Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-07
No Wine at the Wedding.

corners of Fred Perry's mouth went down.
"No wine at the wedding 2" Pooh "
said Major Balstaff, with nose shaped like
bottle.
"No wine at the wedding Ugh " said
young DIR. Sheaf, his eyes red enough with
brandy to suggest peppermints.
"There is no doubt about it. The edict |
has gone FORTH" said Charlie May oracu-
larly. I" Sue Dillingham; says so, and when
Sues pretty mouth is set for saying No.
all the orators in the world, from Demos
themes down, could not change it to saying
Yes, provided she thinks thing ought to
be so and So"
"But shouldn't think Fred Bartol would
submit to it," said Major Balstaff, who
swelled in public like gobber, but in pri
vate obsequiously submitted to the vigorous
rule of Mrs. Balstaf.
"Fred Bartol has been converted on the
temperance question since he became inter
ested in Sue" said Charlie May, sneeringly.
"That is no dscredit to him."
This last speaker was Frank Maynard.
90 Frank are you going over to that
side of the question 2" said Fred Perry.
Frank slightly blushed as all turned their
eyes upon him
"No, have not gone over"
The after-dinner company of loterers in
the office of the tavern now separated to
their business duties, all excepting Major
Balstaff, who strutted up and down the floor
of the office, wondering how Fred Bartol
could "submit" to a woman in such an i'm
portant matter as this.
Soon there was pull at the maj ,r's mill
tary coattail.
"Father, mother wants YOU" said little
urchin.
"Oh does she2 Ahem-I'll be there in
| staptly. Dickv fell mother"
The office was speedily deserted.
Frank MAYNARD, the young man who de-
clared that Fred Bartol's temperance stand
was no dscredit TO him, thoughtfully re-
Elected upon the matter as he walked to his
place of business.
"The wedding comes off tonight" he
said to himself, " and no wine is to be there.
| am glad of it. There is one person who
would go home with muddled head if they
had it, and that person would be Frank
Maynard. | have so much to do with figures
nowadays that | can't afford to have the
headache that would inevitably follow my
wine at any wedding. Hol have l got to
the old depot so soon p
Yes, there was the depot office in which
Frank was book-keeper.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Maynard"
The speaker was the superintendent Of
the road, Mr.. Ferry.
81 wanted to see you, Mr.. Maynard, and
ask favor You know the Dillingham; bril-
dial party going off tonight will be pretty
large one. Mr.. Dillingham; has been here
and chartered special train to take them
all to the city, the company of friends from
outside being pretty large. The might
freight goes through about the time the
party starts, only ten minutes befora them.
wish you would be over here and see that
| in irbt ,yil1 ha
right, know but the station-agent wants
to be off, and / shall be obliged if you will
be here"
GAN right, SIR" Aud Frank added to
himself " If there is no wine at the wed.
ding shall bring clear head with me-"
The wedding was a very brilliant affair.
The reception was crowded.
Everybody is here" thought Frank
Maynard, "and everybody is happy"
There were few exceptions to the gen.
eral happiness, but these were momentary.
When supper was served, and the drink
ables proved to be coffee and lemonade
Charlie Mays nose once more went up and
the corners of Fred Perry's mouth went
down. Such crookedness of feature soon
disappeared, however.
"This coffee is superb" said Charlie.
" delicious lemonade" said Fred.
Major Balstaff, as he contemplated the
coffee and lemonade, was about to calculate
"horrid," but Mrs. Balstatf was ahead of
him. She belonged to the Woman's Chris
tian Temperance Union. How delightful, "
she exclaimed, these simple drinks are"
delightful echoed the Major obedi-
emily.
The only incorrigible grumbler was DR..
Sheafe. His eyes, though, the next morning
were more comfortable than they had been
for some time. Frank Maynard was sin
cerely happy over the situation.
"Mss Dillingham;" said Frank to May
Dillingham;, the brides sister, ait may
seem like gratuitous comment by me, but |
like this temperance wedding"
"Thank you. Sister Sue did not know
how it would work. / like it, and | am
glad you like it,"
"What fine-looking couple Frank May
nard and May Dillingham; make, major, ,.
said Mrs. Balstaff.
Every nice-looking," he replied, and this
remark was not an echo, but his own indie
pendent opinion.
Frank Maynard went to the depot con.
graduating himself on his clear-headedness
and steadiness of nerve.
81 shouldn't have dared" he observed to
himself, to take any responsibility about
railroad trains after some weddings"
r. Frank soon arrived at the station.
Everything seems to be right" he said
"and there is nothing for me to do except
> to quietly stand here till the bridal train
goes. There's the wedding party in Their
car, or will be as soon as Sue Dillingham;
a and her husband arrive. And here comes
the hack with that couple. All here now
in good season, ten minutes before the night
freight slips through. What good time
they are havingi"
=. Yes, they were happy. Above the dull
J mufil I'd sound of the lazily-escaping steam
from the locomotive Frank heard the merry
Jest and hearty laugh.
"Time for the freight express" SAID
= Frank, looking at his watch. "And there
it isl"
Yes, it had turned the curve near the de
pot, and was laundering along, its bright
headlight flashing like the fiery eye of somt
monster that was roaring down the track
1t came nearer, and was about crashing pas
the depot when Frank started. lie haC
been watching the play of the sharp ligh
of the locomotive along the track. As tn,
light came closer aud closer, like an arrow
Of fire shot along the rail, he noticed poin
\, in the rail where the light suddenly ceased
vi Did the rail come TO an end there I" Il
the switch" Frank did not want to thinl