The Washington herald., 1914-11-22

I. Persis invited the four elect to a
luncheon at her club, and by having
her ideas clear and enforcing them in
delicately adamant tone she managed
to close the session in two hours. II
was good work, and it was necessary !;
for the bridesmaids costumes must be
ready in time for the photographs.
y She managed the luncheon so well
that she finished it ahead of the time
she had told her chauffeur to call for
her She left the bridesmaids all talk
ing at once, for she had an appointment
with one of her dressmakers. As she
came down the steps of the quantity
colonial Colony Club she found no taxi
in sight. She would not wait to have
one summoned. The brief walk would
do her good She set out briskly down
Madison avenue and turned into
Twenty-ninth street TO cross to Fifth
avenue
This brought her to one OF the few
churchyards in almost CRASHES New
York-the pleasant green acre of the
Church of the ransfguration, known
to theatrical history as The Little
Church Around the Corner" and to the
elopement industry as another Gretna
Green.
AS she approached it a taxicab drew
up al the curb, and Stowe Webb and
Alice Neff bounced out, almost bowling
Persis over, as usual. Both had a much
dressed-up look, and Alice carried a
little bouquet
Persis was in a hurry, but she SCENT
ed excitement. When the two lovers
had apologized, for their Juggernautical
haste, she asked, with the demurest of
smiles:
And what are you children doing in
this dark alley"
"Oh, we're just-just-" Alice stam-
mered.
Does your mother know your.
out?"
Naturally not" Alice smiled, more
cheerfully.
"Mischiefs brewing. I've got to
know"
Can you keep a secret?"
That's my other name-Inviolate"
Alice hesitated, then took a precau-
tIOn. Gross your heart and hope to
swallow fsh-hooks?"
PersIs drew an Y over her heart, and
vowed: Il am full OF fsh-hooks."
Alice looked up and down the street
cautiously, then spoke in a whisper of
awesome solemnity: We'll. then.
Stowe and | have given mamma tbs
slip, and we're going toto"
Get a chocolate sundae with two
spoons"
Alice bridled with indignation. Ger
tainly not We're not children! We
are going to run away and be married"
Persis nodded her head gravely.
THAT was what | was afraid you were
going to say. But why this haste?"
We'll. you see, Stowe has Just got
a -humm! It's a terribly i'm
portant pOst-secretary to Ambassador
TAFT"
Ambassador j
Yes; the Senator is going to France
and Stowe is to help him out"
The young secretary spoke in. trying
not to look as important as he felt: Il I
simply can't endure the thought of
eaving Alice ali alone over here. So
we're going to get married"
''Fine!" said Persis, with subtlety. Il /
suppose you get a whopping big sal I
ary."
Indeed he does!" said Alice. {
Twelve hundred a year! It's wonder
ful for beginning"
PersiS suppressed her emotions at
the talk OF salary She hated the word;
but she exclaimed, Wonderful Then
she turned to Stowe to ask: Does the
Senator know you're going to bring a
bride along"
NO: we're going to surprise him.
PersiS thought of her appointment.
1t was vitally important, but she felt
A call to duty She thought it was
rather good of her to heed it. She
bundled the two young people back into
the waiting taXicab in spite of their
protests.
Take us for little drive. Stowe"
she said. 81 want word with you. Tell
the man to go down Washington j
Square way. You're not so likely to
meet her mother
Slowed obeyed reluctantly, and the {
taxicab groaned on its way Persis /
set Stowe on the small hap-seat and t
turned so that she could skewer him (
md Alice with one look.
Now, Alice" she began, Tets be {
sensible Alice looked appealingly al I
Stowe, but Persis objected. Don't
ook at him-look at me. First, who's I
going to support you children when you r
are married?' /
They answered like chorus: why, L
lie is Il am), of course" \
Alice, dear, how much has your Y
mother been allowing you for pin. t
FIVE thousand YEAR
"Oh, she claims it's more than that d
Ne had an awful row the first Of last
month" n
Persis looked very innocent and n
choolgirlish as she said And Mr.. $
Webb gets twelve hundred" c,
Yes" IN
Now, Alice, I'm very backward in Ii
so you'll have to tell me o
I one person cannot live on FIVE thou
and year. do you think two persons Ii
1ill be perfectly comfortable on twelve Ii
undred?"
oh, but I'll economizel' Alice pro- ri
ested. 'It will be a pleasure to do in
ithout things-if have Stowe" m
Yes" Persis shifted, almost any C
hing we're not used to is pleasant for III
novelty; but in time | should fancy
lat even economy would cease to be b,
luxury. And where in Paris do you al
Ian to live~on your twelve hundred?" III
AT hotel, to begin with" Stowe W
lggested. II
"Oh, you'll eat your cake first. Ell? d[
lot bad idea; you're sure of getting sr
, then" u
Then we can get such ducks of fat, in
Auteuil.'