New-York tribune., 1921-05-08

ayes" we answered as above.
aAnd then, afterward, when it's all over,
ga can send out announcements to the other
neople we will have to notify
ave will" we agreed with all the solemnity
Of an oath taking.
"So.o she summed up with that smile that
made your collar too small for you, "there
need be none of the terrible fuss and annoy
snce and interference and--everything that
comes with big weddings.
1Big weddings are such public things. They
are really hateful and very vulgar, think.
"And besides she added with sigh, "we
can't afford one
eNo" we responded with cumulative fervor.
az suppose" we ventured after a pause
filed with matters Of no public concern, "that
there won't have to be any announcement Of
the engagement, either?"
"oh, yes," said Althea hastily. "There must
be. Father is seeing to that, but it will be
the very shortest sort of an announcement
and only our friends will read it, anyway.
Nobody reads engagement announcements.
"our wedding she said dreamily, will be
almost like great, wonderful secret that only
those who love US know about"
lf the society editor who was pasting the
4 little announcement far down toward the foot
If his column could have heard us, how sar-
aonieally he would have grinned! 1t the post
man had known of it, how he would have
sroaned in anticipation!
How the photographers, the hotel managers,
The department stoss heads, the furniture
sealsrs, the stationery store keepers, the ca
erefs, the florists, the dry cleaners, the orches-
Ira leaders, the storage warehouse men, the
real estate agents and several score repre-
sentatives of other trades and businesses
would have snickered!
What fools we were!
But, after all, it was the first time we'd been
married. How could we be expected to know
Of the deep-seated love that all merchants
yearn to profess for lovers? How could we
guess the pathetic eagerness they cherish to
crowd the threshold of n1atrimony with repre-
sentatives whose one aim in life is to call at
ones convenience with samples which it is cer-
tain will delight and satisfy?
Heed this one word OF warning, you prospec-
tive bridegrooms who wish quiet, unheralded
courtship and marriage, and you brides-to-be
who say you do:
NAaily US1uIS yVuI CHS0SCsACAcS GAG @@AA-
nouneed and then go away, leaving no ad-
/, dress.
s"The announcement didn't get In, did it?"
We said guilelessly to Althea, few mornings
thereafter, over the telephone. II suppose we
sren't important enough for the papers to
think it worth while''
"Oh, but it did" she contradcted. 'Tt was
right in the society column in The Sphere and
The Planet had a headline on it Miss Blank
70 We'd Isn't that exciting? ] looked for
It in The Sphere and didn't find it, either, but
We got postcard just now telling us 1t was
there, and looked again and found it."
"A postcard?"
She read 1t triumphanty. II Was from
clipping bureau, and ran:
Did your press clipping bureau send you an
Item, in which you are mentioned, from n
recent issue Of The New York Sphere? IL
not it was q fragrant oversight. We can give
you this item for 10 cents, or, if you subscribe,
we VIII read every newspaper and magazine
IA America for yon and include this item i'm
your first 10o items"
It's mistake we said 4atuously. ut was
meant for some one else"
Possibly the evil children OF earth ventured
some such remark at the first few raindropa
tnat presaged the food
That was Tuesday morning. It was an ex-
elted Althea who met us that evening, little
aasneveled and more than little hoarse.
The telephone" she moaned, after greeting
us the telephone!p and east vindictive
glance at that innocent appearing instrument
The service" we replied profoundly, "is
/ sotten.'
4 oh, tt isn't the service" she said despair
sngly ITS been ringing all day long. From
4 morning Until now mother and / have been
\ answering it."
4 5ut why?" We persisted.
49, sWhy?" shrieksd Althea, almost hysterically.
Il photographers; that's why. Photographers.
and photographers and photog,
n "A. Al this point the telephone interrupted.
4 H'.n gesture OF despair Althea dropped into
4 sehair. "Another!" she groaned.
an echoing moan came fror the nearby
seOm whera her noEher sat,
Il Mssh shs ssr ri ana who defends sugsxsna