The Portland daily press., 1900-06-23

ufiYcf! WfisOus STOP tudt udckl
Wilson was evidently Uncle Williams
next door neighbor. He was leisurely
proceeding from his front gate to his
own domicile. He turned around slowly
and looked at the carriage and then at
Uncle William.
"what forr' he asked. whats the
matter with i'll"
eli, there, driveri' shouted Uncle VIII
liam again as tore down the path.
The coachman drew In his horses with
an air OF impatient expectancy.
what in the world do you meanT''
cried Uncle William, putting In anger be-
hind me.
"Yes, what do you mean" I echoed,
driving of without me?"
"Why, sir" said the evidently greatly
puzzled coacbman, with nod OF his head
toward Mr.. Wilson. ''he said for
"Well, well, wellf' cried Mr.. Wilson,
joining us on the sidewalk. what does
all this mean anyway? What are you
holding this carriage forr
Uncle William began saying something
under his breath, but was checked by
feminine voicc from the carriage.
Driver" 1t asked. what is the mat
terr'
"Ohw exclaimed Uncle william, light
breaking In upon him. you've made a
mistake here, Wilson. This Is a carriage
ordered to take my nephew to the we'd
ding"
"Oh, I guess not" said Mr.. Wilson,
bristling up moro than ever. 'This Is a
carriage l ordered to take my niece to
the commencement"
The two men glared at each other like
wild animals, and | turned from one to
the other in hopeless perplexity.
Drive on" cried Mr.. Wilson, and the
driver loosened the reins. He evidently
enjoyed the situation.
The two men moved toward each 9TH
er, and then Aunt Margaret came down
the path. fastening to the untangling
OF Uncle Williams mistakes, as she had
been doing throughout their married
life.
'"This is muddle," she said to Mr..
Wilson in her sweetest tones. "The sta
blemen have probably got the two orders
confused"
81 don't know about that" said Mr..
Wilson. But I've got the carriage"
But, see here" put In Uncle William.
"Dick's best man, and he mustn't be late
at the wedding"
81 can't help that" retorted Mr.. VIII
son. my niece mustn't be late at the
commencement either.
I'm tell your cried Aunt Margaret,
with a sudden inspiration. "Why can't
they go together? The seminary is only
a little ways beyond Christ church. i
know your niece won't object il l ex-
plain"
Aunt Margaret dashed out into the
street toward the carriage, and follow
cd, wiping my moist brow, bewailing my
willing linau md consumed with tu,na-
thence.
In the next few seconds / heard Aunt
Margaret making a hurried explanation
which concluded with lawfully good of
you, I'm sure, but l knew you would
consent under the circumstances" Then
the door was flung open, Uncle William
gave ME push from behind, while Aunt
Margaret murmured introductions, and
l found myself stepping into a carriage
which seemed filed with flowers and
fluffy white stuff, from the midst of
which peered the face of-Dorothy Mel.
ton!
"Why, Dick-Mr."- she cried, half
rising from her seat.
i started back, with confused at
tempt at an apology, but Uncle William
hastily slammed the door and, with
commanding Drive lively, now" mo-
toned the driver to start. The horses
were off with jump. and sank into
the seat opposite the young woman
whom six months ago / had sworn never
to see again.
1t was the early dusk of what had been
a perfect June day. The street lamps
were not yet lighted. but the bright moon
shone in at the carriage windows, and !
knew Dorothy could see my hot, flushed
face and my nervousness and embarrass-
mcnt.
'Miss Melton" l began, feeling that
must say something, I'm extremely sor-
ry to intrude upon you in this manner.
i had no idea
"Oh, pray do not mention It," said
Dorothy. II am, of course, extremely
glad to be of any service whatever to
Mrs. Clarkson, and it would be too bad
for you to be late at the wedding"
Dorothy was quite mistress of herself.
She held large bunch Of roses in her
arms, having gathered them up to make
room for me; the color. which, think.
left her face for an instant when she saw
1t was who climbed into her carriage,
returned; her eyes sparkled, and never
had she looked so lovely. What fool,
thought bitterly. what a fool had been
to quarrel with herl
'It's to be quite large wedding, I be-
lieve" she said. turning her face full
upon me.
The driver was evidently intent upon
reaching the church in time. He turned
corner SO sharply that just as l was
about to stammer out commonplace
about the wedding we both were nearly
thrown from our seats. Dorothy threw
up her hand, her roses fell in confusion,
and as bent forward her dainty fingers
lightly brushed my face.
"Oh, Dorothy, Dorothyw I cried. and
then
I'm sure that I couldn't tell what l
said. l only know that the words had
been holding back, the love that l had
been trying to stifle for six months, burst
from me, and before we reached the next
corner Dorothy lifted her shining eyes
and, through tears, said:
"Oh, Dick. Dickv' And knew every
thing was right and wished that Christ
church was 20 miles away.
The carriage pulled up at the church
door in the nick of time and dashed away