The record-union., 1898-03-21

companion, he said, indicating me. He
has been first-rate company, and point
ed me out all the lions and lionesses;
yet there was a look in the old mans
eyes that 1 did not precisely under
stand
AS Miss Gwen reached across to me
her basket of flowers was upset, and
over the gathering up of these we be-
came quite hilarious, not to say inti
mate.
When the wedding cortage had filed
by there was the usual rush for car
riages. Now was my chance 1 rose,
resolved to slip off, but so did my ven
cradle companion, who pinned me
firmly by the arm, saying:
You may as well look after me- We
are going TO the same place. I'm a
lame old chap, and want an arm'-I
should have said a leg. Before 1 knew
where | was, was being carried off in
a sWagger brougham, behind a pair of
grand steppers; destination Cadogan
Square
The house was smothered in flowers
and crammed with guests; my old man
OF the sea clung to me like a very linn
pet, and to my great dismay appeared
to know every one. We passed through
the packed masses, with word here,
joke there. and l gathered that his
name was Sir Duncan. 1t was no news
to me that he was Scotch.
In the drawing-room he had anoth-
er word with Gwen, and then he re-
marked to me, with malicious grin,
Well, I don't see the Queen here yet,
nor the playwright, nor even the dane
ing Embassador What has become
of them?
What was to become of me was OF
far more Importance, and, finding that
my companion was making straight for
the happy pair to tender his good
wishes. and being an absolute stranger
TO both, l broke and fed, hoping to lose
myself in the crowd, to find some effica-
ctous means of escape, even were it
through the kitchen and scullery. But
the mob, surging toward the presents,
carried me along in spite of my strug-
giles, and L found myself figuratively
cast up in front of table covered
with magnificent diamonds.
Il counted no less than three tiaras,
as many necklaces, and of stars, suns,
birds, bracelets, bows, a great multi
peared to be almost exclusively Scotch,
and either intimately acquainted. or of
the same clan. Personally. I had never
felt such a complete outsider in the
whole course of my existence! There
was one other man who stood close to
me, and who also appeared a stranger
TO all, and this afforded me the only
crumb of comfort offered by the entire
situation.
AS 1 stood gazing blankly at the
diamonds, he gave me a premonitory
nudge, and then addressed me in
low voice, but with elaborate courtesy:
I beg your pardon, but can you
tell ne the name of the bride?'
" No, l cannot 1 answered shortly
" Then perhaps you can oblige me
with the bridegroom's name?'
I am sorry I am unable to assist
you, l said, very stiff1y. I noticed that
as his eyes wandered from me to the
diamonds and then back again they
wore q very suspicious expression
' But this won't do, you know" he
whispered. I've had my eye on you
| this good while-you swell cracksmen
are getting too fashionable altogether;
too fond of wedding parties! Where's
the diamond bracelet and three stars
that was taken last week at Lazy
Banks reception-eh? and the two val
liable rings, and the Spanish point
! flounce, from Mrs. Fleming's in Lam
caster Gate; and, you know, you are
not above a few apostles spoons, or
| even a pair of nutcrackers! You see
! Eve caught you: I've had your de-
| scription and photograph
What the deuce do you meanY I
asked, and I felt inclined to pitch him
out Of the window
| mean that I'm a detective Off
| Ger, Of No. division, and that I'm
| going to hand you over to my men be-
! low, who will take great care of you
! and escort you in a cab to Bow street,
where you will be searched and charg-
| ed. Oh, we have been expecting you
| for some time
| I made a feeble and utterly futile
effort to escape, but he said: The less
! trouble you give the better for you,
as YOU know of old. You come away
| quietly; don't go and make row and
| spoil the party and he gripped my
arm as in a wise
1 say, stop 1 said Here's my
|
| it to him.
Mr.. r. Arminger,
g 'Arminger Park, Willis.
The Apex Club, Pail MALL
He read aloud, and then calmly re-
marked:
Oh. yes. of course! I'm up to all
these little lodges. I wonder you did
not take a title
But 1 am Mr.. Arminger, I swear
Is there any one in the room will
swear to you?'
No one. I have come by mistake
to the wrong wedding
So 1 should suppose, he sneered.
! And you've made this mistake once
| too often
| our alteration had been carried on
in a window recess and no doubt if any
! one noticed US at all. they supposed
that we We're two dear friends enjoy
ing m animated conversation after a
long separation.
You come quietly he repeated for
the third time, and as 1 saw no other
alternative I obeyed. AS we crossed the
great landing, outside the reception
room l noticed my old man of the
sea, sitting on a divan. He touched
me with his stick and said: 'Hullo, go
ing already? Won't you wait and pre-
sent me to the Queen or Madam Bern
hardt" But I was too furious to re-
ply. However, my companion stopped
down and whispered something, and
showed him my card.
The old fellow glanced quickly at it,
then at me, and exclaimed: L thought
knew that nosel Why, you must be
| the son of Teddy Arminger. who was