The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-22
THE OTHER WOMAN.
The Unpleasant Consequence or
Clarence's Carelessness.

The Unpleasant Consequence OF
Clarence's Carelessness.
The Wagner sleeper jolted slowly
out of the brilliantly lighted depot and
its red rear lamps disappeared into the
night, leaving behind the merry party
of wedding guests who stood watching
the receding train.
The handsome young couple who .
moment before stood in the doorway of
the sleeping car, laughing back at the
coterie of friends who were shouting
many parting injunctions after them,
now dropped side by side upon the vel
vet cushioned seat of a rear compart-
ment. The flushed and futtered little
bride was dainty and sweetin a becom-
ing thing of gray, which had replaced
her lovely bridal gown of purest white.
She sank wearily upon the sofa 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 a con-
slant whirl by the strain and excite
ment of the day, and SO fast had events
could scarcely realize what was hap
pening. The whole thing had the
vagueness of an Intoxicating dream
If they had suddenly found themselves
pursuing the old familiar round of life,
neither would have experienced great
er surprise than is felt by the man who
is rudely wakened from a delicious
fancy of sleep. The prospect of a
quiet respite from the constant, an
poying, but wellmeaning attentions
of friends, and of being alone together,
thrilled each with a sensation of de-
light.
A delicate glow from a pink-shaded
lamp suffused itself through the little
compartment where half minute ago
its modest light was drowned in the
powerful brilliancy of the depot cleo
trio candles, which shene through the
windows. A passenger was growing
at porter. in the corridor. Another
white-cappea porter was moving up
and down between the buffet and
smoking-roop, carrying suspicious
looking packages. At the end OF the
car the conductor was explaining to a
passenger where he could make con-
nection. In neighboring compart-
ment a mother was trying to quiet
fretful schild. A young lady. not yet
ready to retire. although it was near
midnight, had seated herself upon one
of the folding seats in the narrow corri-
dor and was eagerly perusing a new
novel In the smolling-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 a very
commonplace bit of travel; to the
young couple in the pink-lighted COM
partment, it was the journey of their
lives.
The train was proceeding tentative.
ly; now squirting off as if determined
to do or die. and now bringing to with
sud den jerk, stopping beside a hiss
ing engine which was Dumping a long
line of cars together. At such stops the
talk of the lantern-bearing yardmen
could be heard beside the sleeper win
dow.
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 semblance of dream. The
carriage, the crush at the church, the
flowers, the white-robed bridesmaids,
the minister. the ceremony, the torrent
of congratulations, the reception, the
hurrying to the train-it was too unlike
the rest of their lives to be anything
but dream. And yet it was true! The
ponderous sleeper was rocking over the
track.
To the lives of all men there comes
an hour, a day, perhaps, of sweetest,
completest bliss. To the young man
with the bride. this hour had come.
His senses were thrilling with a de-
licious feeling of a man who has just
married the woman he loves. 1t was
the first time he had been alone with
her for days; the preparations for the
wedding had kept them apart, but now
she was his-hisl Not for day. nor a
week-for lifetimei 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 a deep and
an earnest man, and this was the frst
great happiness he had ever felt
Her soft hands were clasped in his
"Oh, Clarence" she cried, Il am so
glad it's over!'
Il am SO glad you are miner" he said,
warmly.
1T was so trying" she said. turning
her glad eyes upon him, Il do hope it
all went off we'll; l was SO badly ex-
cited that could not tell. must have
looked awfully frightened"
''You looked like an angel" he said.
Il wanted to squeeze you ala the time ;"
You big boy she said. ''You are
married now and mustn't be foolish. If
you think | looked well. l don't care
for the others But" she added. how
could you tell-you were frightened,
Clarence"
do you think so. dearest?"
Were vou?'
1T was like cream" he answered;
II half doubted its reality. l was
thinking of what lucky fellow l was
to get you. my angel"
Clarence kissed her. Some poet
speaks of the rushing together of two
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