Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-07
DER's wEDDING-DA
ICONfINUED

- Really, for the sake of decency and honor
must have few words with you" exclaimed
the justly indignant Lavender. This mar.
Tiage cannot take place
- strange discovery to make at the lss
moment, remarked the captain. with rather
black expression of countenancc. And why
not, pray!''
Mr.. Lavender was silent. =" Stormy wa,
written on the captains face as plainly as ON a
barometer, and there was no knowing Mt what
moment the tempest might not break out
Why notE" Numbered the gallant veteran.
Then, somewhat relieved by his shout he took
the bridegroom by the arm and led him down
stairs, without word being spoken on either
side.
Let me take your hat. Lavender" " said the
captain. when they were in the front parlor.
can't understand why you young men are
60 fond OF carrying your hats about with you
wherever you go. If you're paying a visit
must take your hat with you into the drawing
room; if you re at q ball-can't be without
your hat. Ii appears to be n continental Gus
tom, having its origin, / believe, in the dis
honesty OF foreign servants. Here, let me
take it into the hail.
Mr.. Lavender was now once more as quiet rs
lamb. He resigned his hat into the hands of
his tormentOr, without a murmur
The captain went up stairs into his own pri-
vate room, put Lavender,s hat on the table,
came out again, and locked the door There
Is no chance Of bOlting now" he said to him
self As ne took the key out of the lock, and put
ii in his pocket.
In the meanwhile poor Lavender was pacing
to and fro, in the front parlor like a wild
beast in a cage
It's no use talking to him any more"
thought Fathers, as he paused outside the door
1t will be all over soon and then ne III be quiet
He's an Internal young humbug, too. with all
his good nature; to want to play fast and loosp
with me; And then there sJuliana. By Jove,
she couldn't GO on worse if had ordered her
to marry an Opbbeway Indian. And vet she
doesn't care for any one else. Why, / never
saw any one pay her the least attention except
an Italian fellow, sort Of sporting baritone.
that she picked up at some ball-and she
couldn't have cared for him -
Then Captain Flathers went into the draw
ing room 10 see whether his daughter had come
down from her room, but not until he had
taken the precautiOn ef locking Mr.. Lavender
into the parlOr. Miss Flathers did not appear
at all inclined to enter into conversation with
her papa. She looked at him mt once as if she
was about 60 say something particularly Sc
we're, but finding his eye fixed steadily upon
her, changed her mind.
The carriages were now at the door. Il had
better take her down at once" thought the
father. - The sooner it's all over the BETTER
Mr.. Lavender had also heard the carriages
drive up, and had trembled at the sound.
IF 1t were not too late, he said to himself:
out he ieiI lnat MS heau was already IN the
halter. Why that terrible man has even
taken my hat" he continued s.But in any
case II would be impossible to escape now Yet
1t can be pleasant to be married to a woman
who hates you, and who tells you 50; and it
isn't fair to msrry her either, No, I'll be
hanged If it Is, and l won't do it, No not
. for all the captains in the world But can't
Z walk coolly out of the house. They'll see me,
and stop me; and then should have to run for
| IT. and a man running away without his hat
locks very much like a thief. Besides the
dcor Is locked Good heavens, the door is
locked - and Mr.. Lavender turned and shook
the handle, but in vain, At that moment the
terrified bridegroom observed that one of the
windows were open. '.Yes-I might jump out
of the window he reflected 1T would be
better than escaping up the chimney; and one
way or other L must get out Of this house
Fortunately there are area-railings but if
there were, and each rail were a bayonet. /
would risk the leap
Mr. Lavender stood for n second on the win
dow-Sill, and then, with the agility of leopard,
sprang into the street. and at the same time
kicking over fOwer-pot. The boys, of whom
there Wa, of course, large collection outside
the street door, cheered the enterprising jun
per rs he fell on all fours, but he was up again
IN moment, and went bounding down the
street like young stag, until he met cab,
jumped in, and told the cabman to drive to
Mile End.
Confound those boys muttercd Captain
Flathers, as he walked gently down stairs to
unlock the paTlOr door, an operation which he
succeeded in efccting without the slightest
noise. - ConfOund those boys ard their shout
ing, L must tell the servants to drive them
ali away Then it struck him that he ought
to 90 in and speak TO Lavender Tor a few sec
OndS-
Why, he's not here - he exclaimed, as he
entered. Where the deuce can he be,
must have made n mistake. The door can't
have been locked. The KEY certa My did seem
TO turn very easily. He had not gone out
that's certain, for I've his hat. Perhaps he's
somewhere up stairs
Captain Flathers proceeded once more to the
drawing ROOM and made a sign to Miss Smith
ers. which had the effect Of bringing that qua
si-jdvenile lady out Of the room.
Have you seen Lavender -
- Not lately
Il he anywhere up stairs?"
No"
Are you certain '''
1 Positive
- Its very strange said the captain. Il left
him in the parlOr. and now he's not there
'gg" Perhaps he's gone out for walk, - sug-
igested Miss SmitheTs.
1t is scarcely probable replied the cap
tain; especially as had his hat up stairs,
and be was locked in
Locked in, ,'' calculated the bridesmaid.
Yes. locked in, >" said the captain calmly;
- thought il safer''
= lie must be hiding somewhere" observed
Miss Smithers. -
Yet he was not in n very jocular mood :"
responded the captain, thoug ghtfully; Z" but let
US 20 down and look together
- He is certainly not here" said Miss Smith
ers, looking round the room.
Il had come to that conclusion before" OBJ
served the captain.
But perhaps he really is hiding" repeated
the facetious Miss Smithers. Come. Mr.. La
vender, it's no good eoncealing yourself" she
called out in playful voice. We know
where you ar
After a few moments silence, the captain
began
Come, Lavender, my boy he said, this
is exceedingly funny, Of course, but We have
had nearly enough Of it now. Its beginning
TO get stupid
Then there was another dead silerce, which
was NJ length broken by Miss Smithers who.
pointing to the Open window. and to the re-
mains of a flower pot on the window -slll said
with gesture worthy Of Miss Vincent:
Look
CanHain Etalhers sfrn.E fha tablo ,..,L l.