The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-06-13
Surprise!
1t Resulted In
Another One
By CLARISSA MACKIE

ssssssssssssssssssssssesss
A succession Of darkly wrapped
forms scudded up the snowy path to
Mrs. Peter Weldrake's side door and
disappeared within a brief glimpse Of
rudy lighted room. Each time the
door opened to admit another arrival
there were much laughter and noisy
conversation before the door became
dark blank again.
Everybody herer' demanded Mrs.
Weldrake. emerging from her kitchen.
large. beetle browed and commanding
Of aspect. She was dressed in a stiff.
black taffeta silk skirt of generous
width and white lawn waist. She
wore large white apron. and as she
came into the sitting room there how
cred about her defined odor Of fresh
ly made coffee and recently fried
doughnuts.
Everybody here?" she repeated, re-
viewing the chattering groups Of wom-
en- and the awkward men lowering
about the door.
"All except Althea Laden and her
mother" spoke mp young girl. They
oughter been here by this time. saw
them drive away from their house
long before we left"
There was an embarrassed silence
before Mrs. Weldrake answered: "Well.
we needn't wait for Althea Laden and
her mother. They amt coming" She
vanished into the kitchen.
mot eoming?" asked the girl who
had spoken before.
'"They wasn't asked" whispered a
woman guardedly.
~Not asked?' echoed the girl.
"'Tisn't likely. is it?" giggied wo-
man with a nod of her head toward
the kitchen door. and the girl, glancing
Mt Mrs. Weldrake's daughter, Stella,
nodded Understandings.
"Althea Laden wasn't asked, to the
minister's surprise" The words ran
around in low murmured disapproval,
for Althea and her mother were village
favorites, and the invariable "WhyT
and its answer followed. All of the
women already knew that the Ladens
had not been invited. but under the
stern injunction of Mrs. Weldrake
none had dared to break the seal Of Sc
crecy imposed upon the especially in
vited, for this surprise on the bachelor
minister of Thornville had found its in
ception in the brain of matchmaking
Mrs. Weldrake. and Althea Laden was
not to be invited. Fat, good natured
Stella Weldrake and pretty Althea La
den had always been warm friends.
and according to Stella's discriminat-
ing parent that stout. amiable damsel
was quite outrivaled by Althea's more
delicate charms; hence this surprise
party. from which the Ladens were
omitted and where Stella was expected
to shine undimmed and perchance cap
ture the minister's unsuspecting heart
"It's 8 O'clock" announced Mrs. Wei
drake, bustling into the sitting room
arrayed In warm shawls and with a
knitted 'fascinator" over her iron gray
hair. ~ guess we better be going.
see q lamp lighted in Mr.. Whitney's
study" She lifted Il window curtain
and pecred across the snowy fields to-
ward the parsonage. HE don't sus-
pect a thing"
''And, SO far as / know, nobody else
outside this room knows about the sur
PRISE" added Mrs. Dora Hatch triuIn-
phantly as the party trooped forth,
each one bearing burdens Of toothsome
viands. Big Peter Weldrake brought
up the rear with a steaming can of cof-
fee.
The surprise party creaked across
the snow with much smothered laugh
ter mingled with Difference as they ap-
preached the parsonage from the path
across the fields.
A green shaded lamp beamed from
the study window. but there was no
sign of the minister's dark, well shaped
head outlined against the bookcases.
Hes stepped out a minute" breath
ed Mrs. Weldrake hoarsely. Most
likely's he's locking the door after Jen-
ME Plumb. That's why waited till 8
o'clock, after she'd got the dishes done.
She's mortal SLOW"
"Tbere she goes now"
The group stood huddled by the back
porch watching the bulky form of the
black woman who came In by the day
to do the minister's housework
When Jennie Plumb had tramped out
Of sight the surprise party tiptoed care
fully around the path to the front door
Mrs. Weldrake leading and her hus
band bringing up the rear.
A dim light burned In the hall. but
save for a green glimmer from the
study beyond the parors were quite
dark. Mrs. Weldrake rang the bel
once, twice, three times. without re
Spouse.
"I guess Mr.. whitney amt to home
whispered doubtful voice.
That's all the better" snapped bach
Mrs. weldrake. trying the doorknob
"This doors unlocked. and we can e
right in and give him the surprise OF
his life.'
The women heaped their wraps In
the hall In the manner Of those who
were accustomed to the business oi
surprisIng unsuspecting persons II
their homes and bore their bundles
of refreshments kitchenward. theil
mouths rounded to shout "Surpisev