The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-08-03
PUZZLED ALLAROUND
AN AMUSING INCIDENT THAT EXCITED
A SLEEPING CAR.

A Mystery That Was Started By .
Bridal Couple, Heightened By an
UnembarEassed Young Man and On.
yelled by the Dusky Porter.
The bridal couple boarded the train at
Suspension Bridge. He vas a smooth
faced, well set up young man, and she
was a sweet, pretty girl Of bride. There
was q large, very hilarious company Of
wedding guests to see them off, and as
abe pair struggled from their carriage to
! the sleeping car they were almost lost to
view in showers of rice and flying old
shoes. Even this demonstration was 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 train pulled
out, while the crowd on the platform
howled joyfully.
The young couple stood the ordeal with
great courage, and after the train had
started did so well that before long the
rest of the passengers in the car left off
watching them and began turning in.
The next morning the interest in them
grew again, when section after section Of
the car was made up until the bridal
couples section stood alone with its cur
tains still drawn. This was the state of
things at o'clock, and at $50 there had
been no change. Nine and quarter past
came round, and still there was no sign
Of life from the bridal section. When
shortly after half past slight, mystic
rious movement was apparent behind the
curtains, almost a sigh of relief went up
from the rest of the car.
The movement continued, increased,
until suddenly, after an especially violent
agitation of the curtains, they parted
sufficiently TO let young man slip be-
tween them into the aisle. His hair
was rumpled and his coat collar turned
up, and he carried a travelling bag and
various articles of wearing apparel to
be donned in the washroom. As the
young man hurried forward he seemed
somewhat puzzled by the almost smiling
interest of the rest of the car, but of
embarrassment he showed not u trace.
When he had disappeared, the car set
tied itself to await the egress of The
bride. But if she was about to make
her appearance she showed no signs of it.
Neither sound nor motion was discerni-
BILE from the recesses behind the curtains.
In a little while the young man came
DhCk 6LOWluk IFeSueuGu eject OIL
cold water aid hairbrushes and moved
the bottom OF the curtains aside suffi-
GENTLY to shove his bag under the berth.
AS he rpse to his feet again the car saw
that he was looking down ref1ectively at
the cargo of rice which covered the floor.
He continued to regard it for some time,
ixedly. Then he raised his eyes and sur
veyed the car. There was a more or less
cpnila hut
the young man still showed no embar-
rassment. His eyes Travelled down ole
side and hack the other, and they were
filed only with a calm thoughtfulness.
Then he arranged the folds Of the heavy
curtains with elaborate solicitude and
finally went forward again and whisper
ed something to the porter The car, to
4 passenger, would probably have gladly
paid double fare to have heard those half
dozen whispered words. The pretty mys-
terry was assuming proportions. But the
porter only said, Yes, suh." And then
the young man went over and sat down
gravely in an end seat from where he
looked smack into the face of every soul
In the car.
By, this time it was no longer interest
that moved the inmates of the car. 1t
was palpitation of the heart. The air
was crisp with expectation. 1t seemed
certain that the bride must now make
her appearance.
The next moment the porter came
down the aisle toward the bridal section.
He was n fat and very black porter. For
an instant he paused before the silent
curtains. Then a thrill of horror ran
through the car and several men got half
way to their feet. With two swift move
ments he had pulled the curtains wide
apart and was humping and pulling at
something within! Another instant and
horror had given way to amazement, for
the inside of the berth Immediately be-
came visible to all who cared to see. The
porter was making up the section. The
bride had vanished.
The car turned swiftly to the hapless
bridegroom OH the front seat. An express
sion of Arcadian simplicity rested on his
countenance.
4 few moments later the porter start
ed toward his linen closet. but half way
down the aisle he was held up by half
dozen male passengers with wonder
stricken faces.
what has become of the bride" they
demanded.
The porter scratched his head and look
Gu Ut luell 1ueh hc
showed his teeth in grin.
"Oh. the bridal couple wat got on at
Suspension Bridge?" he said. "Thoy
done left the train late last night. They
did'n' have theip section made up. That
gemman down in front Of the car he had
upper one, n he kicked 50 / shifted him
over soon as the bridal couple left"
The car turned again toward the young
man on the front seat. The expression
Of Arcadiun simplicity was still with
him. But for the first time across his
face there glimmered faint. thoughtful
smile.
The half dozen male passengers and
the porter held a moments consultation
in the middle Of the car. Then they came
forward, and one Of their number said
something in a low voice to the young
man on the front seat. The young man
rose to. his feet still smiling thoughtfully.
"I see" he said softly. Il don't care il
I do"
As the crowd filed toward the buffet
car some one in the rear of the procession
began to whistle Mendelssohn's Wed
ding March" Then the passengers in the
seats began to laugh.-New York Sun.
AZ MvcrEpv tn TILE al NM