Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-01-10

and the lieutenant was soon bowling
along down town over the New York
pavements.
His mind, when he first got into the
carriage, WAS almost in Il whirl at the
imminence cf the event that was about
to transform his life, and it now had
plenty of tine to resume its normal con-
dition of tranquility. Tho journey
seemed long to him, mrch longer than
he had supposed, but ;ny distance, he
reflected, would appear great at such
time, and ho held his To4co His en-
durance, however, at la ! gave out, and
he was just on the poi.t of appealing
to the driver, when that ulsu5pccting
individual drew up with Il flourish. and
in a trice had descended and opcG9d the
door with the cheerful rcmari:. Here
you are, SIR
The lieutenant hastily arranged his
accouterments, for he knew that he
was late, and hurriedly dismounted.
He had already taken a step toward the
church, when he looked up and saw to
his unutterable dismay that the edifice
was closed and unlightcd. 1t came to
him like a flash that he had been
brought to the wrong place, and that
the cabman was personally responsible
for the blunder. That worthy had again
mounted the box and was gathering up
the reins preparatory to a start, when
the lieutenant. keeping in check for
moment a rage that was bloodthirsty in
its vehemencc, wheeled where he stood
and called out, ''What church is this?"
Trinity, STRIP said the cabman, with
shade of injury in his voice.
Then the lieutenant sprang forward
as if he meant to commit murder, but
he relented in time and stood still at
the curb shaking his fl at the man,
while he objurgated and reviled him in
German and English. Long before he
had ceased anathematizing the cabman
the latter, with look of alarm such as
one might bestow upon dangerous
lunatic, whipped up his horse, and. with
look behind to see whether he was be-
ing followed, vanished incontinently up
the street.
The hopelessness Of the lieutenant's s
predicament became intensified as he
saw the object of his wrath disappear
in the distance. 1t was late; long past
the time for the wedding, and he was
alone in a remote quarter of an I'M
known city. Something must be done,
and done quickly. He looked about
him in search of cab, bJ:t not one was
visible. Just at that moment, how
~ "a, c1C fror,
Bowling Green, and wien it finally
reached him the lieutenant hailed it
and got in, amid the adr ring gaze of
the passengers it had thus ilr picked up.
The conductor was just then engaged
in his first collection Of fares, and the
lieutenant had only time 70 settle him
self in the farthest corner Of the car
when he in his turn was ;:'ldressed po-
litely but firmly with "YCCr fare, sir!''
Now, the lieutenant had Eot really ex-
pected to be called upon to expend any
money that evening, but in view of
some possible emergency lie had pro-
vided himself with two bright $50 gold
pieces. One of these he now produced.
The conductor took it, examined it on
both sides, ami regarding the ieuten-
ant quizzzicalIy said: You can't try
that on here; 1t won't work"
But it is all have" said the lieu
tenant.
"Then walk" was the suggestion as
the conductor pulled the bell. The
lieutenant, burning with Indignation,
alighted, and once more stood alone OIL
the curb Then he sauntored on up
the street in the direction taken by the
car. AT the Astor House he discovered
a hanson that had just deposited a
passenger on tho sidewalk, and he hur-
riedly hailed tho driver.
Where is the Church of the Holy
Trinity" he shouted.
Down there said the cabman,
pointing in tho direction from which
the lieutenant had come.
NO said the lieutenant, epigram-
matically, Il do not mean there-up
town."
"Oh!'' said the cabman, will ye be
after goin up?''
81 WILL" returned the lieutenant,
"and l have the utmost haste.
"All right, said the cabman, I'm
git ye up in good shape" at which the
lieutenant entered, and they started off.
This time it must be conceded that
the lieutenant was really at fault, and
that, too, in spite of his previous expe-
rience with an insuffciently instructed
driver 1t ought to have been apparent
to him with half an eye that this par
ticular cabman hadn't the slightest
idea where he was going, and had start
ed out with the hope and intention of
picking up his information Oh the way.
Had his fare been listening for that
sort of thing, he might have heard the
following conversation carried on lit
tie later between his own cabman anda
colleague whom he had oveTtaken:
"Say, Bill, where's Trinity?'
DOWN." asked the colleague.
mo; up"
"West Twenty -ive-off Broadway"
They were going there now the near
est way, and it really was not very long
before they came out into the blaze of
light at Madison square, and soon pull
ed up in 4 throng Of carriages at the
door of the church. The lieutenant rose
to his feet and leaped out upon the
sidewalk. Without word he recklessly
handed one of his SEQ goldpieces to
the driver, and almost ran up the steps
of the church.
Once inside the edifce the lieutenant
found himself in the midst OF an assem-
bled multitude. Brilliant Ii ;hts flash
ed in all directions, the organ was play
Ing softly, and there was the general air
of expectancy which always prevails
Just before the entrance Of the bridal
party. The lieutenant's one thought
was that he was still on time. The
beatitude of the idea so possessed him
that he did not heed the usher who po-
iitely stepped forward as he started
down the center aisle, nor did he no.
tice the hum Of curiosity that ran over
the church when he had advanced to
the steps of the altar and turned and
stood there erect and alone with an air
that was sublime in its impcrturbabil-
ity. He had not arrived a moment too
coon, for scarcely had he turned and
faced the entrance when the buzz of ex-
pectation grew louder; the interpretive
murmurings of the organ turned into
L