Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-10

How an Army Lieutrusut Went TO Seek a
Wife aud Got Her

l. story. He twisted his northumberland
took sip from his glass Of brandy and soda.
and began follows:
AS most of you fellows know. I went to
Nantucket q year ago TO get married. That
was just before got nv promotion to the COM
mand OF troop. II was a beautiful day in
June when left Boston, boundfo the tight little
island, taking a train from the Old Colony sta
ton at about noon. was as happy . maa
should feel who is going to wed the girl Of his
choice within twenty-four hours.
II had bought three or four comic pa
pers, feeling in mood for hamor. and was
composing myself for their perusal when the
conductor camo along and asked for my ticket.
He was a very solemn-looking person. and he
eyed me with frown as he punched the Bit Of
pasteboard handed him. As he gave il back
10 me he said:
"'Are You the gentleman who 10 going TO
marry Miss Coffin in Nantucket tomorrow
Il replied with an astouished affirmative. won
dering how he could possibly have known He
passed on without giving me an opportunity to
solve the riddle. and did not have another
chance TO speak 10 him on the point.
''On arriving at Woods Hou was obliged 20
wait for an hour on the wharf for the steam
boat which was to convey me TO the island.
As stood and looked across the water in the
direction of Nantucket. my mind filled with
pleasant thoughts and antIcipations, a small
boy with large string of fish came and stared
at me. he gazed at me for so long a time that
at length demanded TO know what there was
about my appearance that excited his curl osity.
Still keeping his eyes intenuy upon me and
swinging his fish to and fro. be replied
- suppose you are the gent that's goin' TO
marry the young lady in Nantucket
:" BY the great horned spoonr exclaimed.
How on earth did you know that?'
II just guessed it, was the only response be
vouchsafed
AT last the boat came and went aboard /
was still engaged in puzzling over the recogni-
ton / had encountered at the hands of the con-
ductor and the small boy. because had met
Miss Coffin in Boston and had never before
been in that part of the country through which
L was now journeying. My surprise was in
creased when the stewardess came up to me
adably, and dropping little courtesy, raid:
"Of course vou are the young lefteuant that's
going TO marry Miss Susy Coffin tomorrow. The
other girls win be envying her such fine-look-
ing husband
'She whisked herself away before l had a
chance to ask her how she had been able 70
identify me. | walked through the cabin
noticing as l did that several Young women
gIggied and looked AT me significantly az
passed. This, / considered. was getting 10 be
rather bore. so souGhtrefuge on the upper
deck. where was presently accosted by boot
black. consented TO submit myself to his
ministrations, and he proceeded TO put very
artistic polish on my shoes. As he added the
finishing touches he looked up and winked at
me, saying:
"'I'n puttin'on an extra elegant shine to last
over the weddin.'
"'How did you know who I was?' de-
mauded
Why, cause everybody's been expectin'
you
ION disembarking at Nantucket il became
evident to me that the bootblack had spoken
cOrreetly luife Of h
cred on the wharf, and perceived that / was
an object of general attention. As / subse-
quently learned il is comparatively rare oc-
currence for Nantucket girl TO get married.
Owing to a scarcity of husbands most of the
young women grow up old maids. Accordingly
L attracted great interest and curiosity. The
driver of the only hack in town on hand TO
solicit my patronage. He dismounted from his
vehicle and asked confdentiaiiy whether /
would be driven 70 Miss Collins house or 10
the hotel. i chose the latter alternative, and
presently found myself in the act of signing
the register at the hosiery. The clerk, as be
handed me an ancient pen with whiskers on it,
remarked:
1--we have your room all ready for you lieu
tenant You are to have the bridal chamber
at seemed that he knew me because | wore
an army cap, and it this article Of dress
which had caused the conductor the small
boy, the stewardess and other persons on NV
| journey to guess who was. To make a long
from the island was witnessed by a large part
of the population. Among the many strangers
who congratulated me person who, as
was informed. enjoved the distinction of being
/ the only criminal that the Nantucket Jail had
ever contained. He had been the cashier OF
| the town bank. but had been unable to keep
| his hands off the funds. SO he sentenced
| for long term, but, in order that he might
continue to earn living for his family, he was
only obliged TO sleep in the jail nights. being
]
time. Another friend l made was the restaI-
rant keeper of the place, who WAS accustomed
to shut up his eating house during the noon
hour every day and go home to lunch.
I'VE sailed away, like the owl and the pussy
cat. to the continent as Nantucketers call the
mainland. and without further adventure we
arrived in Boston. As is the case with all
newly married couples, we felt little anxious
on the train lest people might spot us for bride
and groom. We thought noticed some
glances and whispers among our fellow-passen-
gers. but IL was probably only Imagination. for
played my own part very well indeed reading
a newspaper nearly all of the way. On reach
ing the city of culture gave the checks for our
trunks to q cabman. who put the baggage on
behind, and we started of for the Parker
House. You may judge of our surprise when,
on looking out of the windows of the vehicle.
we observed people ali along the streets which
we traversed pointing at our cab and laughing
lnasmuch az there was nothing about the hack
TO distinguish IL from any other similar con-
veyance, and we we're hidden away inside we
could not conceive why we should excite re-
mark or derision.
Meanwhile it had begun TO rain. and. on dis
mounting at the hotel. opened nv umbrella
to shelter my wife. shower OF rice which
some ill-advised jokers at Nantucket had put
into the umbrella, fell out of il. This caused
passersby to stop and grin. | did not enjoy
the jest at all. However, having taken nv wife
into the hotel through the ladies' entrance L
left her to go to the main door and see that nv
baggs sc was properly disposed Of Upon my
word, everybody in the crowded lobby seemed
to be laughing, and. on looking at the trunks
which the porters were bringing in. perceived
the cause. On both handles of each trunk were
huge bows of white satin, doubtless put on by
the bridesmaids. 1t was these which had at
tracted attention while We were riding in
the cab.
$50 that is the way started on my honey
moon trip. On the whole. as I think YOU fell
lows will agree, it is just as well that one does
not get married often"