The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-03-25

with our slow old Pilgrim just as the
conductor had given the signal for start
ing. Charlie was on the rear platform
waiting for me- He pulled the cord
violently and jerked me on, while Ned
gave me parting push. My elegant
travelling costume was torn half of me-
How every one laughed! and Aunt Sue
made a spectacle of me by producing
her housewife and sewing me up before
the assembled multitude. Then half OF
the party went to the same hotel that
we did, and it leaked out that we were a
newly married couple, and altogether
it was the most completely Notifying
and disheartening day of my life.
"You poor thing!' laughed Fan. "lf
you had only had a nice competent sister
as I have, to take all the worry off your
mind, then you could have resigned eV-
erything to her good providence, as do,
and have calmly awaited your fate with
folded hands. -
Eyes; if | had had some one to rely
upon l might have given my thoughts
to more serious matters. Or if Charlie
had been more conservative in his ideas,
more punctilious in matters of etiquette,
he might have helped me out; but he did
just as every one else does, left every
thing to me, and l had the satisfaction OF
making a grand fiasco of it all. But
will do better by you, Fan. You are not
to be married until June; that will give
us plenty of time to complete arrange
ments. The ceremony shall be at St.
Andrews and l will give you the most
rechere of receptions. l am very glad
the Professor has decided to spend his
vacation abroad it is just the thing for
bridal tour. You can have your selec-
ton of the young men from the gradua-
ting class, with whom you airted so I'M
considerably, for your ushers. To think
of your receiving all that attention from
the undergraduates, and then marrying
a grave Professor! 1t does seem so funny.
But he is not grave al all, Sue; and
he is very young for his .honors. Only
thirty, and l am twenty-hree, a real old
girl. You don'trealize how time flies. ="
well, if he is not oil, he is at least
dignifed and formal-eood material to
work with at the start. He would give
a certain prestige to any occasion. l
shall have the satisfaction of seeing you
married in good style. You will redeem
the family"
Mrs. Hathaway left the room with a
flutter of drapery, and Fan fell into a
muse. Her father andmother lived alone
now in the old family mansion, Isabel
was in Europe again, Ned and the other
boys were out West, whilst she was
Willing away the winter at Sues beau
tiful 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 b.
hemian sister Isabel; she wished it all
over, and herself settled in a home of
her own. Home! What a delightful
sound! Should she ever realize the
word?
There was ring at the door. The
postman had brought her letters from
her Professor and her mother.
DARLING FANNY (wrote the tirsp-''I can
wait. June is a long way off, for the winter Is
only just begun. Moreover, there is no need
of waiting. We were idiots to think of it. Mrs;
has advertised her lovely home to let, turn
ished. You remember it, do you not! 1t was
at a 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: know your secret; I've q
weakness for lovers That house is to let, or.
rather, it was it is so no longer, for have
rented it. Don't start and drop this paper
The house awaits a mistress. 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 it decidedly the
most sensible plan she has heard of lately,
Why should Ispeud my evenings in "A board
ing-house for six months longer. when might
toast my toes, instead, at my ain tiresde? The
thing is preposterous. inclose your mothers
letter to me, in which you will see that she
proposes that 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
L know that your sister very kindly intended
to make social event of our marriage; but
have horror of events and, besides, / can't
wait She must come with you, and see the
knot properly tied. l Will meet you both ut
the = Depot at half pastfou Saturday p. M. -
The letter from Fans mother re-en-
forced the Professors plea, and gave a
maternal sanction to the hasty marriage.
Fan ran to her sisters room, only to as
eertain that she had gone out in the car
riage, the maid did not know whittier.
1t was Saturday, and half past three in
the afternoon; and scribbling hasty
note of explanation, which she left upon
her sisters dressing table, Fan packed a
handbag and departed. She reached
the station little too early, and sat in a
corner of the waiting-room, enjoying
watching the people come and go, trying
to imagine their histories, and wondering
whether any were going on brands like
her own. At last the train trundled in.
There was the usual hubbub of embrace
ing friends, importunate cab-drivers, and
hurrying travellers. She eagerly scanned
each passenger who emerged from the
cars. Her Professor had not come In
experienced in the ways of travel, she
began to be nervous. She still sat in
the corner of the big room, outwardly
calm, but inwardly quaking. An old
gentleman by her side, who, like her,
had watched the crowd with meditative
interest, his stubby chin resting pensive-
ly on the horn handle of his umbrella
turned to her and remarked: ''Such a
power of people!-such power of peo-
pie! Nary two on em alike; nary one
on 'em you ever see afore.n