Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-12
"reminiscences Of Reportorial
Work on the Call.
A VERY QUIET WEDDING.
The Cruel, Deceitful Reporter Actually
Supposed to be a Minister-An Ex-
perience During the Railroad
Riots--Number Nineteen.
A REPORTERS LUCK.

benefit of confiding public. l was en-.
gagged at the time the ca
pacity of 'local'' on the Peoria
W) Saturday Evening Call, and
indeed it was my first regular employment
OF that kind In spite Of repeated assur-
ances TO the contrary, l could hardly be
kept from feeling the weight of an awful
responsibility, being forever haunted with
the idea that unless my three or four coll
umns of local and personal gossip were
duly Forthcoming the paper would be o
| dismal failure, for that week at least.
The second week OF my apprenticeship the
| "old man. called me aside one morning and
told me that he had information to the effect
that private marriage was on the tapis
in the ''uppertendom" and for reasons not
to be questioned the fact was TO De kept
| secret, especially IS regarded the news
| opening for some brilliant reportoriai work
| with the chance of glorious scoop il
| worked quietly TO successful issue. Az
ter telling NE where l would be most likely
TO procure reliable information as
to the time and place OF the
it right he dismissed me with best wishes
for my success.
After much accommodating with q little
| iudicious questioning fortunately discov-
| cred clew that on being followed up gave
me the desired information as to the
|
/ the time. How much sleep l lost
| in keeping posted as to the incomingS
and outgoings of a certain household on
! Jefferson street, l hesitate to say, but l
| haunted that vicinity II all hours of the
day and night, and at last by the bestowM
| Of present to weti-known florists as
| sistant obtained the
OBJECT OF MY vIGILs.
had determined on bold plan of opera
| tons: and SO a lovely afternoon in Septerl-
| Der heheld me, resplenGent in Prince Albert
| coat, trousers of = subdued pea-green, white
! vest, immaculate shirt front and the whitest
| OF collars and ties. ringing the door-bell of
| an aristocratic residence within whose
walls l knew were gathered the favored
! few admitted into the confidence OF the high
| contracting parties.
81 was quickly admitted and ushered into
| quiet sitting room, where / was most
| gracefully recei we'd by the mother of the
! bride who expressed her pleasure at my
prompt arrival, and while serving refresh
ments with her own fair hands, asked if
wished to see the soon to be made happy
couple then, or wait until the ceremony was
performed. Twas somewhat taken back by
my reception having expected many obsa-
cles to surmount, and this apparent smooth
ing OF all dl1ic ultles, and rendering OF as
sistance, as it were, by one to whom had
been aScribed all the motive Of secrecy,
made me both suspicious and uneasy. Nor
did it add any to my complaisance to hear
in the next room which WIS separated from
US BY sliding doors, certain smothered gig
glirs and whispering, plainly denoting the
presence of bevy Of the fair sex. l sum-
mOned all my fortitude ard replied to the
effect that it was immaterial to me only be-
ing DESTROYS of that which was the most
convenient to her, ETC., etc.
We conversed for awhile on glittering
generalities, my hostess being most
h anita ran NJ n
modest scribe-a most attentive listener. l
was somewhat bewildered, however, when
the lady,
WITH GRACIOUS SMILE,
thus addressed me:
"Of course, Brother W has ac-
quainted you with my reasons for secrecy,
and / am sure you appreciate them and
will have no qualms of conscience for that
reticence necessary to make the whole affair
the desired success we anticipate"
/ was about to reply that nothing was
more remote from my thoughts than to in
terfere with any private arrangements. but
that my position, my reputation, in fact,
were at stake, and could by no means be
persuaded to withhold such an important
event from waiting world, and more es-
pecially after spending SO much time and
energy in accomplishing my object
repeat, was about to say this, and do
not know how much more, when light tap
on the opposite side of the sliding doors
caused my entertainer to rise hastily, ex-
claiming:
How time flies, to be sure 1 see every
thing is ready, and if you are sufficiently
rested we will proceed with the ceremony,
and you can become better acquainted with
my daughter and her husband after she has
changed her name"
There being no apparent reason for any
objection on my part, l rose and assented
with a bow, when the sliding doors were
rolled apart disclosing room appropriately
decorated and containing complete bridal
party all arranged in proper position for the
knot to be tied. As ! was standing con-
fronting the striking tableau and wonder
ing what it all meant, felt light touch on
my arm and an open book was placed in my
hand. / gazed mechanically at the open
page and saw staring me in the face the
beautiful and impressive lines that consti
tute the marriage service of the Church of
England. A light suddenly dawned upon
my now thoroughly alarmed mind and,
turning to the lady Of the house, l ex-
claimed
Madam, there is grave mistake being
made. You are for some unexplained rea-
son laboring under wrong idea You
doubtless believe me to be-
"What!' she huriedly interrupted, fare
you not the young minister sent by brother
W-r'
NO, madam replied, 81 am not min
ister OF the gospel am reporter, and
representa-
A cry OF mingled rage and horror emanat-
ing from the lady of the house, series of
shriekS from the feminine portion OF my
audience, who supported the fainting bride, |
and a sudden determined advance on the |
part of the muscular looking groom, caused |
me to beat q precipitate retreat toward the |
street door, where / ran into and COM |
pletely upset young man with gold-rimmed |
SDaCtacleS and q SluCtimODiOuS cast of |
countenance, who had just been admitted
1 enjoyed no glorious scoop, for an an
nouncement of the approaching marriage |
OF Miss So and So appeared next morning |
in the Transcript and q short interview |
with the muscular groom before mentioned |
convinced me that this little episode had |
better remain an unwritten episode for a |
time at least. This was years ago. The |
demise of the gentleman and subsequent |
marriage of the widow TO a man considera- |
bly, my inferior in ayoirdupois has taken |
the seal from my lips.
NOT SO PLEASANT
was ny experience durieg the railroad riots |
a number OF years ago in St Louis I was
rooming AT the time with special detective |
on Furlong's force and knew, in conse-
ouence. considerably more than the average
man regarding contemplated movements Of |
the strikers. secret meetings and othsg data
always useful to newspaper No.
assigned TO me one night distr& down by17
tie river that had a most unsaYbry reputa-
ton and one in which 10 Inv certain