Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-03-08

j
clipper, and I am afraid somewhat
officious, uncle to his new town house.
At five O'Clock I found myself in Aunt
Margaret's front parlor.
Uncle William called up Tom by
telephone, and after few minutes
chat with him felt somewhat reas-
sured. Dinner was announced very
early, and was soon over. As the
clock chimed six I went upstairs to
my bag? l hurried downstairs again
and put the question to Uncle Will
liam.
"By Joye!" he exclaimed, "we must
have left it at the station"
He hurried down town 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. He
finally came, however.
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 I
tied my cravat Uncle William tapped
on the door,
cts five minutes of sevenn' he ex-
claimed.
/ couldn't say exactly what l wanted
to say, so contented myself by giving
the cravat vicious twist. Three
minutes later I dashed down the hall,
threw good-by at Aunt Margaret and
hurried into the yard.
The coachman was driving away.
''Hi, therer' shouted Uncle William
from the front steps. Hold on there,
driver Wilson, stop that hack!'
Wilson was evidently Uncle Will
liam's next-door neighbor. He was
leisurely proceeding from his front
gate to his own domicile He turned
around slowly and looked at the car
riage and then at Uncle William.
What for?' he asked. What's
the matter with it?"
''Hi, there, driverp' shouted Uncle
William again, as l 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.
eyes, 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. Viii
son, 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
'Oh!" exclaimed Uncle William, a
light breaking in upon him, you've
made mistake here, Wilson This
is a carriage l ordered to take my
nephew to the wedding
''Oh, 1 guess rot" said Mr.. Wilson,
bristling up more than ever. ''rhis
is a. carriage 1 ordered to take my
niece to the commencement"
The two men glare at each other
like wild animals, and 1 turned from
one to the othe in hopeless perplex-
ity.
Drive onr' cried Mr.. Wilson, and
the driver drew up the reins.
Hold on!' cried Uncle William,
and the driver loosened the reins. He
evidently enjoyed the situation.
The two men moved toward each
other, and then Aunt Margaret came
down the path, fastening to the un-
tangling of Uncle Williams mistakes,
as she had been doing throughout
their married life.
This is a muddle," she said to Mr..
Wilson in her sweetest tones. "The
stablemcn have probably got the two
orders confused"
II don't know about that" said
Mr.. Wilson, "but I've got the car
riageS
''But see here, put in Uncle Will
liam, Dicks best man. and he mustn't
he late at the wedding"
II can't help that retorted Mr..
Wilson. my niece mustn't be late at
the commencement, either
ON tell you" cried Aunt Margaret.
with sudden inspiration, "why can't
they so together? The seminary is
only little ways beyond Christ
church. I know your niece won't
object if I explain.
Aunt Margaret dashed out into the
street toward the carriage, and fol-
lowed, wiping my moist brow, bewall-
ing my whiting linen and consumed
with impotence.
In the next few seconds I heard
Aunt Margaret making hurried ex-
planation which concluded with .Aw-
fully good of yon, I'm sure, but
knew you'd consent under the cir
cumstances;" then the door was flung
open,N Uncle William gave me a push
from behind, while Aunt Margaret
murmured introductions, and | found