The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-08-03
from anxiety concerning bis expected


Miss withers went to Ovenker's
room. knocked gently at the door and.
receiving no other reply than a snore,
pushed the door open sufficiently to
enable her to look In at her slumber-
ing fiance. He seemed so dead tired
and was resting SO comfortably that she
had not the heart to awaken him. Co.
ing downstairs TO her friend. she said:
IL don't know but that we had bet
ter permit him to remain In ignorance
If the fact that he Is In q private
house. He is very sensitive as to his
treatment of others, and to know that
he had spoken to my friend and hostess
us a landlady would dampen Ills spir-
IT'S for the wedding so soon to follow"
81 have been thinking Of the same
thing and quite agree with you." re-
piled Mrs Chester There will be no
necessity to make an explanation.
You can tell him about 1t at some
future time"
At the end of two hours after Miss
| Withers' arrival the time appointed for
the wedding arrived. and the butler
| was sent to Overaker's room to awak-'
en- him and announce Miss Withers' ar
rival The announcement tended to
arouse the lieutenant, who completed
his toilet and. going down into the
drawing room, embraced the girl who
was soon TO be his bride. She ex-
planned the delay in her arrival. and
her presence uninjured did away with
the shock that might otherwise have
| been expected.
II think we need some refreshment,"
said Overaker and, stepping to an elec-
trio button, pushed 1t. The butler en-
| tered, and Overaker said:
Bring us in bite Of anything you
may have in the larder and let me have
| wine card"
The butler had been coached and re-
tired with simple ayes, sir" The
bride to be was about to inform her
lover that he was making a mistake.
but changed her mind. concluding to
let the matter take its course. There
being some delay in serving the re-
freshment. Overaker rang the bell
again. intending to give the butler a
piece Of his mind for being SO long.
But the man brought with him tray.
on which were dainty luncheon and
bottle Of wine.
"AI right" said Overaker. "Where's
the wine cardT'
1.-THE landlady says that 1t will be in
the BILL" was the reply.
Lieutenant Overaker and his bride
to be enjoyed very delicious luncheon
together. Overaker, it must be admit
ted. was more in condition to make
merry than his fiancee, who was be-
ginniAS to feel somewhat concerned as
permitting the use of her house for
the bridal was receiving at the hands
Of her lover. This belief that Mrs.
Chester was landlady and was to
receive pay for what she was giving
was becoming embarrassing Some
thing must be done to change the
status. ~--. -------'s.Eir-- ~
Don't you think" said Miss With
ers, ''that since Mrs. Chester has been
so kind as to make the arrangements
for our wedding we should invite her
to lunch with us?"
Certainly. Bring her in"
Miss Withers went out and returned
with Mrs. Chester, who played her part
as landlady admirably and treated the
bride and groom with the respect due
them from one of her station. Over
aker drew the line between his land
lady and an equal, much to her amuse-
ment, while his fiancee was trif1e EN-
barrassed at the situation.
The wedding was set for 4 o'clock in
the afternoon. Overaker was to leave
to rejoin his regiment at 8, while the
bride was to remain for brief visit.
When the parson arrived the house
hold entered a room that had been
properly decorated and awaited the
coming Of the bride and groom. The
latter was somewhat surprised ut the
richness Of the decorations and voted
the landlady who had prepared them a
trump. But what surprised him more
was to find her gowned and jeweled in
a manner not BETTING the landlady Of
the Chester inn. There was still an
other surprise-a necklace that only
person of wealth could afford. which
Mrs. Chester gave the bride for we'd
ding present.
By this time Overaker began to sus-
pect that something was wrong. But
be did not communicate his suspicious
to his bride. Shortly before leaving the
house he said to her:
81 suppose am in for some expense
In this matter"
| mot at ALL" was the reply "Since
| we could not be married in Chicago.
| where all the expense would have
fallen on my father. the bills here are
al paid. the same as If the wedding
had taken place at my home"
But began the groom and paused
But what?' v,..,.
How about the luncheon and wine
orderedi'' stammered the lieutenant.
The bride broke into laugh. called
her friend, "the landlady." and all was
explained to the groom.
His remark on being enlightened VAS
indicative of the selfshness Of man.
"If this gets out in the regiment I'm
gone up" sia a
"T am delighted" said Mrs. Chester.
with the outcome Of this affair. When