Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1920-09-28
No Crime to Change
Your Mind
BY r. RAY BAKER

&C. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
Melvin Golfer was dressing for the
dig event OF his life when the teie-
phone downstairs einterfered. just
why he thought some one was calling
him he couldn't explain. Perhaps II
was because he feared 1t.
Sure enough, Mrs. McGivney
shrieked up the stairs and told him
he was wanted; so for the present ne
abandoned the task of making re-
fractory bow tie look presentable, put
On his smoking jacket. adjusting the
collar around his bare neck, and went
down, gripped by feeling OF fore
boding.
'HeIlo, Mel" said the sweet voice
Of his brIde-elect. Say. Mel, l can't
marry you today"
The worst had happened. The FORE
boding was well founded. For two
years Melvin had been trying to
marry Evelyn Meyer, and up TO two
months ago he never had succeeded
In even proposing. Always something
had interviewed at the psychological
moment. On one occasion. when ne
was endeavoring to tell her how dis
NAL life would be without her, the
house had caught fire and caused a
postponement of the attempt. An
other time, In the woods during q
spring ramble, snake had rustled In
the bushes and caused Evelyn to fee
While Melvin was framing sugar-ccat-
ed sentences. Again, they were pad
ding a canoe, which began to leak
while he was preparing to unfold his
hearts secret. But at last he had
succeeded in unburdening himself.
Evelyn had made him joyful by con-
senting, and the marriage date was
set.
All the time Melvin was apprehen-
sive that the fates would interfere.
The cause of this apprehension was
moods. She was forever changing her
mind about things. She had intended
going to a conservatory for a finish
ing course in music, but at the last
moment had given it up. She had a
trip to the Pacific coast planned, to
visit an aunt In Portland, and at the
station, with the ticket in her hand.
had decided not TO go. 1t was Evelyn's
one big fault. this changeableness, and
Melvin feared It would intrude on his
matrimonial program.
But the day of the ceremony dawned
with bright sky and everything
looked serene. The wedding. which
was TO be simple with only close rela-
tives and friends attending. was
scheduled for high noon, and the bride
and groom were to cave Jefferson
City shortly after for Chicago, there
to take steamer for .dackinac
island. Melvin having obtained a sum
mer position as wireless operator at
the new station at the famous resort
The boat trip and the summer on the
island would be the honeymoon.
Yes. everything seemed serene al
last, until the telephone bell rang.
But Evelyn, what's the matter?"
Melvin protested. I'm all dressed"
1--WE just changed my mind" said
Evelyn sweetly. ITS no crime TO
change your mind. is it? This is Fri
day. and it's unlucky to start any
thing on Friday"
Melvin actually was on tine verge of
tears when he returned to his room
He felt sad. exasperated and angry all
at the same time. with each emotion
striving TO Guido the others. He tore
the bothersome tie to shreds. stripped
into a suitcase. and put on a business
like checked suit. He was undeter-
mined whether TO take the train with
out going to see Evelyn. but decided
not to.
She was sweetly adamant over her
decision against marriage at present.
1--WE just changed my mind. that's
all. You'll have to go to Mackinac
alone. and I'll follow after and we'll
get married up there-maybe."
MSiNih EuNC w III Suhicilt anu recon-
cited himself as best he could. He
couldn't postpone the trip without los
Ing his job. so he left that afternoon,
The weather was perfect for the lake
trip. and he would have enjoyed II If
only Evelyn had been with him.
'T've a good mind to give her up."
he told himself more than once. "Sbe's
too changeable. can't get used to
1t. When ! decide to do a thing ! do
It, come what may"
For several daysaaf his arrival
on the Island Melvin refrained from
writing to Evelyn. He did a lot of
thinking and came to the conclusion
he had been too lenient.
"She needs some bossing," he de-
cided. and he sat down and wrote a
letter In which, among other things
he said:
1.-THE Mohawk leaves Chicago next
Friday morning and will arrive here
Saturday. You are to be a passenger
on the Mohawk. and there's no argu-
ment about 1t. These are orders. seeY