, 1922-12-07
Mary's Surprise
Party
By H. IRVING l


head was all cluttered W with ro-
nance. Henry Wardman, on the other
hand. was a matter-of-fact young man
to whom life was as devoid of the
frills of "a as a problem in Eu-
cid. Romanticism was to him as the
fourth dimension-and he did not
bother his head about 1t.
Henry, In his quiet way, vas very
much in love with Mary and regarded
her romanticism with the greatest in
diligence, looking upon it Just as he
would had she been taken with the
measles or the humps. With all
Mary's love for and reliance upon
Henry, she could not but feel that he
would he greatly improved If he had
a little more in his compost
ton. Henry was in business for him
self and doing well his parents were
wealthy md would leave him a pretty
plum some day. Also they were quite
content he should marry Mary Lisle.
Mary's father was a most prosperous
person, and both he and his wife con
sidered Henry a suitable match for
their daughter. All seemed jogging
along in a prosaic, humdrum manne
to end In n conventional wedding when
Mary took a sudden freak.
Henry" said she n evening when
they were calmly considering whether
to start housekeeping in a city fiat or
a house in the suburbs, Henry, let's
elope"
"Whyf" asked the astonished Henry.
"Oh," she replied with a deep sigh,
"if we don't l am afraid we shall be
parted.
"Who is going to part us2' said
Henry.
WELL" answered Mary, father and
Willie Cameron have been having long.
secret conferences together of late.
Oh, Henry, suppose father hould force
me to marry Willie Cameron"
Nonsense" cried Henry; your ia
Their is trustee of the Cameron estate.
Bill probably is trying to get his al
lowance Increased. Has Cameron or
your father said anything to you that
would justify your suspicions?"
"No-o-o," admitted Mary, but 1 am
sure there is some conspiracy afoot.
Oh, Henry, let us take our fate, our
love, our destiny into our own hands.
fly to some sequestered nook, and
there plight u marriage VOWS, scorn-
ing the base and hollow world and
all its conventionallties." She cribbed
that bodily from the last novel she
had read.
Great Scott, Mary" said the bewil-
dered Henry. what In the world are
you driving at? We are going to be
married In two months. anyway-you
set the date yourself. Where'd you
get this elopement bug?"
"Oh, therel 1t Is just as 1 have
feared !" cried Mary. "You do not love
meroh, my poor broken heart"
When they had finally kissed and
made up and the conversation had re-
turned again to normally the young
man took his leave, expecting to hear
no more about Opponents. Just one
of Mary's little spells" he thought.
But he was mistaken. Mary returned
to the charge again and again, until
at last Henry said: 'Well, perhaps
you are right, my dear. Say we do
elope-it might not be such a bad idea,
after all. What date would you sug
gest for the little adventure?"
"Oh," faltered Mary. Il don't know
about fixing any particular date.
Couldn't we just elope?"
Cant be DONE" replied Henry. 81
have been studying up on this elope-
ment business and find there Is always
a definite date fixed for the lover to
come under the young lady's window
and catch her as she falls down the
rope ladder. You don't Insist on n
high window and rope ladder. though
do you? Your dog Rover bites, and
might Interfere with my holding the
ladder steady for you by chewing my
underpinnlngs during the operation.
What do you say to IA touring car and
a flight into the country? l know a
dandy inn out at Melchester where
they serve the best fried chicken In
the state. Wen motor out early, stop
license and"
"Oh, Henry !" interrupted Mary, do
we have TO get a %license7 That is so
commonplace"
ut is. Il is" said the young man. |
but II Is one Of the many forms of
tyranny to which young love is sub
jected-look at 1t In that light n It
Will suit you better. As | was say
lng-we will be married by some avail
able Melchester parson and have your
wedding breakfast Mt the inn while
awaiting parental forgiveness. l have
to go on tonight on business. but will
be bnck a week from today. Meet
me at the drug store down the block
at half-past nine sharp. the morning
Of my return"
Henry's brisk, b~usiness-like manner
had a way OF denaturlng the most ro-
mantle proposition. Mary looked
doubtful. But when he added "Now,
lon't mention this to a soul it's a
lark secret; let anybody suspect and
- L--.La 49, 49, L---L-. l