The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-13
Ordeal or THE BRIDAL COrPLE.
An Jn-mbarrassed Young Man Astonishes
some Passengers.

The bridal couple boarded tho train at Sus-
pension Bridge. He was n smooth-faced,
well-~et-lp young man and she was a sweet,
pretty girl of a bride. There was y large,
very hilarious company of wedding guests
tn SOP them on, and a. the pair struggled from
thor carriage Ia the sleeping ear they were
almost lost 10 view in show crs Of rice and Nv
ing old shoes. Even this demonstration vas
not considered adequate. and n dozen or SO
Young men followed them TO their seats and
poured streams Of rice over them and down
their backs until the twain pulled out. while
N" crowd on the platform howled J~oyfully.
The young couple stood the ordeal with
great courage, and after the train had started
DID 80 we'll that before long the rest of the pas
>enger~ IN tho car left of watching them and
began turning IN.
The next morning the interest in them grew
again. when section after section of the car
was made NJ until the bridal couples section
stood alone with its curtains still drawn. This
was the stat" Of things AZ : o'clock. and At
$50 there had been no change Nine and
a quarter past. came round, and stll there
was no sign Of hte from the brida section.
When shortly after half past o a slight. mys-
FERROUS movement was apparent behind the
curtains. almost a sigh Of relief went up from
the rest of the car.
The movement continued, increased, IN
al suddenly, after an especially violent aglta-
ton IT the curtains. they parted sufficiently
To let a Young man slip between them into
the aisle Il~ ha,r was rumpled and his coat
collar turned mp. and he carried a travelling
bag and various articles Of wearing apparel To be-
donuod IN the wash room. As the Young man
hurried forward ha seemed somewhat puzzled
no th. almost smiling interest," al thtl rest al
the car. hu' 81 embarrassment he showed
not a trace.
When he had disappeared the car settled
itself To await the egresS OF the bride. But
Il she was about Ia make her appearance IA"
showed np sign, Of it. Neither sound nor
motion was dl-CpTuible from the recs~ses be-
hind the curtains. In a little while the young
man came back showing the tr"shened effect
Of cold water and hair brushes, and moved
the bottom of the curtains aside sufficiently
To shove his bag under Ia" berth. ~ he rose
10 his feet agaIu, N" car saw that he was look
lng down reiieCuVrly AZ m" cargo OF rice which
covered the floor, Tie continued 10 regard
I Tor some time, nNcdll. Then he raised
his eyes and surveyed the car. Their" was
a more ar less unsurpassed smile on every
face, bat the young man It'll showed no en-
harras>ment HIS ewes travelled down one
sd. and back the other, and they were tilled
only with a calm thouEhtiulne~s. Then he
arranged the folds of the heavy curtains with
elaborate solicltude. and finally went forw ard
again and whispered something To the porter.
The ear, to n passenger, would probably nave
ElNtl\ I,ilu UbOblf ldIt W UdNf ufdIu llp~f
halt-dol"n whispered words The pretty
mystery was a--umlng PROPORTIONS. But the
porter only SAID Yes, sub" tnd then the
Young man went over and sat dow gravely
IN an "ud seat from where he looked smarN
INTO the face of every soul in the ear.
BY This time Il was II" longer interest that
moved the inmates Of the car, u was palpltation
OF H." heart. The ar was crisp with e%,Nfecta-
ton II seemed certain that the bride must
now make her appearance.
The next moment the Orter came down the
nlGlr toward the bridal section lie was "A fat
and very black Porter. For an instant he
paused before the silent curtains Then a thrill
OF horror ran through the ear. and several men
got half Wav I" their feet. With two swift
movements he had pulled the curtains wide
arart and was humping and pulling At SOM
thlng within Another instant, and horror had
given way Ia alnazement. for the inside Of the
berth immediately became visible 10 all who
cared to re TIE porter Wa making up the
The car turned swiftly TO N" hapless bride
groom on the front seat. An expression Of
,r"adlan simplicity rested on his coIntenance
\ few mdhnents later the porter started to-
ward hI linen closet. but half way down tho
aisle he was held NO bv half n dozen male pas
>engers with wonder stricken faces.
What has ieCOn" Of the brIdat' they de-
manded
The porter scratched his head and looked az
them uncomrrehendlnglv. Then ne showed
"oh. ne brida! couple wat got on at su.-
penslon BRIDGE" he said. They done left
he train late last night They did,n' have
IN front 81 the ear he had upper one m he
kicked 60 ! shifted him over soon rs the bridal
courle left
The eur turned again toward the Young man
on the front seat. The EXPRESSION Of Arcadisn
simplicity was still with him But for the Nrst
rlme across his lace there glimmered a faint,
thought'ul mile
The half dozen male passengers and the
porter held = moments consultation IN the
middle Of the car Then they came COR ward
and one of their number said somethinQ in a
low voicn 70 the Young man on the front sent
The young man rose 70 his feet stIll smiling
thou9htfullv
e" see. " he said softly. Il don't oarc II do"
"A tho orc wd filed toward The buffet car sone
one In tho rear NJ the rrOCession began TO whie-
,le thunderstorm Wedding March" Then
tho passen gers IN tho sent- began TO laugh