The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-13
A WEDDING EVE.

WOl10 ~ OOOp, uli1u l. Voc w AAASbAAJ OA az
morrow. 1 was in the counting house
with Mr.. Mason, talking over some mat
ter of business, when a shopman came to
say l was wanted. / ran down stairs to
my special department, the drapery, to
find that a lady was awaiting my coming.
She had, it turned out, made some large
purchases, to the extent of 1900, but hav-
ing forgotten her p~ocketbook had request
ed that some one might go with her to re-
ceive payment. In keeping with our usual
course of business this task fell to me.
The lady's carriage was standing at the
door, footman and ooachman both in a
quiet and becoming livery.
1 felt rather shy, and, I fear, awkward
at first, but before our drive came to an
end 1 was satisfied with myself and
charmed with my companion. We drew
up before a substantial looking house in
one of the smaller squares of the west
end. A grave looking major domo, or
butler, as I took him to be, opened the
door, and 1 was ushered into a room, while
the lady and her butler conversed in a low
tone in the hall.
"Mr. Stewart will see you in a minute, "
the lady at length said, pushing open the
door a little farther and closing it as she
withdrew her head. Then I heard the
outer door close with a bang, the carriage
steps put up and the noise of wheels rapid
ly retiring. Mr.. Stewart was evidently in
no hurry, for ten minutes passed and still
no Sign of his coming. l was anxious to
get back to business and began to feel an
noyed.
1 had been walking the feeling off, but
at last, out of all patience, / proceeded to
1900 %l~l~~u t. foc4 10y a ynon
ment 1 suspected a trap, but it was for a
moment only. Mrs. Stewart, I reflected,
was a thorough lady.
J. mechanically surveyed the apartment,
The windows struck me as being an un-
usual height from the floor. There were
no chairs, except one-a library chair
near the massive table, but luxurious seats
extended along three sides of the room. ]
threw myself into the chair and tried to
push it back from the table. Both alike
refused to stir. They were screwed fast to
the 1oor.
l now awoke from my dream to the
conviction that I was a-well, not exactly
a Solomon, and that / had been trapped.
I rained blows upon the door with hands
and feet, too, and after a short delay the
aforesaid butler appeared, accompanied by
two men, presumably fellow servants.
"Why am 1 kept waiting here?" l de-
manded.
Don't get excited, my dear sir
"Tell Mr.. Stewart l can't wait any
longer, and that 1 must have my money. +"
"An in good time, my dear sir, all in
good time. Don't get excited, l beg OF
you. Excitement to a nervous tempera-
ment isl
-
NERVOUS temperament be hanged! Pay
me my money and let me out of this"
"AIl in good time, all in good time"
What was l to do? The man was smil-
ing, u%nctuous, imperturbahle, deaf to my
arguments, unmoved by my protestations.
I ragged and stormed, called them all swim
dlers and threatened to have them indict-
ed. 1t was all of no use. I might as well
have stormed at the table and the solitary
chair.
Gradually I cooled down, as n who
needs must, and in a hoarse voice begged
them to say what they intended doing
with me and what in the world it all
meant, for it had now dawned upon me
that they were not acting a part, but .Fere
sincere according to their light.
And then, to my horror, / learned that
the gentleman 1 had taken for a butler
was Aloysius Fitzsimmons. M. D., r. r.
G. P, the great specialist in obscure dis
eases of the nerves and brain and keeper
of a private establishment devoted to
the care of the cerebrally afflicted" as he
quoted from his own prospectus, which !
had afterward the pleasure of perusing.
confessed somewhat injudiciously that !
had never SO much as heard of him before,
but it only furnished him with fresh proof
of my insanity. He wound up a long mon
ologue by telling me that Mrs. Hall was
to call on the morrow to inquire how
was getting on.
"And who may Mrs. Hall be?" I asked,
scarce knowing what / said, for everything
seemed topsy turvy now.
Poor man, poor man, a bad case!'' !
heard him soy, soto yoce. He has ever
forgotten his W name" Then aloud,
1.-THE lady who accompanied you here,
your wife,
my wifep' I shouted.
"Quiet, my dear sir. You forget your
promise"
"Her name is Stewart" I managed to
say quietly, land, so far from her being
my wife, l am unmarried, and tomorrow
is my wedding day"
Eyes, know. Your good lady has told
us all about that, but perhaps by tomor-
row you will be better and think nothing
more of it,"
"Would you mind telling me what this
woman has said about me?"
"Who? Mrs. Hall? Well, she told me
that Mr.. Hall-that is your name, you
know, for it is SO given in the certificates
from two eminent medical men who ex-
amined you-that Mr.. Hall was an ex-
emplary husband and father and a good
citizen, butt
go on. I can hear anything now"
-s'but subject to decisions and to par
oxysms of violence. I believe that, though
you are a country gentleman, you some
times fancy you are in a large business
house, and that people are seeking to
swindle you; also that you are on the eve
of marriage. Is 1t not so!"
"But tomorrow is my wedding day."
"Ah, just what your good lady said.
We will get you round. never fear"
I looked helplessIy at the doctor. My
brain was in a whirl. "Just what your
good lady said" How did that odious
schemer learn / was to be married on the
morrow But inquiry as to that might
well stand ever. Meanwhile what was I
to do to get out of this house and away
from this complacent quack, whom l was
beginning to hatep Obviously I must
send for some one to idea5ify me. Mr..
L Spencely, / remembered, had a late an
gagement in the city. Ella was manifest
" out OF the question. I could not obtrude
such a ridiculous thing upon heron her
- .-- 49, n>A~z~- -, c-1 mo