Show TODA TODAY'S YS Y'S SHORT STORY Fiction ion by Americas America's Greatest Writers Write l br bi th the Frank A. A Co p I A SERIOUS FAMILY S j By HENRY KIRK I I 11 A. A Co Ca f t U Copyrighted by tho Uio Frank f Tho marriage of my daughter Mr Mr matter of the greatest Im- Im Vayne Wayne is a 1 As you oU see i it i. i concerns my entire family Thit rb Is why we are all discuss it f. f j hero here to Mr Mr- James Brownson made a sweep sweep- 0 tUg lug gesture gesture with his right arm The k circle included a small group of men r- r rI I arid women arranged about the room of ot varied ages and half haIr a E dozen people descriptions It Is the greatest event marriage so marriage so her in inv a womans woman's life life her must not wonder vonder at our delibera- delibera yo you tion You are arc 30 years of age I behove believe be- be be I hove lieve Wayne shifted in his chair Yes he said eaid Quietly He was rather for forthe forthe forthe although though of the proceedings weary to tomake tomake tomake he ho was willing the sake of the girl make certain concessions to the he claims and prejudices of her family Yes ies Iam i iam am nm 30 Thirty And what have you done with yourself Mr l Brownson looked at the young man squarely and ag ag- ag- ag Done Wayne laughed a little Why I think the principal thing thing- y yes s th the gre greatest test thing I thing I have done isto is isto to your love Your daughter He looked bolted at the girl as he said it She was sitting very quietly next to her mother It had not been difficult he thought this greatest thing he had ever done this loving Cicely Brownson She Inspired Inspired in inspired In- In only love and confidence and and andle he le had caught the Inspiration of that i love d in the easiest manner imaginable I He had loved her from the first very devotedly and very sincerely and he I Was Yas now in ill the midst of her people in council assembled to hear his claims II a and qualifications M Mr fu Brownson i went on without noting noting noting not not- ing the reply he had made quite as if II it were of too trivial a nature You are possessed of ot a large income I I Fortunately my daughter does not re require require require re- re quire it nor at the same time can we say you have ulterior motives in seekIng seeking seeking seek seek- ing her hand Wayne bowed Mr Brownson raised a protesting hand You love my ray daughter good daughter good But what have you done with your life Thirty years of age and what have you accomplished Wayne looked up frankly I ont dont know of f anything in particular lar he said but I suppose I shall do something something perhaps You have occupied your time principally principally principally pally with frivolities and idleness Mr Brownson came out at last with his suppressed long-suppressed sentiment He looked about him I have asked my sisters and brothers and also Mrs Brownson's only living rel relatives tives to hear ter discussed We are a serious family Mr Wayne Wayne simple simple serious people people- and the marriage of my daughter daughter- Wayne Vayne looked squarely into the eyes i t. t of his hoped-for hoped in father Mr May I marry your daughter 0 Mr Brownson fidgeted One moment please he said mildly This is is a serious question and we are as I said sald before serious people You as I take takA it It are not a serious man You spend your time upon your our yacht acht in travels o of a useless nature and In this country courtry you race about in ill a a. somewhat criminal and reckless manner In your our automobile Do you think It would wO be wise for fOl a a. parent to trust his child to The mc relatives nodded their heads and looked at their folded hands Mrs Irs Brow Brownson son raised her handkerchief t to her eyes Wayne Vayne looked them all over from Brownson himself at the head to the little fussing individual a nervous aunt at the end He marveled that Cicely could have come of such people A wild thought suddenly shot through him and he examined th them m all closely again No Cicely did not In the least leat resemble any of them She hadn't a aline aline aline line that in any ony way could ever duplicate duplicate cate rate theirs She was quite tier her er own dear self seIt and would never grow into their ways She would never be as any of them Certainly she sIte could not follow the bent of her pompous old father nor por yet that of her hysterical mother who was just now slow he lie was certain reveling In Inthe Inthe Inthe the thought of her child crushed under the wheel of his big white car or dro drowned somewhere in the bottom of the sea The others ers were quite sible Mrs 1 Brownson b began an to cry audibly Jennie Mr Brownson raised his hand Mrs Brownson did not see the hand but she knew it was there for forshe forshe forshe she instantly ceased Cicely what have you to say The girl had been looking quietly at atthe atthe atthe the tips of her fingers finger Now she changed her line of vision until it reached the eyes of her fath father r. r I love him She said It simply and without the slightest st trace of emotion or hysteria It was something quite se settled in her mind and all the family councils could not possibly change her Wayne Vayne looked at her gratefully Ci Cicely ely Mrs 1 Brownson sobbed sharply You wish to leave me mel The relatives raised their eyebrows and thought Cicely showed a certain lack of niceness in her frank avowal Mother you married father What do you mean Every Everyone one marries and I dont see seewhy seewhy seewhy why Jacks Jack's motor and his yacht should be placed between us Brownson looked with gasping astonishment at hl his hi- child It was the tle first time she had ever asserted her her- self Cicely he got out do you realize I what you are saying Do you realize I that you are questioning me your parent parent parent par par- ent Are you forgetting your our filial duty My dear Mr 11 Wayne I must apologize for my daughter She cannot cannot cannot can can- not know her own mind and upon that score as well I object to her union with you No no it Itis is quite Impossible but what as I asked you before what have you done with your thirty years Golden Gold Gold- en years wonder years and yet where are they Wayne Vayne said nothing He was beginning beginning begin begin- ning fling to be unbearably bored He was almost nervous Cicely's father was her father and since since in e he was he was worthy of some consideration tion but despite the fact he found the bestowal of f that consideration rather difficult He thought him an insufferable old codger quite a fossilIzed fossilized fossilized fossil fossil- specimen of the race His thirty years ran before him In swift review He lIe rather fancied he had occupied them somewhat well One thing I have done done J not he heb b began gan And that Mr Brownson look looked d at him politely The relatives shared his amiable doubt I have never bored anyone I dont don't think I have He paused quickly and at his boots Ill tell you OU Mr Brownson I think I have occupied my thirty years rather well I have made myself happy and tried to make others Im I'm sure everyone who has ever b ben been benon en enon on my yacht acht has pleasant memories of I it and anyone who has ever ridden in m my car Ive I've taken out all sorts of people from newsboys to bishops I dont don't know of any special damage Ive I've ever done Certainly Ive I've never run over anyone not anyone not that I know of Ive I've done my best generally These are are probably negative virtues but they're the best I 1 have all but the biggest and he greatest of them all loving Cicely The relatives looked at each other gingerly The maiden aunt felt somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what shocked Brownson felt the re responsiveness responsiveness responsiveness re- re of the circle That Is very well he breathed Heavily but we are a serious family and negative virtue is too well too well too negative Quite negative quite too much In the ab abstract abstract abstract ab- ab to satisfy NTh Then en what I need is ia seriousness of purpose Exactly Brownson joined his finger tips Two of the tho relatives coughed Mrs Brownson Brown- Brown son eon gurgled The girl looked at Wayne Vayne and smiled The man instantly forgot the others and quickly started to his feet Cicely alone was there and she I was smiling at him She was his love and hl his hi hearts heart's desire She was the tho most that the world might give to him lIe He loved her and that was enough for tor him to know She loved him and there was nothing else for him to know lIe He started to the center of the room The girl rose and met him Brownson shot eliot up from his 8 seat at In amazement Mrs Brownson prepared I for further tears The Tho relatives leaned back and waited I What does this mean Brownson's I vol voice e hit the note of ot tragedy Do you ou intend to steal her from me Indignation Indignation Indig Indig- nation mingled with the tragic ThIs is too much We Ve are a serious family You are simply an idle man of the world We e have nothing In common The conference Is over Mrs MIl neon Brow decided there were to be no tears The relatives rose with her The conference Is decidedly over Brownson loftily repeated Father 1 The girl gave a little cry Father 1 Brownson paused at the agony In his his' childs child's cry Mrs Brownson again raised her handkerchief The Tho others made way for a scene I dont don't see why you are all this way The girl choked a little I love him and he Is worthy of more than I Ican Ican Ican can give him Yes he is Hes He's better than any of us Hes He's always doing something for for- people poor people poor people I know Jack you know I love you and my father can never change me Brownson coughed From the resultant resultant resultant result result- ant sound It would seem that thai the cough was uncalled for tor That will do Cicely that will do A last word perhaps may be necessary necessary necessary sary and I would suggest that It be made In private Jennie all of us We shall go up to the library We Ve shall discuss Mr Wayne's Waynes philanthropy Waynes philanthropy alone Cicely you will go to your room Mr Wayne Vayne you may remain here or return In half an hour for our final decision With this the head of the clan Brownson gathered his forces and left the room Half an hour later he returned again leading the line Wayne Wane was there awaiting them Cicely was beside him From all appearances they had never left the room Brownson looked at the girl in some astonishment Cicely what does this mean 1 I thought I sent Bent you Jou to your room Mr l Wayne have o you taken undue advantage advantage advantage tage Wayne Vayna spoke very quickly It means Mr Brownson that I am ama a serious man myself I should say say say- perhaps I am I rather thought m my mylove love for Cicely was serious enough She agrees with me in the matter I 1 wont won't apologize for my thirty years even If I haven't done don anything special for my country I haven't bul built t bridges nor have I operated street railways But I 1 have done one big thing in loving Jovin your Jour daughter It has taken up so much of my time that I couldn't reasonably do anything anything any any anything thing else But ButHe ButHe But But- He paused and went nearer to the girl and took her hand Brownson shook as If a spasm had suddenly seized him Mrs Brownson and the others took their cue and Immediately entered upon pon a wild consternation Enough of this I Enough Enough Enough-enough enough Brownson was livid You have no purpose in life Ufe no no no- Serious Mr Brownson I am am am- I frightfully To show you how really In earnest I how Iam-how am how much In earnest earnestI I I have been about Cicely why when you were gone I took her out and married married mar mar- I ried ned her |