The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-16
Bjorn SiveriSen's Wedding Trip.

CONTINUED from Page Four)
innkeeper drove them into town. The
village people gave them a hufrah, and
finally the merry company sat down in
the Gilded Tarpot's basement rooms to
a board laden with roasts of lamb and
pork, ham and vegetables and all man.
ner OF other good things. Sweet cor
dials were there for the ladies. and
French wines, while for the men there
was strong brandy and punch.
Through the basement window one
could see a high brick wall cleaning
in the strong sunlight, and IL one laid
ones self over the table. with ones
head in the neighbor's lap, way high
up one could see a tiny y ece OF blue
sky as large as a handkerchief perhaps,
with feathery clouds driving over 1t.
Some of Stine's female relatives were
there. and then the innkeeper's family
and best friends. Among the family was
a ships s-joiner, who proved his SYM
pathetic comprehension of the impor-
tance of the occasion by getting drunk
at once and holding pathetic speeches.
And among the good friends was a
former officer of justice" as he called
himself, a man with a decoration in his
.buttonhole; a looking jaier,
who wore stiff collar and his service
medal to remind the world that he had
once been non on-commissioned officer.
He looked as IL he had his serious
doubts about the company, and expect
ed the one or the other OF them to make
away with the spoons. Probably be-
cause of this doubt therefore he kept
a distance between himself and the
rest of the company. and poured out
an endless series of small whiskeys for
himself, ION the top of the glass" as he
expressed II, without any appreciable
effect. He laughed a sudden and fe-
rocious- sounding laugh. drank half his
glass, cleared his throat, poked his ell
bows in the hosts ribs and said. :Old
cpmrade. here's to the good old times.
This for him was the height OF socabil-
ity and joviality.
He called Bjorn Captain" but after
few repittions Of the world. the bride
groom laid down his fork with n large
slice of beet in it. and remarked:
Port your helm. friend. and let up
on that Captain If you don't want to
make me angry"
After this admonition he compro-
missed on "Boatman."
Bjorn was decidedly out of sorts. He
had the impression of being left alone,
which was probably due 10 his deaf
ness. He certainly filed his place in
the literal sense. but Niels did not come,
and Stine. the bride-well, Stine sat
there at his side in a black merino
hands in her lap. as straight up and
down in her chair as IL, she had swal-
lowed yard stick. -
That was probably the correct thing
to do. for n northern bride should not be
too vivacious. But there seemed 10 be
in her nature a certain dignity. which
would be a good thing in home no
doubt. but which seemed rather out or
place here between roast ana cordial.
"One certainly could not call her too
affectionate." Bjorn said afterward.
when describing the occasion.
He sat alone and she sat alone. she
ate very little: he ate enough for two.
The ship Joiner held one speech after
another. the sun shone down on the
brick wall. and Bjorn leaned over on
Stine and looked out of the window.
Stine pulled her veil aside smoothed
her dress. and asked:
What are you looking att"
Fine opportunity that" said, Btorn
Her eyes followed his.
You mean that fourth story 10 let
up there? Yes. I would rather like 10
live there. Then one would not nave 10
be on the water 80 much.
"A fine opportunity TO sail nome.
mean" explained Bjorn. THE wind IS
strcrg from the south"
Stine glanced at him uneasily. and
then at the innkeeper
"A stiff south breeze" continued
Riorn. "Tt has been n north wind Tor
sNme time. and shall be tonight again
We don't have a chanlce like this every
dav."
At glance from, Stine the innkeeper
proposed good old-tme Danish
cheer for Biorn. In the attempt 70
change the train OF h's thoughts. and
the ships Joiner held his firth speech.
Then mlne hos rfoposed song. 'n
which all jpined. ever the taller. who
hsii saojnd voice and footed like a
clarinet.
Afta~ that. In spite of some objection.
tho ships Joiner rose. supporting him
self bv he neighbors' shoulders. be-
gen. with tears IN his eyes:
Good friends and hearers. we are
al that think"
YES. yes" they answered.
"We Will n0W--eomathing must be