The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-05-01

~ ~ ~S~'O'~~O ~
| firmed when messenger rushed into the
room and called for Westervelt-
Its Gump & Gods sheds cried the
excited messenger as he burst past the
liveried servants in the hall.
Tough, old man. said Page, as he
! handed Westervelt his own hat and coat
from the rack where he had preceded
him. Then seizing the Englishman's
garments he, too, rushed for the street
Other men followed, but the change OF
clothing was not noticed. both men being
I or similar size and build. After what
seemed an interminably long time. but
was really only twenty minutes, sounds
of scuffling drew the remnant of the COM
pany to the hallway. The noise sounded
like lot of schoolboys who had good
joke on comrade and were making the
most of it. Out of the center of a laugh
ing. joking. hilarious crowd, a strong fig
ure was pushed and pulled into the room.
Even here there was no respite.
We were bid to witness a wedding"
shouted some one.
"A wedding there's going to be- an
swered another from across the room and
the luckless bridegroom was forced t. the
side of Miss Brandon
How ridiculous, How perfectly abb
surd," cried that young person, smiling
in spite of herself and. edging away. But
for the coat no one would have recog-
nized her future husband.
He says the fires under control and
he wants to be married. put in wag
you mean the fellow who brought him
said it," corrected some one from the
rear.
It's all the same" replied the other.
"Oh dear. how is he to be married when
he can't say I will 2 - exclaimed q nerv-
Gus bridesmaid.
Let him write it, replied the wag
And indeed it looked as if he would have
to, for both cheeks, chin, side of the
mouth and part of the nose were one
mass of sticking plaster; otherwise bar
ring Slightly singed garments, the young
man was apparently sound and entirely
whole. His eyes expressed a full appre-
citation of the novel and ridiculous scene.
1t grew wistful as they rested on the
bride, and she as suddenly changed in
the wonder in her eyes had made him
laugh, and with it came part of the plas-
ter. Now she knew and acted her part.
Lets end this farce with a tragedy"
she gayly laughed; and, seizing his arm
swept down the room and confronted
the bishop. She grew weak with a sud
den contraction of the heart as he looked
at them with mild rebuke. Then she
rallied and whispered: License
Now, the bishop possessed a sense of
humor quite keen, so the audacity of the
whole thing swept aside his simulated
dignity. He laughed uproarousIy; he
laughed with the rest. Then laughed
again as he thought of the rye faces
many of the laughers would make when
they should know the truth. Finally he
dried his eyes and married them, reading
Robert Pages name inaudibly that the
change was not noticed. When the west
erner answered in the affirmative the
bishops solemn question, his voice rang
free and glad as his wife ran her eyes
over his tall. perfect figure; his eyes had
lost their half cynical cast, and were
alive with glow that made her forget
his Disagreement
Am l equal to holding my own" he
whispered
You have just proved that, you dear"
she replied.
Again there was a scuffling in the hall,
and availing themselves of the opportuni-
Ly, the pair, accompanied by the bishop,
made good their escape through a back
loor to the waiting carriage. and thence
20 a specially chartered train that waited
hem. steam up. at the depot. When
Bishop Pottin left them with his blessing
A year had passed, and the scene shift |
I'd to a western Kansas town. There |
mas been a christening. and Bishop Pot !
in again officiated. After handing the !
Squeezing young John Westervelt Page to |
his grandmother, he had entertained the I
assembled guests with an account of it's 1
parents elopement.
But how about the fire? Page didn't |
ire the cotton wharves, did he?" laugh |
ngly questioned some one.
There was no fire." said the bishop. /
The ringing of bells and sounding of /
Whistles was in honor of the arrival in
he city of Admiral Dewey"
The announcement of his expected ar
ival in a morning paper of the proceed
ng day had given Page the cue on which
lie subsequently worked.
THE messenger who called for Wester-
-elt had been hired TO take the English
nan in a cab to the cotton wharves and .
here leave him, over two miles from
he Brandon home. Several of the guests
al Pb al
hough they hated TO see Miss Brandon
married. much preferred that she should
emain in this country Here he stop
ed to laugh, and teasingIy added: They
we're all in love with her themselves"
Tearing his throat, he proceeded: They
we're the ones who fixed up Bobs dis
.uise and lent color TO the deception
How about poor Mr.. Westervelt?" ask
d a sympathetic young girl.
Il was coming to that replied the
ishop
AT first the poor fellow was incon-
clable and somewhat abusive" Again
he bishop smiled reniniscently. He !
brew up the agency" he resumed, and
eturned to England where he finally
ound a young lady willing to share his
II And. now continued the bishop.
aking a package from his pocket and
arefully unwrapping II. Il wish TO pre-
ent Master John Westervelt Page with
his beautiful rattler." Here he paused
o read the attached card: Presented
18th best wishes and q check for one
undred pounds. drawn on Gumps & Cod.
, my esteemed namesake; and may his
I'VE affairs run smoother than those Of
is loving godfather. John Westeryelt"
RoBT NJ BIDGOOD.