New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-06-19
The Brldegroonns Coat.

4 never was in such a hideous fix
in all my life,' said Ransom Palmer,
one OF the rising young men of Aus
tin. The young man was certainly
in bad fix. He was to be married
at a quarter past twelve o clock that
day. At twelve O'Clock precisely he
was expected at the house of the fair
bride. TWAS now half past eleven.
The carriage that was to convey him
to the house of the brides parents
had been standing at his door for an
hour, the horses impatiently champ
ing their bits. He was waiting for
the tailor to bring his wedding coat.
He was otherwise completely dressed
for the occasion. He even had his
hair curled and his boots shined.
sPut on your old coat,' said
Thompson Hyde, who was to oficiate
as his best man.
"Never,0 said Palmer; sit is shah
by, it is out of fashion and the ell
bows are shiny. People would think
| was a reporter. I tell you, Thomp-
son, if Louisa were to see me in that
coat she would refuse to marry me-
Off could only lay my hands on
that tailor for about ten minutes!"
And the despairing bridegroom
gritted his teeth.
ut is a quarter of twelve re-
marked his best m am. 9The affair
is becoming really serious. When
did that cursed tailor say he would
have the coat here?"
"He promised by all thatwas good
and holy to have that coat here at
half past ten o'clock, and now he has
gone back on me. I wonder ifsome
rival is not trying to prevent the
marriage"
Suppose y ou sendfor the coat. =
1T is too late, exclaimed Palmer,
with a gesture Of hopelessness; and
he stuck his head out of the window
and looked up and down the street
in a frenzied manner, notwithstand-
the fact that three old maids, con-
cealed behind the curtain of win
dow opposite, were watching him.
He was also aware that Mrs. Ran
dolph Paterson a fat woman, who
lived one house further on, was fiat
ening her nose against the pane of
glass. She was a picket guard tom
form the rest of the household of the
appearance of the BRIDEGROOM.
There was also a group ofsmall bows,
living in the neigh orhood, gathered
around the door, waiting inpatient
" to see the bridegroom enter his
carriage.
1T is very stupid of you to put
of everything until the last minute"
said Hyde, impatiently; 'itjust serves
you right. !"
Il know it does, replied the de-
spairing man, sbut it is too late to
argue that question now A coat! A
coat! My kingd om for coat!''
Il would have had my toggery
ready for a week said Hyde, look
ing down at his immaculate toilet.
"A man should never take such
risks.
An idea seemed to have struck
Ransom Palmer. He cast alook up
on his friend very much like that
which a cannibal casts upon his vic
tim
Thompson, my boy, you are just
about my size and build. =
$ Just about was the response.
Selling his friend by the arm, the
would be husband exclaimed: Lend
me your coatp
Dom talk 70 olishness, !" responded
Hyde, recoiling 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 height of
fashion, or that your elbows shine. =
ooh, yes they will /" said Hyde,
with a sickly smile, s'but if you are
in a swapping humor I will swap
places with you, and be the bride
groom, eh?''
Don't joke about serious things
said Palmer, almost with tears in his
eyes, 1sifyou have got any real friend
ship for me, don't leave me in this
horrible scrape Inever afterwards
could have any confidence IN you if
you did. The first boy shall be
named after vot- Come, now, that's
q good fellow
There was so much misery de-
picted in the face of Palmer that his
friend surrendered. Perhaps it was
the other inducelnent that caused
him to yield. a moment later the
exchange was made and the carriage
rolled off amid the shouts Of the de-
lighted street Ara bs
There were the usual conglatnIa