The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-03
ANDREW AND
 IMOGENE
Ky ROE FuLI<ERsoN
By ROE FuLkERsoN

"Oh Andrew" said Imogene. en- thusiastically. "I am so sorry you did not go with me: | was the prettiesi wedding 1 ever saw in my life. They were married in the cute little village church and then they walked home across the fields and all the guests followed two by two.
 Then they stood in the door of the big old house and received every one, and as soon as we had congratu- lated them we passed out the back way to where they had q big tent erected on the lawn, and there the wedding breakfast was served. and am so sorry that business engage ment kept you in town"
 I don't know" said Andrew 'thai I missed much. You know don't take much stock in such goings on.'
 Why is it you never like to go to weddings?" demanded Imogene
 "I just don't like them. and that's all there is to it." replied Andrew "The way people laugh and whoop with unholy glee and throw rice and old shoes and hiphooray at a we'd ding always makes me think of a lot of caEed animals who set up a howl of delight every time the cage door lS Optueu and another new pair IS pushed into captivity.
 ITO my mind marriage is a solemn rite which should be celebrated by just one or two friends appropriately clothed in sombre black. and the music should be deep and mournful and reminiscent of the grave.
 People ought not to go rushing into matrimony like 1t was a ward picnic or clam -chowder party. It's too serious and too solemn to be hop ped into with a laugh like 1t was a merry-go-round at seaside resort. If you don't like the ostrich you choose you can't hop off and change to camel the next time. This mat rimony is for keeps
 T have heard that when man Is about to be hanged or electrocuted they dope the poor guy with whfskey or opium so he will not falter or set up a squawk at the last moment and it is just possible that this is the reason for the ribald revelry at the modern wedding. It may be done so the poor victim will not refuse 70 back in between the shafts and pull"
 You are right said Imogene. sad ly We do not realize what we are doing. When l think of my happy, careless life as girl, of the few res possibilities I had, of how happy 1 was. of the few little worries which came to me and then realized what life is now" tShe. sighed heavily again.
 ''Huh?" said Andrew stuppidly.
 T said you were right, dear" re- piled his wife. None of us realize what we are getting into when we get married. People seem so differ ent when they are married to them from what they did when they were only engaged and
 Say, demanded Andrew. What kick have you coming? Do l beat you or anything? What do you feel so sad about? Do you want to quit Amt l made good as friend. husband nor nothing?''
 oh. l suppose so.' said Imogene. Il really was not paying much at- tention to what I was saying. I was just agreeing with you to avoid an argument; 1t is too warm for an arr gument and 1 am tired after the trip out there to that wedding"
 But you were practically saying you wished you were not married to me- protested Andrew.
 'Oh, that's all right" she replied listlessly. Tt does not matter much one way or the other"
 Andrew opened his mouth to ask which did not matter. what she had said or whether she was married to him. Then he sighed and looked away afraid to ask in her present mood.
 tcopright 1922 by 2lst Century Press Inc)