The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-15
THE HONEYMOON.

The Wagner sleeper jolted slowly out of
the brilliantly lighted depot, and it's red
rear lamps disappeared into the night,
ding guests who stood watching tho re-
ceding train.
The handsome young couple who a mo-
ment before stood in the doorway of the
sleeping car, laughing back at the coterie
of friends who were shouting many part
ing injunctions after them, now dropped
side by side upon the velvet cushioned seat
of a rear compartment. The flushed and
futtered little bride was dainty and sweet
in becoming thing of gray which had
replaced her lovely bridal gown of purest
white. She sank YEARLY upon the soft
seat beside her manly companion, glad
of the first moment of respite she had en-
joyed in hours, glad that they were at last
off on their wedding journey.
Their senses had been kept in constant
whirl by the strain and excitement of the
day, and SO fast had events been unfold
ing themselves that they could scarcely
realize what was happening. The whole
thing had the vagueness of an intoxicat-
ing dream. If they had suddenly found
themselves pursuing the old familiar round
Of life, neither would have experienced
greater surprise than is felt by the man
who is rudely Weakened from adelicious
fancy of sleep. The prospect of quiet
respite from the constant, annoying, but
well meaning attentions of friends and of
being alone together thrilled each with a
sensation of delight.
A delicate glow from pink shaded lamp
suffused itself through thelittle compart-
ment where a half minute ago its modest
light was drowned in the powerful bril-
liancy of the depot electric candles, which
shone through the windows. A passenger
was growing at porter in the corridor.
Another white capped porter was moving
up and down between the buffet and smok-
ing room, carrying suspicious looking
packages. At the end Of the car, the con-
ductor was explaining to passenger
where he could make connection. In
neighboring compartment, a mother was
trying to quiet fretful child. A young
lady, not yet ready to retire, although it
was near midnight, had seated herself
upon one of the folding seats in the mar
row corridor and was eagerly perusing
new novel. In the smoking room, two or
three men were smoking and talking as
men will talk until the end of the world
To all these people it seemed very
commonplace bit of travel; to the young
couple in the pink lighted compartment
it was the journey of their lives.
The train was proceeding tentatively;
now squirting off as if determined to do or
die, and now bringing to with a sudden
jerk, stopping beside Kissing engine
which was humping long line of cars
together. AT such stops, the talk Of the
lantern bearing yardmen could be heard
beside the sleeper window.
In the first moment of their blissful
quiet the young couple caught each others
hands "a trick that lovers have) and their
eyes, filled with the light of love, met
Even now the days events had the sem
blance of dream. The carriage, the crush
at the church, the flowers, the white robed
bridesmaids, the minister, the ceremony,
the torrent of congratulations, the recep-
ton, the hurrying to the train-it was
too unlike the rest of their lives to be any
thing but dream. And yet it was true!
The ponderous sleeper was rocking over
the tracks.
To the lives Of all men there comes an
hour, day perhaps, of sweetest, COM
pletest bliss. To the young man with the
bride this hour had come His senses
were thrilling with delicious feeling of
man who has just married the woman
he loves. 1t was the first time he had
been alone with her for days; the prepara-
tions for the wedding had kept them
apart, but now she was his-his! Not for
day, nor week-for a lifetimel 1t
seemed a very long time, and just now it
appeared in all the roseate hues in which
happy youth sees the future. Now that
she was his she was different, but not less
dear in his eyes He was deep and an
earnest man, and this was the first great
happiness he had ever felt.
Her soft hands were clasped in his.
ooh, Clarence" she cried, II am so
glad it's over!'
~ am SO glad you are mine" he said
warmly
''It was so trying" she said, turning
her glad eyes upon him, II do hope it all
went off well. Twas so badly excited that
could not tell. I must have looked aw-
fully frightened"
''You looked like an angel" he said.
81 wanted to squeeze you all the time"
''You big boyI' she said. "You are
married now and mustn't be foolish. If
you think looked WE'LL don't care for
the others. But" she added, chow could
you tell--you We're frightened, Clarence"
"Do you think so, dearest?"
''Were your"
"Itwas like Il dream" he answered. "I
half doubted its reality. I was thinking
of what a lucky fellow was to get you,
my angel"
Clarence kissed her Some poet speaks
OF the rushing together of two souls to
lovers lips and meeting there in a kiss.
This bard has received flattering endorse
ment from 1000 pairs of young lovers.
How the kiss of love thrills the blood of
Youth How it condenses all the sweet