WHILE THE
AUTOMOBILE RAN DOWN
A CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
WHILE THE
AUTOMOBILE RAN DOWN
A CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
It was a letter to encourage a hesitating lover, and certainly Orville Thornton, author of “Thoughts for Non-Thinkers,” came under that head. He received it on a Tuesday, and immediately made up his mind to declare his intentions to Miss Annette Badeau that evening.
But perhaps the contents of the letter will help the reader to a better understanding of the case.
Dear Orville: Miss Badeau sails unexpectedly for Paris on the day after Christmas, her aunt Madge having cabled her to come and visit her. Won’t you come to Christmas dinner? I’ve invited the Joe Burtons, and of course Mr. Marten will be there, but no others—except Miss Badeau.
Dinner will be at sharp seven. Don’t be late, although I know you won’t, you human time-table.
I do hope that Annette will not fall in love in Paris. I wish that she would marry some nice New Yorker and settle near me.
I’ve always thought that you have neglected marriage shamefully.
Remember to-morrow night, and Annette sails on Thursday. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, I am,
Your old friend,
Henrietta Marten.
Annette Badeau had come across the line of Orville’s vision three months before. She was Mrs. Marten’s niece, and had come from the West to live with her aunt at just about the time that the success of Thornton’s book made him think of marriage.