Evening star., 1896-12-24
COULDN'T WORK 1T.
How the Friends of the Groom Gave
the Bridal Couple Away.

the Bridal Couple Away.
A young dentist, whose shingle has
adorned an uptown office for the past year,
made bold some days ago to take unto
himself a better half Talking in anticipa-
ton of the event with three or four of his
bachelor friends. he announced, with an
exhibition of no small amount of pride,
that he had carefully arranged all details
connected with his bridal trip. and he
would willingly wager that no one who saw
him with his wife during that period Of
bliss could detect the fact that their we'd
ding had taken place but few days be-
fore.
The wedding was at a fashionable even
ing hour, al one of the prominent churches,
and at the conclusion of the ceremony the
party drove to the home of one of the rcla-
tives OF the bride. Thus far one of the
bachelor boys who happens to be a physi-
clan. had watched things closely. His self
instituted part in the proceedings was
about to be played. He had directed his
office boy to drive up for him at 10 o'clock
and send in word that an important case
required his immediate attention. 1t was
now within five minutes of that hour. and
he had not ascertained two important mat
ters of detail. He had been unable, even
by the most thorough system of hints and
indirect questions, to find out what train
the couple were to take and what sleeper
section they were to occupy. Just as he
was in deep despair the summons came
that he was wanted at once Hastily pro-
curing his overcoat and hat. he rushed
over to the groom to tell him that pa
tent required him Immediately Il shall
be back as soon as possible; shall 1 see
YOU before you go? he asked. Yes if
you return in three-quarters of nour''
answered the unsuspecting benedict. One
point was settled If they were to leave in
that time, it was certain to be the II O'Clock
train that they were to travel on. The
important case was. of course, a fake -
and the physician drove with all speed to
the station. Walking up to the ticket
agent, he inquired if they had received Dr.
So and Sos telephone message the day be-
fore, asking that a section be reserved FOR
him on the II o'clock train. He mentioned
the dentists name. Now. the agent was
not the same person who was on duty dur
ing the day. and he didn't know whether
the section. which his list showed to have
been taken, had been ordered by telephone
or otherwise. Yes he replied, section
=. You the gentleman" No but l am a
friend Of his, and happen to know that he
wanted to be sure of the reservation an
swered the doctor. He then walked down
the platform to where the sleeper was
standing, and, as he started to climb the
steps. remarked to the porter. mo. s.
The Section Fixed
The individual who looks after shoes. lug
gage and cash promptly escorted him to
the number indicated and withdrew. There
deposited two small bundles under the seat
and deftly sprinkled around them the con-
tents of one-pound paper bag. Then he
strolled out on the platform, ostensibly to
take smoke, but within three minutes
was in his buggy. speeding back to the
scene of the wedding reception. He reached
there in time to bid the travellers good bye
Several of the young people wanted to ac-
company them to the station but thev
stoutly insisted that they would go alone
The porter was a tri1e fiustered when tie
couple asked for the same section he had
just taken a "gemman'' to, but as the
that he had discovered his mistake and
crawled into the right berth. So far things
had progressed smoothly. The young man
and matter-of-fact manner in which his
trip and Its arrangements had been planned
Things would have continued all right had
1t not been for one feature. The train was
due at their destination at $50. About Z
O'Clock the porter was called to make IN
the seats for the bride and groom Most
or the passengers had arisen and had com
pleted their toilets. The porter thought he
saw something white under the bed He
reached for it. 1t seemed caught. He gave
a tug, and out it came with its contents
nying across the aisle. 1t was the torn re-
mains of the paper bag which the physi-
clan had left. 1t contained handful of
rice; the balance Of the pound was between
the two seats. And looking I'D peacefully
into the faces of the porter and passengers
were two antiquated slippers.