Show u n I I I I II I I By Y H H. H IRVING KING KINO I It h a cp 1923 by McClur Newspaper Syndicate was a said the match Tf E bE J 7 most suitable one Ills his comfortable comfort able bie little fortune n added ded to her com coal comfortable little fortune would be beneficial bene belie tidal to both The parties concerned 1 in the case were Clarissa Maxwell and ond Madison James James- James belonged to toan toan tonn an nn exclusive but rather Inexpensive club where he be appeared regularly once once a day He Be accepted Invitations to dinner dinner din din- ner and to take yachting trips Miss Maxwell was artIve In various charitable and uplift organizations She called great society leaders by their first names and by them was called Clarissa Ciarissa dear In return That Madison James and Clarissa Maxwell should be brought together was Inevitable They moved In the same social orbit That they sho should ld attract each other was considered quite natural Clarissa was thirty and Madison was vas thirty five Not knowing the reason rea- rea son son on of ot their having remained single so o long their friends Invented re reasons to jo suit themselves Clarissa It was decided had remained unwed because of an early love affair The Tho young y man had married somebody else or had died the majority voted In favor tavor of at death Madison had not married because because because be be- cause If It he did so without the approval approval ap ap- of ot an extremely aged and extremely extremely ex ex- ex- ex tr wealthy uncle great he forfeited forfeited for for- felted his chance to a large fortune for I These reasons for celibacy were en- en satisfactory to theIr Inventors but in point of fact tact were without the slightest foundation Clarissa had bad had no early love affair at af fair and Madison was possessed of ot no wealthy uncle great-uncle of ot extreme age or In fact of ot any great uncle great uncle of any my sor sort But now everybody saM said the end of their bachelorhood and spinsterhood spinsterhood spInsterhood spinster- spinster hood was as approaching Madison's an an- uncle great-uncle had nau approved V CU and anti Clarissa had locked up the memory memory mem mem- ory ory of ot h her r youthful lover In the closet of forgetful forgetfulness ness The engagement was announced It only remained to fix the wedding day clay It w was s agreed by the parties most concerned that this should be done ona on ona ona a certain night when Madison and Clarissa were to to- to togo go o out to dinner alone and talk It ov over r. r They we went t to a quiet restaurant and took possession of ot a a quiet c corner For the first time since their engagement something intangible Intangible in- in In tangible seemed to have risen between them Both were strangely silent and andI preoccupied They got through dinner I by talking forced pl platitudes with wIth each other At last Madison leaned back In his chair and said Well Vell Clarissa when when's Is s s it to be bel She hesitated her eyes eres were misty But she quickly recovered h herself and said In an even voice u Madison before we go zo any further I have a confession to make You Iou think that I am possessed of a comfortable comfortable com com- fortune As a n matter of fa fat t I haven't a cent I have been living I on an allowance made me IJ by my Aunt Martha who Is In the enjoyment of ot a large Income from the estate of her deceased husband This Income Is only for her life lite and she Is now v aged and in feeble health If It you marry me you ou take a penniless bride It was a full minute before he spoke and then without looking up he be said I knew nil all au that long ago I looked you up un before I 1 prop proposed ed And yet et you did propose I 1 gasped Clarissa eagerly Yes said he And I also have a confession to make I 1 have hardly a dollar to my name Ten years ears ago after being graduated from the school of ot mines which I 1 had entered after completing my college course I found myself by the sudden death of my father who had suffered large financial finan finan- cial losses possessed of ot an expensive and extensive wardrobe and I 1 came to New NewYork York How v I managed to string out that for ten years it would take too foe long to tell eU you It was a truly marvelous exploit at which I am rather amazed myself But I am at the end of my rope now and if It you OU marry me you will take a penni pennie less husband Oh I 1 knew all nIl th that thaI t some time ago replied Clarissa I looked you OU up before I accepted you ou And yet you OU did accept me mel I cried Madison Yes said Clarissa I couldn't help it Jt it And I was so afraid that when I confessed you ou would would- would would- And Interrupted Madison I was so afraid that when I 1 confessed you ou would would- But we didn't either of ot us us laughed Clarissa Ciarissa I I I 1 guess the Inc truth is that at first we both Intended to marry for money mon mon- ey said Madison And AntI we both found that there was something better than money to marry for lor added Clarissa about it said Madison and now Clarissa Ciarissa when shall it be Benoni Lockwood asked me mo yesterday to select a man mun for tor him to go down and look after atter his mining Interests In MexIco I shall ten tell hIm tomorrow that I will wUl take the jon JOD m myself self What do you say If It we get married quietly day after tomorrow and go for a weddIng wed wed- thing dIng trIp to the tho halls ot of the Monte Monte- 2 Day after tomorrow will be bc Wednesday mused Clarissa CIa Make It Thursday and I will wUl be all ready ready |