Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-28
CLAREs SECRET WEDDING.

There dwelt at the town of San
Cristobal, situate in the evening
shadow Of Pixies Peak, a man whom
we cannot do better than to call by
the name of Clark. He was a bach.
elor, perhaps approaching the age Of
30, and extremely popular.
But though a man widely known
and Of many friends, he was singu.
larly averse to publicity. If he
bought new horse, it was usually a
month before he could induce himself
to drive it, and when he got a new
suit of clothes, he would always send
it to a brother in Denver, who would
wear it fortnight to take off the
new" and return it to him.
Naturally, when Clark found him.
self in position to contemplate his
wedding day, he became somewhat
nervous. He had always been rather
fond of attending other peoples wed.
1ings, and it occurred to him that he
had never been backward about be.
slowing such delicate attentions al
may be encompassed in a handful
If rice; and he shook his head as he
remembered that he had once helped
strap up friends trunk at the rail.
road station with white satin ribbon.
The recollection made him shudder;
it brought vision of his own trunk
wearing white satin ribbon and he
could almost feel rice rolling gayly
off his hat-brim and tumbling down
the back to his neck. What made the
prospect worse was that, while per-
sonally he would gladly have been
married by telephone, he knew as well
as anybody the Unborn love of we'd
ling, as opposed to plain marriage
which abideth in the soul of woman
But he was to be agreeably surprised
On this point, When he visited his
future bride that evening, he said:
Dora, what do you say to a very
simple wedding, or a-er-just sort
II getting married, you know quiet
90 display rice. You remember ]
1on't like rice much"
II know answered Dora. II dis.
covered it at Mabel's wedding-by thu
way you threw it."
"Ha! Hal" said Clark, in a weak
attempt at laughter. That's good;
though you threw as much as | did
But that was different you see. Now
What do you say?'
"Well I'm not particular about
wedding answered the young lady.
Arrange it just to suit yourself,
dear"
I'VE can announce wedding, you
know" went ON Clark, "and then the
day before we can just get married
and 60 away, and and leave 'em with
the rice on lheir hands.'
The details were accordingly very
craftlly arranged later on by Clark
He set the hour a: 10 O'Clock in the
morning.
ITS pretty early" he said; "but
It'll have to be at that time so we car
catch the 1880 tram. | will call fol
you, and we'll just drive around te
the dominie's and have il over with in
five minutes, I'll send my trunk tt
the station the night before, and Civ,
1t out that I'm going up to Denver
on business; and can telephone ear
ly for AN eNpressman to call for YOU
trunk, We can send back announce,
ment cards frMn Denver -aaa Ill jus,
have engraved down III one corner
No Rice.
But of course the plan of the in.
genious Clark got out. This was as
inevitable as the rising of the morn
ing sun. 1t got out, though to this
day no man knowcth exactly how il
got out. But Clark has always sa
gaciously suspected the hereditary
enemy of lovers Il girls small
brother.
The night before the day set for tn,
clandestine marriage, one or two hun
dred of Clark's friends held secret
downtown IN hall. Mabel's !
husband presidet Most IL these pres
emit had The advantage 'af that exu
berance which gos with youth
Or early life. and they had all along
breathed the eNhilalaling mountain
atmosphere Of Colorado. Nothing wal
forgotten.
The next morning, when Clark
litter a hasty toilet, glanced out of the
he observed two scoundrell,
cooking men wearing pasiy clothes
who were posting hills with great in.
lustry on the fence arross TIE street
lie thought he caught his own nam.
printed in big red letters. HI
up an opera glass and read:
'''''''''''''.,' '.,....... .......u
Secret Wedding Vi
jan OZARK
: Today at 10 o'clock You are in.