The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-30

punctill0us In matters OF etiquette, he
might have helped me out, but he did just
as every one else does, left everything to
me, and I had the satisfaction of making
grand fasco of it all. But will do bet
ter by you, Fan. You are not to be mar
ried until June; that win give us plenty of
time to complete the arrangements. The
ceremony shall be at St. Andrews, and /
viii give you the most recherche of recep-
tions. 1 am very glad the professor has
decided to spend his vacation abroad; it Is
Just the thing for bridal tour. You can
have your selection of the young men from
the graduating class, with whom you firt-
ed so unconscionably, for your ushers- To
think of your receiving all that attention
from the undergraduates, and then mar.
rying grave professor! 1t does seem so
funny"
sBut he is not grave at all, Sue; and he
is very young for his honors. Only thir-
ty, and I twenty-three, real old girl
You don't realize how time flies"
.WelI, if he is not old, he is at least dig
nifed and formal good material to work
With at the start. He would give GER
tain prestige to any occasion Ishall have
the satisfaction of seeing you married IN
good style. You will redeem your fami-
E.'
Mrs. Hathaway left the room with a
futter of drapery, and Fan fell into muse.
Her father and mother lived alone now IN
the old family mansion, Isabel was in Eu-
rope again, Ned and the other boys were
out West, whilst she was willing away the
winter at Sues beautiful home in the city.
She was weary of society, and she wished
that summer was nearer, when Aston
could leave his college duties and claim her.
She cared as little for ceremony as her Bo-
hemian sister Isabel; she wished it all over,
and herself settled In home of her own.
Homel What adelightful sound Should
she ever realize the word?
There was airing atthe door. The post
man had brought her letters from her pro
fessor and her mother.
.'DARLING FANNY wrote the first t),-I
can't wait June is long, long way off, for
the winter is Just begun. Moreover, there is
no need of waiting We were idiots to think
of it. Mrs. Delaney has gone South for the
winter and has advertised her lovely home to
let, furnished. You remember it, do you not!
1t was at sociable there, behind the garnet
plush curtains in the bow-window, that you
told me. The house has had its associations
for me ever since. / never go by it IN the
evening and see the light streaming through
the stained glass over the hall door without
fancying that it says to me; II know your
secret; I've a weakness for lovers" That
house is to let or rather it was; it is no longer
for | have rented it Don't start and drop
this paper The house awaits its mistsess.
I've told the kitchen girl that you will appear
Monday morning. Now don't say you can't,
for have Just received letter from your
mother, and the thing is to be. She thinks II
decidedly the most sensible plan she has heard
of lately. Why should spend my evenings
in boarding house for SIX months longer,
when might toast my toes at my own hresldei
The thing is preposterous. enclose your
mothers letter to me, in which you Will see
that she proposes that l bring you to her next
Saturday evening. We can then be quietly
married at church after the regular Sunday
service, and can start for our own home by
the early train Monday morning, which will
land me at the college in time to attend to my
regular classes. know that your sister very
kindly intended to make social event OF oul
marriage; but have horror of ''events,
and, besides, | can't wait. She must come
with you and see the knot properly tied.
Will meet you both at the - depot at half
past four Saturday, P. M
The letter from Fans mother reinforced
the professors plea, and gave maternal
sanction to the hasty marriage. Fan ran
to her sisters room, only to ascertain that
she had gone out in the carriage, the maid
did not know whittier 1t was Saturday,
and haH-past 3 in the afternoon; and scrib,
ling hasty note of explanation, which she
left upon her sisters dressing table. Fan
packed hand bag and departed. She
reached the station a little too early, and
sat in corner of the waiting room, enjoy
ing watching the people come and go, try
ing to imagine their histories, and wander
ing if they were going on errands ike hel
own. At last the train trundled in. There
weret usual hubbub of embracing friends
importunate cab-drivers, and hurrying tray-
lers. She eagerly scanned each passenger
who emerged from the cars. Her profes-
sor had not come inexperienced in the
ways of travel, she began to be nervous
She still sat in the corner of the room, out
wardly calm, but inwardly quaking. An
old gentleman by her side, who, like her
had watched the crowd with meditative In
terest, his stubby chin resting pensively OIL
the horn handle of his umbrella, turned tC
her and remarked, "Such power of peo
ple?-such power of people. Nary two
on em alike; nary one on em you ever sex
aforeI !"
At last she stepped to the ticket Office
and inquired the last train from the eollegt
station. Yes, one would be in at 8 clock
but no train went out after that to Edge
cliff. her mothers home Could she not &C
out at 8 o'clock to - junction anC
catch the night express at that point
''Yes, that was possible; and Fan sat dowI
again and waited. The 8 O'Clock tran
brought the professor weary and anxious
He had lost the earlier train, and feared al
would be wrong in consequence. The ide:
of the express at Junction raised hi
spirits at once They sat out in high glee
only to be delayed by the heavy drifting
storm sufficiently for their train to reacl
the junction five minutes after the express
ed had left. Here was a predicament
They stood together upon the platform
stranded, upon stormy Saturday night, IL
a strange town, the last train left for every
where, and the station master locking hi
door for over Sunday. There were no car
riages in waiting; and inquiring the way fo
the nearest parsonage they set out for
tramp together through the storm. "Cour
age, Fam said the professor; ''therc is N
way out of the mess but to get married a
quickly as We can
A meek-eyed minister's wife answers
their summons Her husband was at hOm
and sick in bed; not so Ill, however, bu
she thought he might marry them, thoug
he had been somewhat delirious during tn
day. They might follow her into the be
room; she was sure no license was rcqired
And SO the professor in his snowfecke
4 r.. Il - H. 80 h<--