The record-union., 1898-03-21
THE RIGHT MAN
IN THE WRONG PLACE.

friend John Arminger.
We'll. she's a girl with whom my
acquaintance began in rather remark
able way. You remember the eldest
Stackpoole girl?'
Il remember the eldest Miss Stack
poole-Freddy-th one who hunts; but
/ should never dream of calling her
girl! And what possible connection
has she with your charming young
friend?"
a very close one, as you shall soon
hear. if only you will keep quiet ana
give me my head. You have evidently
not heard that, to the surprise ana de-
light of her friends, Freddy Stackpoole
became engaged last spring to fellow
called Herford, worth a lot of money,
but rather ancient. You see, I've
known the Stackpooles all my life; We
belong to the same county, hunt with
the s.me pack of hounds. l sent Fred
dy a letter of congratulation and
hunting crop-I heard afterward that
she got twenty -three-and accepted an
invite to the wedding, which was to
take place at St. Paul's Knightsbridge
yesterday at half past o'clock"
But this is all beside the question,
protested Captain Bigg.
1T is motifs the main part; so
shut up. l arrived in good time and
entered the church The church was
crammed. and I was a good deal sur
prised, / must confess, for 1 had no
notion the Stackpooles had so many
friends in London. However, 1 had no
time to speculate, for an energetic
youth caught hold of me and breath
lessly asked: Friend of bride or bride
groom?'"
Bride I answered
Here you arel Sit this side and
he showed me into back seat, next to
an old gentleman who sat by the door,
and whose legs and stick 1 nearly
tumbled over He was a little chap
with white beard and red face, and
wore an old-fashioned blue frock coat
and d pair of baggy lavender gloves.
I looked about me, and 1 give you
my solemn word of honor that among
all the crowd I did not see soul
knew. Can you believe it?
L happened to notice the old boy be-
side me. I caught him watching me
furtiyely out of the corner of his eye.
Our glances met and he said:
A friend of the Brides sir?'
Bless you, yes I answered, known
her since I was in pinafores-'
Since you were in pinafores,' ne
repeated, and he seemed rather taken
aback.
Why yes and I was thinking of
adding that she was ten or twelve
years my senior, but most fortunately,
refrained.
He stared very hard for some time,
and then said: I suppose you are ac-
Quainted with most of the people here?
Can you tell me who some of them are
any celebrities, eh?'
You are aware, Biggs, of my fatal
passion for a practical joke. Well, here
was a temptation I was powerless to
resist. 1 fell-and for positively the
last time. SO 1 answered:
Oh, yes, think I can point you
out two or three well-known charac-
ters.'
Thank you, he replied, I'm
country cousin-or rather, country
grandfather, as you may see-and 1
very rarely come to London. Now,
who IS that stout, very dark woman in
yellow, with the gold spikes in her bon
net?'
oh, that 1 promptly returned. lis
the Queen of the Sandwich Islands. She
is over here incog at present-just a
visit TO her dressmaker.
Dear me. Why l always thought
that Mother Nature was her modiste,
said the old man, with twinkling eyes.
oh no, she is quite civiIized-wears
shoes and stockings, and rarely touches
raw meat
And. pray, why does she honor this
ceremony with her presence?
Because one of the bridegroom's
cousins is attached to her court as chief
pearl diver He is called the King fish
er, and I need scarcely add that it is a
purely nominal, but well paid, post
Thank you, I see. Now, can you
tell me who those two elderly men are
who have come in together?'
With pleasure, I answered. The
short one is Henrik Ibsen, and the 9TH
er is Lord Salisbury
Dear me, this is most interesting:
and the lacy in the wonderful mantle?'
Is Sarah Bernhardt, and the little
man just behind her. in spectacles, is
the Spanish Embassador-Don Jose
Manolo; he is a celebrated waltzer, and
his fandango is a thing to see.'
I'm immensely obliged to you for a
great and unexpected treat. Hullo! I
think she has come he added, craning
his neck.
Yes, she undoubtedly had arrived
there was the usual commotion and
whispering and organ pealing, the
usual procession of choir boys. Then
the bride, walking very slowly-a love-
~ bride, though white as her gown-a
girl Of 10, splendid as lace and dia-
monds could make her, leaning on the
arm of a boy of 20-not my bride, but
an utter and complete stranger She
was followed by ten bridesmaids, in
white satin frocks, white feathered
hats. and carrying immense bouquets
or red roses; and the procession passed.
leaving me dumfounded. l was an
uninVited guest at the wrong wedding
MY first idea was to make a bolt for
II, but grandpapa's legs and stick cut
OF that door of escape, so 1 determined
to sit still, and make the best of an ex-
ceedingly disagreeable situation
The service over, the bridesmaids.
armed with baskets of flowers, scat
tered themselves among the congrega-
ton and the girl you saw just now bow
to me came down our way. all smiles
white feathers and favors. She seized
on my old country grandpapa-as
'Grandpapa'-and said:
How silly Of you to sit so far down.
dear: you couldn't see
-" Too hot up there he said
She behaved like a true British ma
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