry him-by
proxy?'
"On the day appointed for the wed
ding bring him here few minutes be-
fore the ceremony. l will come down
stairs, and the service must begin as
soon as l enter the room. When it is
concluded let him go at once. l don't
wish to have a word with him"
''Phew! Talk about woman haters!
Man haters are a hundredfold worse.
However, a marriage, even like this,
will straighten out some legal points
of great Importance in these estates.
and when you have met Dexter, who,
have often told you, is n bang up
good fellow, you may relent. One thing
/ fear-if you treat your husband as
your propose he will never consent to
meet you after the marriage"
HIN! / haven't said / would con-
sent to meet him, have II
Having accomplished in a measure
what 1 had set out to do, / felt very
much like backing out and telling
both the parties that after all such a
union as the lady proposed would be
Of no great advantage to their inter
ests and would only chain together
two persons who would consider their
bonds a burden. But, with a distaste
for marriage on the part of both, what
difference could such a wedlock make
since neither wished to marry any one
at all? They would be married under
the law, which would mean nothing
except in their property affairs. On
the whole, l decided to let the matter
go ON and take the consequences,
whatever they might be.
The marriage ceremony occurred at
II O'Clock noon. l reached the house
with Dexter, who leaned on me for
moral support in what he called the
most dreadful moment of his life, at
five minutes of Il. He Wore an ordi-
nary business suit, but if he had been
dressed in a carter's suit the gentle
man-to the manner born-would have
been none the less apparent
When the clocks began 10 strike
IL door opened, and Margaret. be-
comingly dressed, but not In bridal
costume, entered. saw the two
glance at each other, little pale, but
after the first sight natural color
came into the cheeks of both During
the service they made the responses
in a reasonably clear and firm tone.
When they We're required to join hands
l saw slight flush come over Johns
face. 1 wondered if it came from the
human current coursing through their
arms or if Margaret had by the slight
est possible pressure conveyed some
thing TO him.
There were no congratulations the
bride leaving the room as soon as the
ceremony had been finished. The
brides mother advanced to John and
engaged him In conversation had
promised him that as soon as the cere-
mony was over I would SO with him
to his club and join him Tn something
to steady his nerves. But Mrs Storms
seemed to be making it difficult for
him to get away, 50 passed out, say
ing 30 him as did so.
''You will find me at the club"
went to the club and waited for
him an hour. He did not put in an
appearance Having at my office mat
tiers needing my attention, went there
and began an afternoons work, expect
ing the while to see John come in. He
didn't come. At o'clock 1 returned to
the club, asked if he had been there
and learned that he had not.
l had promised to dine with him, he
assuring me that if failed him in his
extremity it would be a cause Of war
between US. Nevertheless the dinner
hour came and passed and no John.
Nor did be appear during the evening.
John did not turn up for a month,
at the end of which time he telephoned
me to dine with him and his wife the
same evening at her home. l Gasped
for breath. Did l hear Alright? Had l
gone daft?
"W-ha-tT' / asked.
"Seven O'Clock"
"Where?"
"At Mrs. Storms. We haven't got
any other place to live yet. You know.
mana rrae