The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-27
A Wedding Eve.


& Mason, the well-known general pro
viders in the bouough, and it was Mr.
Spencely's own daughter, and the
sweetest girl in the world too boot
that 1 was to marry on the morrow
I was in the counting house with Mr.
Mason, talking over some matters OF
business when a shop man came in tc
say 1 was wanted. 1 ran down stairs
to my special department, the dra-
perry, to find that lady was awaiting
my coming. She had, 1t turned out
made some large purchases, to the
amount of $780, but having forgotten
her pocketbook, had requested that
someone might go with her to receive
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 coachman both
in quiet and becoming livery.
1 felt rather shy and, fear, awk.
ward, at first, but before our drive
came to an end I was satisfied with
myself and charmed with my com.
panion. We drove up before a sub
stantial looking house in one Of the
smaller squares of the West End. A
grave-looking major domo or butler. as
1 took him to be, opened the door a.
I was ushered into a room, while tho
lady and her butler conversed in low
tone in the hall.
'Mr. Stuart will see you in minute
the lady at length said, pushing open
the door a little further and closing
it as she withdrew her hand. Then
heard the outer door close with bang,
the carriage steps put op, and the noise
of wheels rapidly retiring. Mr.. Stewart
was evidently in no hurry, for ten min.
utes passed, and still no sign of hi ,
coming l was anxious to get back tc
business, and began to feel annoyed,
I had been walking the feeling off,
but at last, all out of patience, I pro
ceeded to open the door, 1t was fast
For moment I suspected trap, but
it was for moment only. Mrs. Stew.
art, reflected, was a perfect lady.
l mechanically surveyed the apart
ment. The windows struck me as being
an unusual height from the floor. There
were no chairs, except one-a library
chair-near the massive table, but lux.
urious seats extended along three sidea
of the room. l threw myself into the
chair and tried to push it away from
the table. Both alike refused to stir
They were screwed fast to the floor.
1 now awol1e from my dream to the
conviction that / was a-well not ex.
actly Solomon, and that 1 had been
trapped. 1 rained blows upon the door
with both hands and feet, too, and
arter short delay the aforesaid butler
appeared, accompanied by two men,
presumably fellow servants.
'Why am 1 kept waiting here?" /
demanded.
Don't get excited, my dear sir
Tell Mr.. Stewart 1 can't wait any
longer, and that l must have my mon.
ey."
"All in good time, my dear sir, all
in good time. Don't get excited, beg
of you. Excitement to a nervous tenn
permanent is
Nervous temperament be hanged.
Pay me my money and let me out of
this"
can in good time, all in good time
What was l to do. The man was
smiling, unctious, imperturbable, deaf
to my arguments, onmoved by my pro.
testations. I ragged and stormed, called
them all swindlers, and threatened to
have them indicted. 1t was all of
no use. 1 might as we'll have stormed
the table and the solitary chair.
Gradually 1 cooled down, as one who
needs must, and in a hoarse voise
begged them to say what they intended
doing with me, and what in the world
it all meant, for it now dawned upon
me that they were not acting a. part,
but were sincere according to Their
light.
And then to my horror I learned
that the gentleman had taken for
a butler was Aloysius Fitzsimmons, NJ,
d., F. r., C. p, the great specialist in
obscure diseases of the nerves and
brain, and keeper of private establish
ment devoted to the care of the cere-
brally afflicted" as he quoted from
his own prospectus, which had after
wards the pleasure of perusing. l con.
fessed somewhat injudiciously that
had never so much as heard of him be-
fore, but it only furnished him with
fresh proof of his insanity. He wound
op a long monologue by telling me that
Mrs. Hall was to inquire on the NOR.
row to inquire how 1 was getting
along.
And who may Mrs. Hall be?" I
asked, scarce knowing what 1 said,
for everything seemed topsy-turvy
now.
Poor, poor man, a bad case" l
heard him say, soto voice. HE has
even forgotten his own name" The
though you are country gentleman.
wife,
My wifeF' shouted
"Quiet, my dear sir You forget
your promise"
Her name is Stewart" 1 managed
to say quietly. "and so far as her be-
ing my wife, I am unmarried and to-
morrow is my wedding day."
''Yes, I know. Your good lady has
told me all about this. But perhaps by
tomorrow you will be better and think
no Ioore about it.
would you mind telling me what
this woman has said about me?"
"vtho, Mrs Hail? Well. she told me
tna' Mr.. Hall-that is your name. yor
know, for it is so given In the certifi.
Gates from two eminent medical men