The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-13


proachfully. III anything should hap
pen TO you on the return trip would
be semiwidow." The lugubrious
prospect Of semiwidowhood invited
tears. and desisted.
The plan OF marriage by cable. next
advanced, met with like discourage
ment az being "too much on the order
OF nm international chess tournament"
Wireless telegraphy offered some
slight prospect Of solution, but veryl
retracted on account Of Its uncertainty.
With the rattle OF the tirst milk wag.
on on the street outside and It's remind.
or that morning had arrived came the
scheme that we finally adopted. veryl
was to 20 to England, I to remain be.
hind In America. On the 18th day Of
June at high noon. Greenwich time. she
was 10 stand before her father in Mat.
lock and repeat her responses. At the
same instant agreed to go through
tho ceremony at my mothers home In
Belmont. That necessltated slight
postponement Of our honeymoon and
the omission Of bridal procession.
veryi grieved over both features. >
shared only half her sorrow.
As time went on veryl became quite
rcconciled 10 our marriage plan despite
the separation II involved. She is a
most unconventional little person ut all
times, and the oddly OF the arrange
ment doubtless appealed to her strong.
ly. With me II was otherwise. The
glory OF our engagement was quite
dlmmed by the prospect OF her depar'
ture for the other side. When she sailed
on the lst day OF June my grief was
abysmnl. Mother has since assured me
that for three entire days ] ate not q
morsel OF food. NJ thoughts were
with certain ocean greyhound speed.
ing over It's Atlantic lane, and read
and rcrcad nothing but storm reports
and derelict statistics.
one Friday evening ! found two
small trunks In our front hallway. The
maid informed me that they were there
by order OF my mother. When she
came down for dinner that evening
noted nj once nm air OF suppressed ex'
element about her, but asked no
questions.
"Son," said Rhe after we had seated
ourselves. Il bought your wedding
present today. Seer
Imagine my astonishment when she
held out for my inspection passage
tickets for southampton by next days
steamer.
But. mother" | protested, Il cannot
leave you. | intend TO keep my prom.
isc. know | am selfish brute In act
ing as ! have been doing. but cannot
help myself"
Son" said my mother, "the Rodney
is safe IN every way, | have seen her
captain, who il an old friend OF your
father. and he assures me his boat Is
perfectly seaworthy and that trip al
this season OF the year is mere pleas
ure jaunt. Yes, am going with you
We snil tomorrow morning. Don't bus
me like that! go with you on one
condition"
"And that isl"
THAT our departure be kept a secret
from veryl. We must surprise her"
We had an uneventful trip. | re
member very little of II, Some time
during the second day We passed
lonely whale lie excited my sympa
thy at the time. Somehow, somewhere
we landed and took train for Lon
don. We rushed through London In q
cab and found ourselves on another
train. As near as | can remember VIZ
spent four months on that train
though mother says II was nearer fivt
hours. Late that afternoon. she tells
me, we reached Matlock. We climbed q
long, steep hill and found ourselves II
front OF a very large and very gloomy
hotel, bearing a gilt sign, THE Mat
lock Arms"
The next scene will abide with me
to my dying day. A fat clerk stood II
front Of us and held out long pen.
"Is Miss veryl Preston at homer
asked.
mo, SIR"
where Is shef'
"She left for America last Thursday
with the general, her father. She sait
something about being married oveI
there and planning surprise for hel
nance."
Yes, we were married, after all. We
ryl cabled that she was coming bacl
at once after had cabled my owl
whereabouts. She insisted on beinl
married In England. | insisted on New
York. We compromised on New York
| IInhidden guests are often welcom