St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-02-11
A Serio
Comic
Weddin&
By Eugene Whitman Taylor
1........i<.l,4 LaI
Copwight, 1901, bD E. ". TAILOR

LIZ luC II 10 ODNIOuo lIluL we are Ill
an extremely unenviable position" said
the hero as he looked sadly across the
| little hotel room at the soubrette
ITO commence with" remarked the
| Juvenile ''the manager of the Dean
Repertoire company has skipped with
the cash and left us with nothing but
the knowledge that we probably never
will be able to draw the salary which
has been due us for the last three
weeks.
Misfortune No. consists in the de-
plorable fact that the proprietor of the
Riggsville Palace hotel has confiscated
all the baggage of the company and
says he will hold it until our board bills
are paid. Southern Indiana is many
long and weary miles from Broadway,
and our cash assets, as l have ascer-
tanned by trying to borrow money from
each member of the company, amount
in the aggregate to 1886 cents. Now,
what are we to do? We have talent,
but what is talent without makeup or
wigs? We have plays, but what are
plays without scenery or costumes"
1--WE might start dime museum and
let you be the star freak" said the
comedian, who had been aroused from
quiet nap by the Juveniles prattle.
II rather fancy that museum idea,"
said the juvenile, assuming an air of
meditation. "Now, here's a scheme.
Well put you on exhibition" he said,
pointing to the comedian, land then
start a voting contest among the I'M
married ladies of Riggsville. Votes
cost 10 cents and the lady receiving
the most votes would be publicly mar
ried to you in the hotel parlors next
Saturday night. We could charge so
cents admission to witness the cere-
mony, and-who knows?-perhaps you
might bring eighty or ninety dollars"
I'm not bigamist," said the come
dian in his most dignifed manner, land
even if l were not married | certainly
should refuse to spend the rest of my
days in the town of Riggsville."
you don't appreciate the glories Of
self sacrifice" the juvenile remarked
sadly. "Now, we would give you fine
sendoff. We would borrow those cos
tunes we used in Don Cesar from the
landlord and arrange a genuine eight
eenth century wedding"
well talk nonsense later" growled
the heavy. 81 hear the dinner bell
ringing. Let us eat while we may"
In q short time the little room was
deserted save for the hero and the
soubrette, who had professed to have
no appetite They looked mournfully
at each other for several minutes be-
fore the silence was broken.
"Id like to wiring Deans neck" was
the hero's savage remark. Il wouldn't
mind it so much if he owed me only
my back salary, but to get me to lend
him that 5000 I'd saved for our mar
riage and then run away with it!' He
put his head in his hands and looked
the very picture of theatrical despair.
Don't worry, DEAR" said the girl.
perhaps we may think of some
scheme which will help us all out of
the trouble. | may be thinking of one
now for all you know" This was said
timidly and with an appealing glance
at the hero.
I'm almost afraid to tell you," the
soubrette went on rapidly. "And, any
way, it isn't my scheme altogether.
hope that you won't think | am I'M
womanly to think of it, but what do we
care for these Riggsville people? They
never would see us again, and it prob
ably would take us back to New York,
and we could be so happy together"
"When you get ready to divulge this
scheme of yours, you will give me my
cue to listen won't you?" said the hero
sarcastically.
Its just this, dear" The girl turned
her head so that he could not see her
face. you heard them joking about
the wedding and all that. Will you do
it,"
"Do you mean that you will cheerful
ly abandon your claims and sacrifice
me to the elderly maiden ladies of
Riggsville at 10 cents vote?" asked
the hero, with the same sarcastic in
donation.
Don't be stupid" said the girl. "But
why should we wait until next season
before we are married? Why not now?
Why not She stopped, looked up at
him doubtfully and then hestated.
"Why should we not arrange our mar
riage as he suggested? We might make
it regular theatrical eighteenth CEN
fury wedding and have the rest of the
company in fancy dress. To these PEG
pie we would be playing a comedy
with a serious climax, but to US, dear,
it would be a real romance and none
the less sacred were the whole world
gazing at us. 1t does seem to me that
it would CO." she added thoughtfully.
The hero sighed. 81 don't know that
l am so much opposed to it. AS you
say, it would be none the less sacred
to us. Why not allow these country
pumpkins the privilege of paying so
cents apiece to see a fancy dress we'd
ding. Society people pay admission
fees for the weddings they attend, only
they use salad forks and olive dishes
for tickets instead Of half dollars. l
really think the price is too low"
perhaps it is, considering that this