The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-23

4 both elderly, sober-minded,
6 q dignitied people, so there
4 l. + was no possible reason
RcR why any one should be in
spired to play ridiculous
tricks on them when they finally de-
cided-after twenty years of waiting
to get married and go East on long
wedding trip.
Thomas Carr was fifty-three, a dea-
con in the First Church at, home, and
business man of standing and repu-
tation, whose frosty side whiskers
were more likely to inspire respect and
awe than levity. Sarah Anderson. his
bride, owned to more than forty sum-
mers, and possessed quiet and serene
disposition-which latter fact proved,
after all, great blessing.
Then they took care to see that no
one was invited to the wedding who
might have been moved to do anything
foolish in the way Of throwing old
shoes or rice after the bridal party.
And Thomas Carr, with a craft and
guile which hurt his conscience, con-
eealed the route they were to take
and the hotel they were to stop at in
Chicago-at least he thought be did.
No, indeed! There should be no
foolishness about their wedding trip.
They were too old to be stared and
laughed at. On the train to Chicago
they sat in the same seat, but Sarah
looked out of the window, while her
newly made husband read the morn
Ing paper, with hardly a glance in her
direction. AS matter of fact he
played the part of a disinterested es-
cort too well to suit the bride, who,
after all, was woman.
On arriving in the city they took the
common bus and were driven over to
the Sherman House. where Thomas
wrote. "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carr,
Earlville, ILL., on the register, without
betraying in any way that he was do
Ing anything unusual.
about So, please" he said, when the
clerk asked him what sort of q room
he wanted.
, by the way, Mr.. Carr" the clerk
called after him as he turned to re-
Join his wife, there's package came
by express for you this morning."
Send it up to the room," said
Thomas.
Mr. and Mrs. Carr had agreed that
they would spend whole week in Chi
cago. Thomas had arranged to leave
his business for month or two, and
there was no reason why they should
hurry.
The boy brought in the package
Sarah Looked at it and saw it came
from Earlville.
II wonder what it can be?" she said.
Thomas allowed that he had no idea
He tore off the outside wropper, and
nnpeeled, one after the other, half a
dozen layers Of tissue paper. Finally
there stood revealed on large china
plate curious white something, round
ing at the top and about the shape of a
half watermelon.
"What in all fishhooks is that thing?"
asked The mas. Sarah poked it ques-
tioningly with one finger. Part of it
broke off and crumbled away into little
particles. \ look Of comprehension,
half amused and half angry, came over
Sarah's face.
"Why. Thomas. it's a rice pudding" "
she said.
"a what?"
"a rice pudding. I suppose" she
went on with a laugh. they thought
rice in the form would be more suitable
to our age. But I thought you had
concealed our stopping place."
"What are we going to do with it?'
asked Thomas. anXiously. Il can't ask
anybody around the hotel to take it
away without letting them into the
fact that we've just been married"
"Well. Thomas" said his wife, eff
we stay here the Earlville people'll be
sending us all sorts of foolish things,
likes not, now they know the address.
think we'd better keep right on
East. We can take the pudding with
us and leave it on the train when we
get off. That'll be easy enough"
She did the pudding up carefully
plate and all. in the various papers
which had originally swathed it. while
her husband went down to pay his bill
and arrange for taking the evening
train for the East. When they got into
the cab to drive to the station, she
carried it on her lap. On the way 9
bright idea seized her
Thomas" she said, well leave this
pudding right here in the cab. Per
maps the cabman will take it home L
his family. I've no doubt it's a good
pudding. Looks like one OF Cousin
Marys baking to me-
When they got to the railroad station
there were two solicitous porters wait
ing at the entrance to assist passen
gers. but Sarah managed to Ee'
Thomas and the other bundles out il
safety and then stepped down herself
leaving the pudding lying safely On the
seat of the cab. She caught Thomas
going down the steps and whispered tt
him that she had got rid of the in
eubus.