The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-14
EUening Story
An Absent-Minded Bridegroom.
BY II. LOUIS RAYBOLD.


doubt of the sincerity of his fellow
boarder's Fluctuations when is thu
happy event to be-"
Cant say as to that" returned
Davis pleasantly enough. THE sooner
1.-The better"
ITO be sure, to be sure. Only, mine
you, Dave" and Jerry shook a wag
gish finger under the others very
nose. don't get one of your absent
minded streaks on and forget there Is
TO be such a thing as a wedding wher
the joyful days comes. That would be
tough on Dorisi And count on your
fellow boarders, old top TneyH DC
on hand. every man of them!
| The affable Jerry left Davis at the
next corner, and the latter proceeded
more slowly. reflecting bitterly that if
he and Doris could only skip their
wedding day their marriage would be-
| gin much more auspiciously. The very
| thought of going thru the solemn
| ceremony with that bunch of conspira-
/ tors eying him and nudging each
| other if he fumbled for the ring or
Doris hesitated over the promise to
| obey, oh, he hated it in anticipation.
Doris, he knew, was of the same
mind as himself. But ten years hum
BILE subservience to her aggressive aunt
had induced in the girl docile acqui-
| escence in all things. 1t would never
have occurred TO her to combat her
relatives wishes, even in so personal
matter as her own wedding.
Yet that night Doris. with troubled
eyes poured out her heart to Dave as
the two walked down to the moving
pictures, their one escape from the
noisy photograph ridden parlor.
It's not the ceremony part or even
the supper 1 dread. Dave" she con-
fided. THE crowd will be decent
enough then. It's afterward. 1 was
getting clean towels out of the closet
for Aunt Fanny as that awful Jerry
Green aud Ed Barrows came down the
hall. They didn't know was any
where around, but I heard Jerry say
that we didn't stand a chance of get
ting away together. There are to be
a couple of flivvers-owned by friends
of Jerry's-at each end of the street
and YOU are 10 be-weH, kidnapped,
and I'm to be taken to the wrong
station. and, oh, Dave, it'll be just
cheap horseplayi'
Let's chuck the whole thing. dear"
said Davis thoughtfully; slip away
and be married by ourselves"
i've thought of that, of course.
confessed Doris, "only-well. aunt
would never consent. I'm sure she'd
be mad enough to hang on to my
clothes and all. You know she isn't
nv own aunt, and she's always cared
more for the boarders than for me.
Disappointing them would make her
desperately angry with the two of us.
If l could only get my trunk away
first"
Davis was silent for several mo-
ments. He suspected the existence
of a state of affairs of which Doris
was ignorant In the first place, ever
since his arrival at the boarding house
some years ago. he had been an object
of fun. if not contempt, to the gay
dog" young crowd of clerks which
boosted Mrs. Barker's place as
en- it because of its low rates and its
nearness to a branch library, where so
many of his evenings were spent.
That trait was especially provocative
of criticism-that man would pre-
fer mulling over books to a good.
snappy game of cards or a billiard
party with the other roomers- The
fact that he was really absent-minded
at time-forgetting meal hours or his
hat or some equally important item
had furnished further opportunity |
for their shafts of ridicule.
But. most vital of all, Davis sus- |
pected, that very real enmity toward |
him existed on the part of Ed Bar !
rows and that Doris was the cause. |
Ed. who fancied he had a way with |
all ladies. had tried to philander with !
Doris. had had his passing interest /
stayed and famed by her quiet in /
and had seen that alb
bOOkWOrm' make good /
where he had failed. Yes. Davis felt |
sure that Ed would initiate and for
ward any little scheme of deviltry to
get even.
As they reached the theater Davis
brew back his shoulders. Don't
worry, little girl" he whispered ten
lerly- Just leave everything to me-
But it must be confessed that during
he entertainment which followed his
thoughts were too deeply centered on
he problem to get his moneys worth
tut of the programme.
On the night of the wedding an I'M
of excitement was distinctly
evident at the supper table at Mrs.
The ceremony was sched-
lied for 1880. the expressnan was to
,ome for the trunks at and Doris was
o put on her going-away suit in |
which she was to be married i'm
nediately after she had for the last !
ime cleared the long table In view
# the occasion her aunt had thought
ully excused her from further duty
n the kitchen.
Every one was prompt to the meal
that is, every one except Davis. In
act. it was well along toward the end
# the meat pie course when the tele-
'hone behind Jerry Green rang noisily.
cry jumped to answer. Then he hung ,
Ip the receiver. doubled up in laugh
err. slapped his thigh and all but
hoked. That bird Davis will be the
eath of me. He's clean gone and for
,otten it's his wedding day. Says to
xpect him in about an hour or so to
axe Doris here to the movies. He's
ating at a quick lunch SOS to stop at
he library"
There was utter silence. Then to a
nan the boarders laughed, only sober
ng slightly when they saw Doris. face
owed IN her hands, rise and leave the
DOM. Behind her fingers hid a trem-
lous smile. 4
Thus it was that while the crowd Ia
rated for Dave, and Mrs. Barker at i
ended to the expressman Doris
Tipped out and met her bridegroom !
{ the corner A few minutes later, in I
quiet little parsonage uptown, a per
ectly satisfied couple said ST do" and /
I will before only four spectators I
he minister, his wife, his daughter
nd the parsonage cat. '
Copyright. 1922, by the Mcclure c
Newspaper SyndicateB