Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-04-27
Mary's Surprise
Party
By H. IRVING KING


The only fault you could find with
Mary Lisle was that her pretty little
head was all cluttered up with ro-
nance. Henry Wardman, on the other
hand, was a matter-of-fact young man
to whom life was as devoid Of the
frlls of romance as 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, was 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 romance In his compost
ton. Henry was in business for him
self and doing well; his parents were
plum some day. Also they were quite
content he should marry Mary Lisle
Mary's father was 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 manner
to end in conventional wedding when
Mary took sudden freak.
Henry" said she one evening when
they were calmly considering whether
to start housekeeping In a city fiat or
a house in the suburbs. Henry, let's
elopei"
Why" 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 us?" said
Henry.
WELL" answered Mary, father and
Willie Cameron have been having long,
secret conferences together of late.
Oh, Henry, suppose father should 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
iOwance Increased. Has Cameron or
your father said anything to you that
would Justify your suspicions"
"NO-o-O," admitted Mary, but l 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 our marriage vows, scOrn-
ing the base and hollow world and
all its conventlonalities." 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 bugT
"Oh, there 1t Is just as / have
feared!" cried Mary. "You do not love
me-Oh, my poor broken heart"
When they had finally kissed and
made up and the conversation had re-
turned again to normally the young
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 bad idea
after all. What date would you sug-
gest for the little adventure"
"Oh," faltered Mary, II don't know
about fixing any particular date |
Couldn't we just elopeY"
Cant be DONE" replied Henry. II
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 a
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 |
underpinnings during the operation. |
What do you say to a touring car and |
a flight into the country? / know a
dandy inn out At Mechester where |
they serve the best fried chicken in
the state Wen motor out early, stop
at the town clerks office and get our
license and"
"Oh, Henryw interrupted Mary, do
we have to get license? That IL so
commonplace"
at Is, 1t is" said the young man,
"but II Is one Of the many forms of |
tyranny to which young love Is sub
1ected-lOok at 1t in that light and II |
will suit you better AS | was say
Ing-we will be married by some avail
able Melchester parsOn and have your
wedding breakfast at the inn while
awaiting parental forgiveness. 1 have
TO 90 on tonight on business, but will |
be back 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, business-like manner
had way Of dennturlng the most ro-
mantle proposition. Mary looked
doubtful. But when he added: "Now,
don't mention this to soul it's
dark secret let anybody suspect and
we are lost P'-then Mary frightened
I'D and rewarded his excursion into ro-
manticIsm with many kisses. All the
following week Mary went about with
a mysterious and melancholy mien,
varied by occasional flashes Of high
spirits and gayety-and her parents,
watching her, put their heads together
In whispered conferences. The day and
the hour Of Mary's elopement arrived;
-. aka lima