The Washington herald., 1920-07-30

How does he stand in the mat
ter?"
Crazy" says Rebosa. Ma has
to wet down the front steps to
keep him from sitting there all
the time. But 1 guess thatll be
all after tonight" she winds up
with a sigh.
"Rebosa," says l. you don't
really experience any of this
alteration called love for old
Mack, do YOU"
Lord. no." says the girl. shak-
ing her head. Il think he's as
dry as a lava bed. The idea"
Who is this young man that
you like, Rebosa?'' / inquiries
It's Eddie Bayles." says she
He clerks in Crosby's grocery.
But he don't make but thirty-five
a month. Ella Noakes was wild
about him once"
"OId Mack tells me-" I says.
that he's going to marry you at
o'clock this evening"
That's the time" says she.
It's TO be at our house"
"Rebosa-" says !. listen to me
II Eddie Bayles had $1,000 cash
TAHNNNs lIliu NOus Ntulu buN IlHl
a store Of his own-if you and
Eddie had that much to excuse
matrimony on, would you consent
to marry him this evening at
o'clock"
The girl looks at me a minute:
and can see these naudible cogi-
tations going on inside of her, as
women will.
"A thousand dollars" says she
"Of course ! would"
Come on" says l. Well go
and see Eddie"
We went up TO Crosby's store
and called Eddie outside. He
looked to be estimable and
freckIed; and he had chiIls and
fever when made my PROPOSE
ton.
AT o'clock?' says he. FOR
$1,000? Please don't wake me
up? Well. you are the rich uncle
retired from the spice business in
India! I'll buy out old Crosby
and run the store myself"
We went inside and got old
man Crosby apart and explained
it. ! wrote my check for $1,000
and handed it to him. II Eddie
and Rebosa married each other at
5 he was to turn the money over
to them.
And then l gave en- my bIes-
sing, and went to wander in the
wildwood for a season. l sat on
log and made cogitations on life
and old age and the zodiac and
the ways OF women and all the
disorder that goes with lifetime.
l passed myself congratulations
that 1 had probably saved my old
friend Mack from his attack OF
Indian summer. ! knew when he
got we'll of it and shed his infatu-
alton and his patent leather shoes.
he would feel grateful. TO keep
old Mack disinvolved.' thinks ].
from relapses like this is worth
more than $1,000 And most OF
all l was glad that I'd made a
study of women, and wasn't to DO
deceived any by their means OF
conceit and evolution.
1t must have been $50 when l
got back home. ] stepped in; and
there sat old Mack on the back OF
his neck in his old clothes with
his blue socks on the window and
the History of Civilization propped
up on his knees.
This don't look like getting
ready for a wedding at 6, ! says,
to seem innocent.
. oh" says Mack, reaching for
his tobacco, that was postponed
back to o'clock. They sent me
a note saying the hour had bees
changed. It's all over now. What
made you stay away so long.
Andy?"
you heard about the weddingr
l asks.
81 operated it." says he. II told
you ] was justice of the peace.
The preacher is off East to visit
his folks, and I'm the only ono In
town that can perform the dispen-
sations of marriage. / promised
Eddie and Rebosa a month ago I'd
marry 'em. He's a busy lad; and
he'll have a grocery of his own
some day"
He will" says 1.
There was lots Of women at the
wedding" says Mack, smoking UP.
But l didn't seem to get any
ideas from 'em. ! wish l was in
formed in the structure OF their
attsinments like you said you
was"
That was two months ago"
says I, reaching up for the banjo.