The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-03-12
HER coed TASTE

sy KITTY PARSONS.

per SyndieateD
With her mothers distinct dsap
proval, Betty Van Ness became en-
gagcd to d very nice, but very poor
young man. He was only sergeant
in the army, which was bitter blow
to Mrs. Van Ness, whose other dangh-
ter was about to marry no less a per
son than 4 colonel--a rich middle
aged man old enough to be Althea's
father.
I'm more disappointed in you than
/ can say" exclaimed Mrs. Van Ness,
a few days before Athens wedding.
"Here you are, rich, well dressed and
quite as good looking as your twin
sister, and you have neglected your
advantages shamelessIy! l refuse to
consider your marriage at all, unless
vcu choose another man. You haven't
an atom OF your sisters common
sensepi
81 don't care a bit for worldly ad
yantages," ilared the girl. 'Ned has
made his own way, l know, and I'm
proud of him for It'll"
"We VIII not discuss the matter fur
cher now. You had better see if Al
thou'S wedding gown has returned
from the essmakers-there's not too
much time"
Betty went Immediately, glad to have
the interview ended.
When she entered Althea's room,
.1t., hn, e.ie
zine. a large unopened box lay on hel
bed.
'Athca Van Ness! DO you mean to
say you haven't looked at your dress2
What girl"
Althea laughed. "Well, you see, the
story was interesting SO didn't 10th
er. wish you'd slip it on, dear. and
see if it fits. We're exactly the same
size and I'm so tired of trying things
on"
Betty obeyed, and in a moment she
was 81 vision of snowy white and sill
YER She looked at herself admiringly
IN the glass.
ooh, dear" she sighed. "Ill never
look like this If mother has anything
to say about it, for I simply won't
marry anyone elsc~
che wedding was to be at eight
o'clock in the evening and by eight In
the morning of the great day the
house began to show signs of prep
Gration. while they were Mt the
lunch table, Colonel Gould came in,
greatly excited.
Something very unforeseen has oc'
curred," he began hurriedly. ~ have
the most urgent orders to leave this
afternoon and we will. have to be mar
rled at once! / cannot explain verg
much but 1t ts unavoidable and tncre
must be no delay. The minister is in
the drawing room and Sergeant Moore
will act as best man. ! met him down
at headquarters as / was leaving. and
brought him along. You'll forgive me-
please, Mrs. Van Ness, but he's a fine
young man, and 1t was impossible TO
find anyone else at this hour"
81 do not understand the army at
ALL" Mrs. Van Ness exclaimed indig
nantly. ''They must have known il
would be terrible Inconvenience for
ps--I shall be mortified 10 death irving
TO explain to people! Imagine it
hundreds of guests and no weddngi
It's the most impossible thing I've ever
known"
Mrs. Van Ness was falrly purple
with anger. The idea of making her
self ridiculous was terrible to her
could be worsel
The ceremony was performed, how
ever, with Betty ana Ned Moore as
the only attendants and the entire
party in morning dress. Then, with
overybody's help, Althea and the colo
mel made the five O'Clock train for
and Mrs. Van Ness
10 % blind fury Of rage and disappolnt-
mont gave way to helpless tears.
"Only think Of the guests" she
stosmcd And no bride and groom
Its hopeless perfectly hopeless! :"
Betty ana Ned came back from the
train. flushed with excitement. Even
sIrs. Van Ness had to admit that
he was a very good-looking young
man.
"pleose. mother dear, let us take
their places and be parried tonight;
Please please, Please motherr Betty
lnelt beside her mothers chair and |
looked up at her imploringly. "Althea's |
dress just fits me, and everyone viii |
De so surprised and so pleased and
,heyll think you were so clever TO
ptgn it all, Please. mother dear"
This was the final straw, and Mrs.
Van Ness had to give in. She could |
not beav 20 have all her plans upset,
So she made the concession.
I've iust had a commission for sec. !
nnd lieutenant 700, so it will sound
better" added Ned, and Mrs. Van
Ness actually held out her hand and
him.
"What a beautiful weddingw ex-
one of the guests that eve
ming. "And how charming the groom
is-quite an addition to the family"
said someone else.
Mrs Van Ness always had good |
taste" added another. "This was so
clever Of her!"
The next day Althea read the an
to her husband. the colo
mel, and they laughed together.
IF mother knew that you didn't
have to go yesterday, wouldn't she
be wild Think of 1t going off so