The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-08
A COLD HONEYMOON.
TF'ro1n the washington Post. ]


TF'rom the Washington Post.1
Tt was our wedding journey. We had
come up to San Francisco on our way
to New York by rail. The journey was
rather too costly for the income I en-
joyed, but alas. had promised
you can get scalpers' Tickets a
friend had said to me; they will save
enough to pay Pullman fare
I had small knowledge of scalpers'
tickets. OF their cheapness had often
heard, but of their power to demoralize
a man and change everything that is
his, from his name to his character, 1
knew nothing.
had taken a stateroom, in which we
were to have a week Of our honeymoon
quite to ourselves A little before train
time I went out to investigate the mat
ter Of scalpers' tickets
Il can fix you all right" said the
agreeable gentleman who dealt in
them Here are two tickets good for
a man and woman They will save you
$40. First class, and guarantee their
acceptance"
I looked at them hurriedly-there was
no time to lose. 1t was a saving worth
while. Twenty dollars would nearly pay
for the stateroom.
I took them. He tucked them into an
envelope; I paid him the money and
hurried back. The stage was about to
leave and my wife was waiting at the
ladies' exit We got aboard with all
haste and were shortly on our way to
the depot. When we were on the train
at last looked at the two tickets. That
for my wife had been issued to one
Miss Bridget Murphy.
Miss Bridget Murphy" softly ex-
claimed. What does that mean?"
/ studied the half-yard of coupons and
the regulations of the company. The
ticket had evidently been bought by
Miss Murphy. 1t was good from Seattle
RI 0rlx Wig
had used it to the latter point and then
sold it, for some reason, to the scalper.
The thing that worried me was the fact
that the ticket was not transferable,
according to the contract on its face.
Miss Murphy must present it herself
and indorse it in the presence of the
conductor. If any other endeavored to
use it the ticket was forfeit to the COM
pany. The train was under way.
excused myself and went to the smok-
ing room. Sitting there quietly exam
ined the other ticket That was signed
one Sam Swackhammer- 1t was the
handwriting of a blacksmith and not
easy to initiate. 1t had a sledge-ham-
mer swing to it. The truth came clear
to me after a little thought. A scalp
erS' ticket was one man paid for
partly in money and partly in his hope
of heaven I could not afford to buy
new tickets, and, for the rest of the trip
1 must be Mr.. Swackhammer and my
wife a lady of the name of Murphy
presume my first name was Samuel,
but than man had written it Sam. I
must manage it somehow, and quickly.
I took out my pencil and tried to imi-
tate the clumsy signature. As soon as
1 got the swing of it 1 FASTENED to my
bride.
She had a happy smile and was look
ing out of the window. She wished me
to view the scenery. but saw my per-
turbation as she looked up at me.
"Darlingl" she exclaimed, what is
the matter?"
been made, and until we get to New
York your name will have to be
Murphy"
murphy" she exclaimed. what do
sswell, I got the wrong tickets some
way" / said. "I don't know how it hap
pened-I was in a great hurry We
must make the best of it now Just sign
will be all right. There it is-Bridget
Murphy said. holding it up to her.
What a horrible name!" she said,
with a sigh.
Here" I said, take my pencil and
see if you can initiate it,
s'Why, Toni she exclaimed, that
would be wicked 1 don't think it's nice
at ALL"
necessary. I can't see anything else to
do. Besides, you mustn't call me Tom;
you must call me Sam
81 couldn't do it, said she decisively.
fully out of the window.
land do you think shall let you call
me Bridget?' she asked in a tone of in
jury. :
Il might call you Miss Murphy, then,''
1 answered, cor Murph. for short
In a moment there were tears in her
eyes. excused myself to go and get a
drink of water. I improved the oppor-
tunity it gave me to study further the
ungra cefuI chirography of the late Mr..
Swackhammer. When I returned she
was diligently practicing on the sigma
ture of Miss Murphy The conductor |
came in. He looked at us sharply for
trying moment, took the tickets and ex-
amined them carefully.
Miss MuIphy-Mr. Swackhammer,' |
said he, reading the names, please sign |
Them
We did so and he gave us checks for |
them and passed on. The Pullman agent |
was at his elbow. He looked up, inquisit- |
lively, as [ handed over the Stateroom |
ticket. Then he smiled a knowing sort !
of smile.
"Shan you want another stateroom? ?"
he inquired.
As he spoke my mind went up to it's
knees in the mire. OF course it would |
not do for Mr.. Swackhamrner to occupy /
a stateToom with Miss Murphy. I felt |
as If somebody had opened furnace |
door foot away from my face
Yes-yes, / stammeI-ed, 'Of course /
II shall want another stateroom."
why, no you won't" said Miss Muir
ply, sweetly, but decisively, as she /
brushed the lint off my coat collar. II
want you with me-"
I stared helplessly at the agent for a
little while My wife saw the serious
character of the situation, and turned /
her face looking thoughtfully out OF the
window.
Yes" said I, feeling for my money. |
Give me a section for myself"
To my chagrin it cost me more than I |
had saved by those Internal tickets And |
they were also to rob our honeymoon of |
its luSter-that was the worst of it. We
we're to be put asunder in the very hey
day of our married life. 1 began to |
laugh, from the tickle of despair as soon
as the man had left us My young wife
wiped her eyes and looked very serious.
Murph, said 1, you must learn to
treat me coldly for awhile Remember