The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-07-15
CHAPTER XXI.

Ti-Tsang, had prepared sehe A"A
the seizure of the Chinese treasure; ne
had attacked the train In the plains OF
Cobb: the car is assaulted, pillaged, ran
sacked; the gold and precious stones, to
the value of fifteen millions, are torn
from the grasp of the Celestials, who
yield after a courageous defense. AS to
the passengers, another two minutes OF
sleep would have settled their fate
and mine.
But all that disappeared with the
vapors Of the night. Dreams are not
fixed photographs; they fade in the sum-
and end by effacing themselves.
In taking my stroll through the train
as a good townsman takes his stroll
through the town, am Joined by Major
Noltitz. After shaking hands, he show
ed me a Mongol in the second-class car,
and said to me- "That is not one OF those
we picked up at Douchak when we pick
ed up Faruskiar and Changer"
"That is So" SAID I; Il never saw that
face in the train before"
Popof, to whom l applied for infor-
nation. told me that the Mongol had got
ia at Tchertchen. when he arrived"
he said, "the manager spoke to him for
a minute, from which l concluded that
he also was one Of the staff Of the Grand
Transasiatic"
L had not noticed Faruskiar during my
walk. Had he alighted at one of the
small stations between Tchertchen and
Tcharkalyk, where we ought to have
been about 1 o'clock in the afternoon?
No, he and Changer were on the gang
way in front of our car. They seemed
to be in an animated conversation, and
only stopped to take good look toward
the northeastern horizon. Had the Mon
gol brought some news which had made
them throw of their usual reserve and
gravity? And l abandoned myself to my
imagination, foreseeing adventures, at
tacks of bandits and so on, according to
my dream.
was recalled to reality by the Rev.
Nathaniel Morse, who said to me: 1T
Is fixed for to-day; do not forget"
That meant the marriage of Fulk Eph-
rinell and Horatia BIuett. Really, was
not thinking of it. 1t is time for me to
go and dress for the occasion. All l can
do will be to change my shirt. 1t is
enough that one Of the husbands wit
nesses should be presentable the other,
Caterna, will be sure to be magnificent.
1t was at o'clock that this marriage
was to take place, announced by the bell
of the tender, which was to sound full
clang as if it were a chapel bell. With
little imagination we could believe we
were in village. But whittier did this
bell invite the witnesses and guests? Into
the dining car, which had been conven-
tently arranged for the ceremony, as
had taken good care.
1T was no longer dining car; it was q
hall car, if the expression is admissible
The big table had been taken away and
replaced by small table which served
as desk. A few flowers bought at
Tchertchen had been arranged in the
corners Of the car, which was large
enough to hold nearly all who wished to
be present-and those who could not get
Inside could look on from the gangways.
A quarter to nine. No one has yet
seen the happy couple. Miss Bluett is
In one of the toilet cabinets in the first
van, where she is probably preparing
herself. Fulk Ephrinell is perhaps
struggling with his cravat and giving a
last polish to his portable jewelry. am
not anxious. We shall see them as soon
as the bell rings.
l have but one regret, and that is that
Faruskiar and Changer should be too
busy to join us. Why do they continue
to look over the immense desert? Be-
fore their eyes there stretches not the
cultivated steppe of the Lob-Nor region,
but the Cobb, which is barren. desolate
and gloomy. 1t may be asked why these
people are keeping such an obstinate
lookout
IF my presentiments do not deceive
me, said Major Noltitz, there is some
reason for it,"
What does he mean? But the bell of
the tender, the tender bell, begins its
joyous appeal. Nine o'clock; it is time to
go into the dining car.
The passengers move in a procession
the four witnesses first. then the guests
from the end of the village mean of
the train; Chinese, Turkomans. Tartars
men and women, all curious to assist AT
the ceremony. The four Mongols remain
on the last gangway near the treasure
which the Chinese soldiers do not leave
for an instant.
We reach the dining car. The clergy
man Is seated at the little table, ON which
Is the certificate Of marriage he has
prepared according to the customary
form. He looks as though he was ar
customed to this sort Of thing. which is
as much commercial as matrimonial
Here is Mr.. Fulk Ephrinell drassod
this morning just as he was dressed VOC
terday, with pencil behind the loba .,
his left ear, for he has just been mak;no
out an account for his New York house
Here is Miss Horatia Bluett. as thin
as dry, as plain as ever, her dust-cloa !
over her travelling gown, and in Mac
of jewelry a noisy bunch Of KEYS. which
hangs from her belt.
The company politely rise as the br;d.
and bridegroom enter. They "morl
time" as Caterna says. Then thew al
vance toward the clergyman. who :,
standing with his hand resting on .
Bible, open probably at the place wher<
Isaac, the son Of Abraham. espouses r.
becca. the daughter of Rachel.
We might fancy we were in a cb.na
ii we only had harmonium. And tht
music is here! If it IL not a harmonium
1t is the next thing to it. An accordion
makes itself heard in Caterna's hands
As an ancient mariner he knox, -