The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-15


your friend Tom, and I'll have you at
Christ church in plenty of time for the
wedding. So come along; your aunt's
waiting for you"
Really. what could | do? | looked
about helplcssly, hoping that Tom or
some of his friends would appear and
| lay claimto me, but Uncle William had
evidently impressed upon them that
he was going to have his own way with
me, and they came not.
Of course, | should have been very
glad to dine with Uncle William and
Aunt Margaret, hut when fellow Is
going to be best man al his best friends
wedding, and has only two hours and
a half before the ceremony, he is not
exactly in the mood for visiting even
his nearest and dearest relatives. l
tried to say something of the kind to
Uncle William, but he retorted:
"Oh, pshaw, now! There amt a
thing to do, and what's the use of your
! going TO the hotel or to one of Toms
friends houses when they are already
running over with company? No use
at all. Your Aunt Margaret will give
YOU a nice little dinner right away, and
you can get on your wedding togs, and
get to the church in plenty of time
without any of the fuming and fussing
the others will go through. There's a
phone in the house; you can let Tom
know you are here, and that's all that S
necessary
| remembered that did not especial
| ly care to meet more people than was
necessary, but still it was with some
misgivings that | followed my clipper,
and / am afraid somewhat officious,
uncle to his new town house. AT five
o'clock / found myself in Aunt Mar
garet's front parlor.
Uncle William called up Tom by tele-
! phone, and after few minutes chat
with him | felt somewhat reassured.
| Dinner was announced very early, and
was soon over As the clock chimed six
| went upstairs TO make IL hurried toilet.
But where was my bag? ! hurried
! downst airs again and put the question
to Uncle William.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed, 1--WE must
| have left it at the station!"
He hurried down to fetch the bag.
| promising TO return "before you know
I'm gone;" but the minutes slipped
away, and the carriage drove up to the
| gate before he got back. lie finally
came, hpwerer.
Here you are, he said, as he handed
me the bag. Now, you want to hurry,
young man, or you'll be late
l fairly jumped into my clothes,
trusting to luck for appearance. AS |
tied my cravat Uncle William tapped
on the door.
ITS five minutes to seven." he ex-
claimed.
/ couldn't say exactly what wanted
to say, so | contented myself by giving
the crayat vicious twist. Three min
Ctes later dashed down the hall threw
a good-by at Aunt Margaret, and hur-
ried into the yard.
The coachman was driving away.
Hi, there!" shouted Uncle William
from the front steps. Hold on there,
driver! Wilson, stop that hack!"
Wilson was evidently Uncle William S
next door neighbor. He was leisure
| ly proceeding from his front gate to
| his own domicile. He turned around
| slowly and looked at the carriage and
| then at Uncle William.
What for?' he asked. whats the
matter with it?'
Hi, there,-eriver!" shouted Uncle
| William again, as tore down the path.
The coachman drew in his horses
with an air of impatient expectancy.
What in the world do you mean"
! cried Uncle William, putting in anger,
/ behind me.
"Yes, what do you mean?" echoed,
driving off without me?"
"Why, SIR" said the evidently greatly
puzzled coachman, with nod of his
head toward Mr.. Wilson, 'he said
! for
We'll. well, well.' cried Mr.. WILSON,
| joining US on the sidewalk ''What
does all this mean, anyway? What are
you holding this carriage here for?"
Uncle William began saying some
thing under his breath, but was checked
by feminine voice from the carriage.
Driver" it asked, whats the mat
ter?"
oh" exclaimed Uncle William, 4,
light breaking in upon him, you've
made a mistake here. Wilson. This is
carriage | ordered to take my nephew
to the Wedding"
'Oh, | guess not" said Mr. Wilson.
bristling up more than ever. "This is
carriage / ordered TO take my niece
| to the commencement"
! The two men gared at each other
| like wild animals, and | turned from
one to the other in hopeless perpiexity
Drive on!" cried Mr.. Wilson, and the
| driver drew up the reins.
Hold on!" cried Uncle William, and
| The driver loosened the reins. He evi-
| IDENTIFY enjoyed the situation.
! The two men moved toward each
| other, and then Aunt Margaret came
down the path, Fastening TO the un-
| tanglng of Uncle Williams mistakes,
as she had been doing throughout their