The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-01
A Delayed Wedding



but it wasn't-had called on the morn
ing of his wedding for final word
with his fancee in order to make sure
that nothing had been forgotten. They
We're to he married at high noon, and
it was now II o'clock But the groom
was in costume. even to the bouton-
Mere. and the bride needed only to put
few finishing touches to her toilet.
After giving and receiving few
final reminders Mr.. Peter, accompanied
by Miss Blossom. his bride to be, went
into the hall and through the from.
door, backing hinsclf out in order to
keep up his instructions and his eyes
OH his fiancee till the last moment lie
descended the steps in this reverse or
at the same moment.
Now. in anticipation of coal strike
Miss Blossoms father was getting in
his annual supply of fuel. A coal wag-
on had just driven away, and the
HEAVIER had forgotten to replace the lid
on the coal hole The consequence was
that as Mr.. Peter turned and took Il
IN.
in another moment he was knee deep
in coal heap
The only Injury he suffered was
scraping the skin off his left arm. He
looked w and saw that he could al
most reach the round opening above
him. but to do 50 would require 81
jump. To jump on heap of coal is
like jumping Oh a quicksand.
When he was thinking what to do
suddenly the lid was clapped Oh the
coal hole. Some one passing had seen
the opening in the sidewalk and, sup
posing he was doing a kindly act. put
on the lid. Mr.. Peter cried out, but too
late Tie benefactor-to some one else
than NJ. Peter-Dassed OH.
| From an anticipated wedding cere-
mony in fashionable church. in the
| presence of fashionable assembly.
| to Il coal hole even with the lid off and
sunlight is not Il pleasant transition.
| but With Il closure and darkness NJ.
| Peter found it narrowing, especially
| as he might not get out in time for
the wedding. 1t is singular what
| thoughts will pass through the brain
at such Il time. Many Il person upon
learning of some calamity has had an
absurdity thrust itself into his brain.
| Mr.. Peter was college bred man
and. being impressed with the rcadi-
ness With which he had reached his
/ present position, remembered an adage
of the apcients, Easy is the descent
| to he'll This he kept repeating-or.
rather it kept repeating itself without
asking his permission-till he was re-
| minded that he had better be devisin.
some method of escape.
But there was no escape. The only
egress was a shute for the coal. but
this was not practicable for Mr.. Pc.
ter, because it must be opened from
! the outside. In fifty minutes his we'd
ding would be due He saw the peo-
| pie assembling, the bride and her at.
tendants going to the church. then
waiting for him in the yestibule: usll-
ers going to the doors and looking up
the street for him. anxious faces; the
bride troubled and finally in tears.
This is what Mr.. Peter saw in the
coal hole and it was what occurred.
He took no note of time till a clock in
church tower near by struck the
hour of To- Then he knew that tie
wedding party was waiting that pc
Rod of suspense which must lead to
he knew not what had begun.
At the last stroke of the clock he
heard step in the adjoining apart
ment-doubtiess the cellar. Only Il
board partition separated him from it
He cried out. There was an interval
of silence. then voice:
What is it? Who is it?''
Mr.. Peter, dreading lest the person
would take to flight. cried Justify fol
help. After some delay the coal shute
/ which fortunately was above the par
tally filled bin. was opened by Il serv-
ant. and Mr.. Peter stepped out.
The first thing he did was to look at
his watch. 1t was five minutes past u
Dashing up the stairs he gained the
bathroom. ana Il glance in mirror
showed him Il dusky face. Plungins il
and his hands into a basin of water he
buttoned his coat as high as possible
over his smudged collar and, descend
ing with lightning speed to the street
ran toward the church. On the way
he passed an empty cab. which he
hailed and few minutes later dashed
up to the church.
Three ushers were straining theil
eyes up and down for him. Mr.. Pc
ter was hustled inside, where he WAS
greeted by the bride to be with Il mill
Cling of anger. tears and signs of re-
lief. There was no time for eNplana
tons. since the guests had already
been Kept too long waiting. Mr.. Peter
took his proper position, with his sup
ports. on the opposite side of the vesti
bule, there was /; creaking of the organ
bellows and the divided wedding pa:
ty. uniting in the center aisle. ad
vanced to the strains of a wedding
march.
Mr.. Peters coat being black and his
trousers dark gray, his shirt collar be
i,,rr lop< 1,ie, oil