The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1923-05-10
By H. IRVING KING

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 suitable match for
their daughter. All seemed Jogging
along in prosaic, humdrum manner
to end In conventional wedding when
Mary took sudden freak.
Henry said she one evening when
they We're calmly considering whether
to start housekeeping In city fiat or
house In the suburbs. Henry, let's
elopei"
"WhyY asked the astonished Henry.
OH she replied with deep sigh,
IF we don't am afraid we shall be
parted.
"Who is going to part usY' 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
ther 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 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 It's conventionalities." 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 bug7"
"Oh, there! 1t Is just as | have
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
man took his leave, expecting to hear
no more about elopements. 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
slope-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 elOpe7"
Cant be DONE" replied Henry.
have been studying up on this elope-
ment business and find there Is always
q definite date fixed Tor the lover to
come under the young ladyis window
and catch her rs she falls down the
rope ladder. You don't Insist on u
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 touring car and
q flight into the country know a
dandy inn out ut Melchester where |
they serve the best fried chicken In
the state. Well motor out early, stop |
ut the town clerks Office and get our
license and"
"Oh, Henry!" interrupted Mary, do |
we have TO get q license? That IL so |
commonplace"
1T Is, 1t u.s." said tile young man.
.but It Is one Of the many forms OF
tyranny to which young love Is sub
3ected-look at It In that light and II |
will suit you better. As was say |
inR-we will be married by some avail
able Melchester parson and have your
wedding breakfast at the Inn while
AWAITING parental forgiveness. have
to 20 on tonight on business, but VIII
be back week from today. Meet
me at the drug store down the block
1t half-past nine sharp, the morning
bf my return.
Henry's brisk, business-like manner
had q way Of denaturing the most TO
mantle proposition Mary looked
doubtful. But when he added: NOW
don't mention this to s0ul u u
dark secret: let anybody suspect ana
ve are lost !n-then Mary frightened
mn and rewarded his excursion into TO
msnttcism with many kisses. All the
Following week Mary went about with
a mysterious and melancholy mien.
varied by occasional flashes OF high
spirits and sayety-and her parents
watching her, put their heads together
IN whispered conferences. The day ana
tho hour of Mary's elopement arrived;
....-. ~ kha drug store On time. !