Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-12-08
My WEDDING Tour.

| was only II when Charlie married
me, aud wrote myself for the first time
Mrs. Charles Vail, Jr., and saw the mi
Tails Of the same blazoned on the end of
my new Saratoga trunk, when we start
q on our wedding journey. Ny we'd
ding journey / can speak Of it calmly
now, but the time was when it narrowed
up my inmost soul. To this day, Char
he becomes wroth when it is mentioned,
and says it is my contounded imagi-
nation" but he knows, and | know well
that that is only one of those conven-
lent little loOpholes through which big
masculioity can crawl OF emergency ;
and, tho facts remaining unchanged and
indisputahle, / shall defy Charlie and
state them to the world.
laagine, then, reader or. listener.
whoever you may be, that the last
sliken train has swept itself out of
Trinity Chapel, and the last note Of the
inevitable Wedding March shud-
dere itself out Of the big grooming or
gan, aud that Charlie and | are mar
rled. Also, that the kissing and CRYING
over IS achieved, and the voices of my
husband sisters and my maiden aunts,
mailing down blessings on our heads.
are happily lost in distance-that the
only sound we hear is the rattle and
roar Of an express train laundering east
ward. and / am looking out into the
golden MONDAY, watching the fields
and roads and villages and woodlands
race past US, and sweep back into a
stream like running water. There we
sat, two bhssful young fools-hut it
isn't OF oT bliss, or our foolishness
either, that | am going to tell you
only of the single adventure Of our we'd.
ding tour.
Charlie hadn't told me where we were
to go, and ! rather liked being left in
Ignorance, knowing no more than that
we We're being swept away to some little
Paradise OF our own-it might be an
island OF the Hesperides, or Crusoe's
kingdom, or Eden itself. We stopped
ut good many stations by the way,
that looked anything but Paradaisical !:
but / saw everything through glass,
rosily, as | sat there demure and mute,
by Charities side. The shadows we're
growing short, and if was Just noon.
when we stopped at some "ville or
other, whose long, low, Struggling
buildings, crowding close upon tie
track, and the broad, dusty village
street, branching Off at right angles.
are photographed upon my memory.
Not for anything intrinsicaliy remark
able; there We're only a good many
teams and farm wagons, aud open car
riages, and light carryaIis standing
about, with the lazy horses rubbing
their noses against old wora-eaten posts,
under the row OF dropping green trees.
and plenty Of people on the platform.
crowding together for greetings and
good-bys 1t was "a commonplace, every
day pictnre enough, aud not even a
pretty one, except IN fragments. There
was general exodus from the car. and
n rush dlnnerward, as we supposed,
toward the swinging sign of some
House or other down the lazy little
country street; and Charlie, looking at
his watch. sud it was II o'clock-and
didn't | want some lunch
OF course | didn't, but of course he
said I must have it, and Immediately
started up. He wouldn't be five minutes.
he SAID, and mustn't move till he came
back | was to guard our two seats.
and let no one come nigh them, and,
above all. | was to sit still, and not be
led astray Toy any possible warnings to
change ears. "We're going through, .
Charlie remarked, $50 Just keep the
seats, and don't pay any attention.
nodded obedience, and Mr. Vail marched
out Of the car, leaving mo to peer after
him IN the crowd and catch the last
glimpse Of his straw hat vanishing down
Il sire t.
watched the crowd, when Charlie
was out Of sight, and unused and won
dered over the faces, and built up all
sorts OF dreamy speculations upon them
rs one does in a crowd when they have
nothing better to think OF. Presently
the door banged open, and the voice OF
some unseen fuuctionay shouted
B." Change cars for Boston f"
Everybody began to scramble then
bags and bundles aud canes together
aud there was rush among the few whC
remained my fellow passengers.
watched them 20 without emotion, ans
merely settled myself more comfortably
for the solitary journey through wlicl
Charlie had Indicated wondering a lit
tie whore its terminus might be. but IL
uo wise disturbed or anxious thereat.
stared opt at the people for i've minute.
louger-at least SO sad tile f3t-taceS
cluc6 in the ladies room opposite ml
window. though ] made 1t fifty al le0s
by mental caiculation-aud then til,
laoe swung opeu again. This time
head projected ltselt luto the car, roarc,
"All out evidently Mt me--and van
ished ayain. 81 won't get out, I re.
pHal, de{ying the empty air. "Charli,
told me 10 sit still, and I'm going to
Oh, Charlie why in the worl0 dom
you come back? 4"
But no Charlie came to answer me
ana / began 10 stare ont in the GROVE
with rather more anxious eyes, and t
grow little hot and uneasy. ami t,
think, with certain unpleasant thrill
running down my back. what would be
come OF me ii the train shou,d start. an,
Charlie shouldn't come buck ut ali A
thi, awful point IN my meditatl0ns, tn
locomotive gave vent to an unearthl,
scveech, which | took for prcm3nitar,
symptom OF departure, and | was 50 ter
ritcd that | started up from my eat
just as the little door swung back 10
the third time, - admit OF q las, warn
ing, like that Of Friar Blooms br
head. This time the ftcereapps 81
big shaggy suit OF clothes some 81,
feet high, and was grim, not to SAY
irate, visaEe.
d" Chaage cars, miss " said thc par
son gru4iy; ~ told you So twice be
fore
Pm to sit still. [ replied meekly
e I'm going t}lvongh. tlugbe tht
WAS 'he right thing 10 say, be4ast
Charlie hai said it; but il didn't h,vr
tue ri-ht etfsct.
'.Gnauge ears thea-there's ,be Bos
ton train over there. This ruas back q
New York.
l simply stared at the person, in
logged way that he seemed to take yer.
i'll.
Come +" he exclaimed. waxing i'm
patient You can't SIT here all day
you know. Where do you want 70 60 +?
I-I-don't know" / stammered
" was told to sit stu. and II mus
wait till the person comes back.
The man stared back at me now Wit
interest Where's your ticket ," sal
he. extending a dirty hand.
. haven't got it l answered in
( meek and c0uc}l atinr tot,A .. So