Life — April 1, 1909 — page 32: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

There was a pause. Jonas Wetherly was thinking. "I suppose,’’ he said at last, “that even the simplest kind of a wedding would be quite an expense to him.” “Oh, yes, When Margaret Bates was married it cost the family over $2,000. I know, because papa figured it up on the back of an old envelope. That was only the other day, and although it was only a little thing, it showed manina and me that the subject was on his mind “Exactly. And of course, whatever kind of a wedding we do have, it must be appropriate, so that nobody can say we haven't done the right thing.”” “ Yes—that's it.” Jonas rose. “Is your father in the library?" he said. “Yes, 1 believe so. “Well, I have an idea. Now don't be disturbed. I must see him at once because I seem to see a solution.” He was gone before she had time to recover herself Mr. Webbe was reading his evening paper as Jonas appeared on the threshold. He rose courteously. “Ah, good evening, Mr. Wetherly. Be seated. Jonas closed the door. hank you, Mr. Webbe. reading.” “Don’t mention it. I was merely looking over the figures of the cost of maintaining our army in the Philippines. Do you know, sir, that if I had that matter in charge, I could do it for at least seventeen cents a man less per day.”” “T have no doubt of it from your reputation as a man of business. By the way, sir, I have just come from Mabel.”* Mr. Webbe smiled. “That's no news No, sir, of course not. You must have noticed that I have been coming here more or less regularly, I should have seen you before, but the fact is—well—I hesitated. Mr. Webbe realized that the inevitable was coming. He put his pamphlet down and looked keenly at Jonas. “You don’t appear to me to be a bashful young man," he said. “No, sir, I’m not. But I hope I’m considerate, And so I put off the inevitable as long as I could. The fact is that I hated to saddle you with the expense of a wedding.” Mr. Webbe’s eyes glistened. “That's the right spirit,"” he exclaimed, “Of course I've no particular objection to you. I have every reason to be- lieve you are all right. But have you stopped to consider how much a wedding would cost me?" “Well, only in a general way.” “I have the figures right here. Wedding invitations, flowers, carriages, Mabel’s trousseau and incidentals. By Jove, sir, it foots up $2,125.17." “You don’t tell me.’” “Yes, I do. It’s too much. I can't afford it. You un- derstand, sir, that Mabel is my only child, and T want her to have a real wedding. But I simply can’t stand anything like that.’" “You don’t have to, sir.” Mr. Webbe looked at Jonas apprehensively. he said, “that you are not the sort of man to th a cut and run sort of affair. Remember our Sorry to interrupt you in your he said. if nly not. I understand and sympathize with you If it’s a wedding it must be the real thing—if only perfectly. What I have to suggest, sir, to please Mabel and her mother. is an clopement. An clopement!"* Yes. They are quite inexpensive. With the possible ex- pense of a rope ladder, it wouldn't cost you a cent.” There was a considerable silence. Finally Mr. Webbe spoke. “T don't sce,’” he said at last, “why I should furnish the rope ladder. It seems to me that would be for you. I'm not supposed to know anything about it.”* “Certainly not. I stand corrected. You sec an clope- ment would fill all the requirements. There's a halo of to- mance about it—some of the best people have eloped, you know. If anything, it would help our social standing, and all at a minimum cost.” Mr. Webbe thought again. “That seems like a pretty good idea,"’ he said at last. “How would you manage it?" “Why, I’d whisk Mabel away in an automobile. You could follow—just too late."’ “Umph—that would cost me about $2: “ But that would be practically your only expense."* So I'd save about $2,000." Jonas twisted on his seat. I didn’t figure that you'd save that much,’’ he said. “You know it’s my idea. It seems to me that if you saved half you ought to be pretty well pleased."* “Ah! You want me to divide the profits with you?” “Why not?” “ Suppose I refuse to let you marry her altogether? '" Jonas smiled, “Mabel costs you something every year, doesn't she?" “Yes. Here are the figures—$1,164."’ “Very well. If you refuse to let me marry her, it will take her, at a rough estimate, a year to recover, and about another year for some other fellow to arrive at the point I am at. That will be $2,228, and you will still have the wed- ding to pay for. You know, sir, the price of weddings is steadily advancing. Now, I am offering you a fair business proposition. It seems to me you can’t do bette: Mr. Webbe grasped his hand cordially. “Well, I don’t know but you're righi will this thing occur? "? I'll talk it over with Mabel, arrange the details, and let you know in ample time.” During the next few days Jonas lost no time. About sev- enty-five hours after his interview with Mr. Webbe, at mid- night on a dark, moonless night, he silently stole out of an automobile which waited for him, and making his way across the lawn to the house, threw some pebbles on her window, which was raised promptly on the schedule time agreed upon. As Mabel came down the ladder Jonas caught her in his arms, and they stole back to the machine. In a moment they were off down the road. Ten minutes later they were fol- lowed by another auto containing Mabel's father and mother. At 1:15 they arrived at the parsonage, fifteen miles away. The pastor was waiting for them, and the knot was duly tied. Jonas looked at his watch. At this moment there was the sound of a horn—a silence, and then mufiled steps on the front porch. “Your father!"’ exclaimed Jonas, “He has followed us. But too late. You are now mine irrevocably."’ As Mr. Webbe, followed by his wife, entered the room promptly on schedule time—for both autos had held their own—he exclaimed: “Are they married?" “We are!" chimed in Jonas and Mabel. “ Will you for- give us?” “Bless you, my children! alone?"? “Certainly, sir.” Jonas faced his father-in-law in the next room by the feeble light of a kerosene lamp. “Well, sir," he said, “everything went off nicely. of the clopement will be in 1o-morrow’s papers, with notice of your forgiveness and blessing. Our future position in so- ciety is assured, “Yes, my boy,”” replied Mr. Webbe, “all that now remains is for me to give you your share of the profit He handed Jonas a check. The latter was about to fold it up and put it in his pocket, when, his eye lighting over its face, he started back. “Ts this right, “ Certainly.”” “But, I understood it was to be for $1,000. This is only $848."" “That's right. You see you neglected your side.” “How do you mean, sir? “Why, you made a profit also, didn't you? If we'd had a regular wedding you would have had to pay—here are the figures : he said. “ When May I sec this young man News (Continued on page 457) Comicbooks.com