The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-09-20
THE B ES AN
How = oung Van Bibber Assisted
8 Boston L,oohinvar.

HOW = OOQ& N t1u }17lOU0G A051S09A
8 Boston Loohinvar.
Young Van Bibber came back to town
from Newport the other day to see his
! lawyer about the disposal OF some prop
erty that needed his sanction. He found
the city very hot and dreary and empty.
He had to wait over for an afternoon
train, and as he was downtown he de-
cided to lunch at a French restaurant
near Washington square. where some
one told him you could get particular
! things particularly wellrcooked. The
tables were set on terrace with plants
and flowers about them and covered
| with a tri-colored awning. There were
no jangling horse-car bells nor dust to
disturb him, and almost all the other
tables were unoccupied. The walters
leaned against these tables and chatted
in French argot, and cool breeze
blew through the plants and beloved
the awning, SO that on the whole van
Bibber was glad he had come.
When he had given his order he
| Leaned back and surveyed the other
diners. There was an old Frenchman
scolding over his late breakfast, two
| young artists with Van Dyke boards,
| who ordered the most remarkab BILE things
in the same French argot that the walt
ers spoke, and a young lady and young
gentleman at the table next to his own.
| The mans back was toward him, and he
could see only the girl when the youth
moved to one side. She was very young
and very pretty, and she seemed in
most excited state of mind from the tip
OF her wide brimmed, pointed French
hat to the points Of her patentrleather
| ties. She was strikingly well-bred In
appearance, and Van Bibber wondered
why she should be dining alone with SO
| young a man. ... s.
'It wasn't my fault" said the youth,
earnestly; ''Id no idea he would be out
OF town, and, anyway it really doesn't
matter. There are other clergymen in
the city besides your cousin"
| ''Of course" said the girl, almost tear
fully; ''but they're not my cousin and
he is, and that would have made it 50
lnuch-oh, so very much different. Pm
awfu]ly scared"
! Runaway couple, by Jove?' COM
mented Van Bibber; 'most interesting.
Read about 'em often; never seen 'em.
Most interesting"
| He bent his head over an entrce, but
| he could not help hearing what fol-
lowed, for the young runaways were In
different to all around them, and though
he ratified his knife and fork in most
vulgar manner, they did not hear him
nor lower their voices.
'Well, what are you going to do?'
said the girl, severely, but not unkind-
ly; cit doesn't seem to me that you are
exactly rising to the occasion.
"Well, don't know" answered the
youth; ''wo're safe here, anyway. No
body we know ever comes here, and II
they did, they are out OF town, now.
You 70 ON ard eat something, and I'll
get directory and look up a lot of cler-
gynen's addresses, and then we can
make out list and drive around in q
cab until we find one who has not gone
off on his vacation
They'll never forgive u.s." said the
girl.
| ''Oh, we'll, that's all right exclaimed
the young man, cheerfully; really
you're the most uncomforta bic young
woman I ever ran away with. One
might think you were going to tuner
al You were willing enough two days
ago, and now you're sorry you came"
''No, not sorry, exactly" said the
girl; ''but, indeed, Ted, it is going to
make so much talk. II we only had a
girl with us, or if you had best man,
or if We had witnesses, as they do in
England, and parish registry, or soma
thing Of that sort; or, if Cousin Harold
had only been at homo to do the mar
rying."
The young gentleman called Ted did
not look, Judging from the expression
| of his shoulders, as if he were having a
very good time.
He called the waiter and told him to
bring directory, and as he turned to
| give the order, Van Bibber recognized
him and he recognized Van Bibber. Van
B1bber knew him for g. 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 han
som that had dashed up the side street
and was turning the corner.
s'Ted! oh, Ted!'' she gasped; 'its your
brother. There! In that hanson. /
saw him perfectly plainly. Oh, how did
| he find US? What shall we do?''
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 cigar, as the elder Standish
| came up them ON the jump.
ssHello! Standishv' shouted the New
| Yorker; "What coincidencel Why,
I've just seen your brother, and now
| here YOU are. What's up?" m.
| 'sYou've seen himp' cried the Boston
man, eagerly; ''yes, and where is hei
Was she with him? Are they married;
| Am in time?"
| Van Bibber answered these different
! questions to the effect that he had seen
| Young Standish and Mrs Standish not