The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-08-03
ID BRIDEGROOM'S COAT.

H'lE BRlDEGROOMS COAT.
never was in such a hideOus fix
& my life, said Ransom Palmer,
e'f the rising young men of Aus
ts''< Ihe young man was certainly
A*pad tix. He was to be married
s. 9uarter past twelve O'Clock that
s1s# AT twelve O'Clock precisely he
sAkxpected at the house of the fair
1t was now half past eleven.
klaParrlage that was TO convey him
Ik8 re house of the brides parents
Npeen standing at his door for an
IsN the horses irnpatiently
olNping their bits. He Was wait.
FIJI Hpr the tailor to bring his we'd
Eas coat. He was otherwies COM
fpsa1 dressed for the occasion. lie
es Mad his hair curled and his boots
~ on your 81 coat" SAID
TfeonIson Hyde. who was to ofli-
eiae $.his best man.
'Teyer," said Palmer; "it is Shalt
by, is out of fashion and the elbows
are pny. People would think l
was aeporter. tell you, Thomp-
son, IL louisa were to see me in that
coat shwould refuse to marry me.
., II tuld only lay my hands on
that tait for about ten minutes !"
Ana theespairing bridegroom grit
ted his tech.
III Is aquarter of twelve" re-
marked hiSest man. "The affair is
becoming reilly serious. When did
that cursed tilOr say he would have
the coat herg"
lie promied by all that was good
ana holy to AVE that coat here at
nall past ten O'Clock, and now he
has gone baci on me. | wonder il
some rival lsnot trying to prevent
the marriage
"SuppOse yo send for the coat"
ut is too late" exclaimed Palmer,
with gestureDf hopelessness; and
he stuck his head out CT the window
and looked up aud down the street
in frenzied manner, notwithstand-
ing the fact that three old maids,
concealed behind the curtain of a
window opposite, were watching
him. He was also aware that Mrs.
Randolph Paterson a fat woman
who lived one house further on, was
hattenlng her nose against the pane
OF glass; She was a picket guard to
4JQrm the rest of the household oi
the appearance of the bridegroom
There was also group of small boys,
living in the neighborhood, gathered
around the door, waiting impatiently
tosee the bridegroom enter his car
riage.
"lt is very stupid of you to put of
everything until the last minute" "
said Hyde, impatientIy; it just
serves you right"
81 know it does" replied the de-
spairing man, "but it is too late to
argue that question now. A coat
A coat! Ny Kingdom for a coat !"
II would have had my toggery
ready for week." said Hyde, look
ing down at his immaculate toilet.
ga man should never take such
risks"
An idea seemed to have struck
Ransom Palmer. He cast a look up
on his friend very much like that
which a cannibal casts upon his vic.
tim.
"Thomrson, my boy, you are just
about my size and build"
"Just about" was the response.
Selling his friend by the arm.
the would d-be-husband exclaimed /:
LEND me your coat ~
"Don't talk f0olishness," respond
ed Hyde, recoiing a step at the very
idea.
''Prove that you are really a friend
and lend me your sWallOW-tailed
coat. Nobody will notice that you
are not dressed in the hight of fashion,
n that your elbows shine"
Y ."Oh, yes they WILL" said Hyde,
with a sickly smile, "but if you are
in swapping humor l will swap
places with you, and be the bride