Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-10-30
NUMBER SO.

4
of his shoulders, as if he were having q
very good time.
He called tho waiter and told him to
bring directory, and as no turned TO
give the order, Van Bibber recognized
him and he recognized Van Bibber. Van
Blbber knew him for u very nice boy of
very good Boston family named Stand
ish. and the younger Of two sons 1t
was the elder who was Van Bibber's
particular friend. The girl saw moth
ing Of this mutual recognition, for she
was looking with startled eyes at ham
som that had dashed up the side street
and was turning the corner
Ted! oh, Ted" she gaspcd; 'it's your
brother. There! In that hanson. l
sawhim perfectly plainly Oh, how did
he find us? What shall We do2"
Ted grew very red and then very
white
"Standish," said Van Bibber, jump.
ing up and reaching for his hat, pay
this chap for those things, will you, and
I'll get rid OF your brother"
Van Bibber came down the steps,
lighted a cigar, as tho elder Standish
came up them on tho jump.
Hello! Stanlisb!" shouted tho New
Yorker; what coincidence! Why,
I've just seen your brother, and now
here you are. What's up?"
you've seen himr' cried tho Boston
man, eagerly; yes, and where is he?
Was she with him? Are they married?
Am in timer"
Van Wbber answered these different
questions to the effect that be had seen
young Standish and Mrs. Standish not
a half-an-hour before, and that they
were just then taking cab for Jersey
City, whence they were to depart for
Chicago.
THE driver who brought them here
and who told me where they were, said
they could not have left this place by
the time | would reach it," said tho
elder brother, doubtfully.
Eyes, but they have" said Van Bib
Der; however, il you get over to Jersey
City in timo for the two-thirty, you can
reach Chicago almost as soon as they
do. They are going to tho Palmer
House, they said
THANK you, old fellow" shouted
Standish, jumping back into his han
som; Its terrible business. Pair OF
young fools. Nobody objected to the
marriage-only too young, you know.
Ever so much obliged
Don't mention it." said Van Bibber,
politely.
Nov, Them said that young man.
as he approached the frightened couple
on the terrace, Eve sent your brother
off to Chicago. | do not know why
selected Chicago as a place where one
would go on a honeymoon. But I'm not
very good at it. Now, II you will in
troduce me Til see what can be done
toward getting you two babes out of the
woods"
Standish said: "Miss Cambridge, this
is Mr. Cortlandt Van Bibber, of whom
you have heard my brother speak, and
Miss Cambridge said she was very glad
to meet Mr.. Van Bibber even under
such peculiarly trying circumstances.
Now, what you two want to do"
said Van Bibber, addressing them as
though they we're just about fifteen
years old and he was at least forty, is
to give this thing all the publicity you
can"
WHAT" chorused the two runaways,
in violent protest.
AT the club he pressed four men into
service who knew everybody and whom
everybody knew. and when they pro-
tested that they had not been properly
invited and that they knew only tho
bride and groom by sight, he told them
that made no difference, as it was their
names only he wanted. Then he sent a
messenger-boy to get the biggest suite
of rooms on the FAN River boat and
another one for flowers and then he put
Mrs. Regy Van Amt into cab and sent
her after the bride, and, as best man, he
got into another cab and carried off the
groom.
81 have acted as best man or usher
forty-two times now, said Van Bibber,
as they drove to the church, land this
is the first time | over appeared in
either capacity in Russia-leather shoes
and blue-serge yachting suit. But
then" he added, contentedly, Pm
nothing to tae other fellows. One Of
them is in a st-iped-flannel suit"
Mrs "Regy" and Miss Cambridge
wept great deal on the way uptown,
but tho bride was all smiles and bushes
when she walked up the aisle to meet
her prospective husband. They all
shook hands after it was over, and the
acknowledgements played the Wedding
March," and one Of the club-men in
sisted in pulling cheerful and jerky
peal on the church bell in the absence
Of the janitor, and then Van Bibber
hurled an old shoe and handful Of rice
which he had thoughtfully collected
from the cook at the club-after them
as they drove off to the boat.
Now" said Van Bibber, when that
is printed in tho papers tomorrow, it
will read like one of the most orthodox
and swagger weddings of the season.
But still can not help thinking"
"Well?" said Mrs "Regy," as he
paused doubtfully.
''Well, can't help thinking" con-
tinued Van Bibber, "of Standish racing
around Chicago with the thermometer
at one hundred and two in the shade,
and Of our meeting when he gets back.