The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1929-05-17
An Absentninded
Bridegroom
BY RAY LEWIS

| gave Davis slap on the back which
caused him to vince, even as he had
an inward doubt Of the sincerity Of
his fellow boarder's Fluctuations.
when is the happy event to beY"
Cant say as to that" returned
Davis pleasantly enough. 'The sooner
the better
ITO be sure, to be sure. Only,
mind you, Dave" and Jerry shook
waggish finger under the others
very nose, don't get one of your
absentminded streaks and forget there
Is to be such a thing as wedding
when the joyful day comes. That
would be tough on Doris! And count
on your fellow boarders, old top.
They'll be on hand, every man Of
them I"
The affable Jerry left Davis at the
next corner, and the latter proceeded
more slowly, rejecting 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 through the
solemn ceremony with that bunch of
conspirators eyeing him and nudging
each other If he fumbled for the ring
Or Doris hesitated over the promise
to obey, he hated in anticipation of
the event
Doris, he knew, was Of the same
mind as himself. But ten years hum
>ble subservience to her aggressive
aunt had induced in the girl docile
acquiescence In all things. 1t would
never have occurred to her to com
bat her relatives wishes, even In SO
personal matter as her own wed.
ding.
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
unlnvltlng noisy phonograph ridden
parlor.
Its not the ceremony part or even
the supper l dread, Dave" she con-
hded. The crowd will be decent
enough then. It's afterward. | was
getting clean towels out Of the closet
for Aunt Fanny as that awful Jerry
Green and Ed Barrows came down
the hall. They didn't know | was
anywhere around, but | heard Jerry
says that we didn't stand a chance Of
getting away together. There are to be
couple of fliYvers-owned by friends
OF Jerry's-at each end of the street
and you are to be-well, kidnapped,
and I'm to be taken to the wrong
station, and, oh, Dave, it'n be just
cheap horseplay!''
Davis was silent for several mo-
ments. He suspected the existence OF
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
run, If not contempt, to the "gay-dog"
young crowd of clerks which boosted
Mrs. Barker's place as really live
joint" Davis had chosen 1t because
OF its low rates and its nearness to
branch library, where so many of his
evenings were spent. That trait was
especially provocative of criticism
that man would prefer mulling over
books to good, snappy game of cards
or a billiard party with the other
roomers. The fact that he was really
absentminded at times-forgetting
meal hours or his hat or some equally
important item-had furnished fur
ther opportunity for their shafts of
ridicule.
But, most vital Of all, Davis sus.
pected that very real enmity to-
ward him existed on the part OF Ed
Barrows 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 indif-
ference, and had seen that absent
minded bookworm" make good where
he had failed.
On the night of the wedding ex-
citement was distinctly evident at the
supper table at Mrs. Barkers. The
ceremony was scheduled for Z 80, the
express man was to come for The
trunks at Z 100 and Doris was to put
on her going-away suit in which she
was to be married Immediately after
she had for the last time cleared the
long table. In view Of the occasion
her aunt had thoughtfully excused
her from any further duty In the
kitchen.
Everyone was prompt to the menl--
that is, everyone except Davis In
fact, 1t was well along toward the
end of the meat pie course when tEa
telephone behind Jerry Green rang
noisily. Jerry jumped to answer. Then
he hung up the receiver doubled up
In laughter, slapped his thigh and all
but choked. THAT bird Davis will be
the death of me He's clean gone
and forgotten it's his wedding day
Says to expect him In about an hour
or so to take Doris here to the movies
He's eating at q quick lunch SOS to
stop at the library"
There was utter silence. Then to
man the boarders laughed, only sober
Ing slightly when they saw Doris face
bowed in her hands, rise and leave the
room. Behind her fingers hid trem-
ulouS smile.
Thus 1t was that while the crowd
waited for Dave and Mrs. Barker at
tended to the express man Doris
slipped out and met her bridegroom
at the corner A few minutes later,
in quiet little parsonage uptown, a
perfectly satisfied couple said II do"
and Il will" before Only four specta-