Middletown transcript., 1906-05-05
Here is Im!exclaimed my com.

1t was Jim right enough, ant
as I caught sight Of his radian
face sfeeIed myself to witness
the meeting between him and hi,
bride.
My dearest girl, he said, In
delighted 10 see you But how
on earth did you get here? Thc
express fro m Brightsands
doesn't get in till -. 45,- and it's
just hIlf-past now, and
But I didn't come by tram
came with Mr.. stratford i'll the
motor, us you arranged, jim
dear.
Yes, brought Miss Barton ~
all right, old man, said I.
But what on earth have you
done with her then !? exclaimed
Jim ddfCOuft.
Done with whom! qups
toned, gazing at him in puzzlcd q
amazement.
Why, Miss Barton, If conrse
said Harcourt, impatiently.
I glanced at the dainty lady
with the roses. But surely this
is Miss Barton, l was beginning
when was interrupted vehem
emily by jim.
Nonsense! This is my sister
Elsie. You've simply muddled
the whole affair, old chap, and
Then he stopped as the sound
of wheels resounded once more
through the quiet square, us the
second handsome drew up at the
church porch, and Jim dashed
forward 10 assist demure IL le
girl TO alight.
She had dark eyes and was
dressed in gray, but there all re
sem blanCe between the two wo
men ended.
Jim's tiancee was O prett Y
enough little girl in her way, but
she simply wasn't in it with jim S
sister, and her voice as she ex
planned the cause of her arrival
was as different from the velvet
softness of ElSie'S tones as light
from darkness.
WAITED all yesterday AFTERNOON
for Mr.. Stratford, she said volu
bly,, but neither he nor the motor
turned up. knew you had fixed
1890 for the wedding, and
thought / might just do it if /
caught the early express but
didn't see how I was to manage.
because father always gees down
to the station at that time to gel
bis paper.
However, as luck would ha> q
it, old Colonel Marchant turned
up fur IL gHine Of golf before
lunch, SD fLthnr commissioned d
me to get hi paper.
7 tore down la, tho staff II iu>l
in time 10 cItch the up train aid
and here Iam
The luncheon after the cere-
mony was ii Very merry Que, and
when We had seen the happy pair
off to Newport, Elsie turned To
me.
I'm afraid we shall have 10
hurry IL little to catch the Bright
sands train, said she.
Need We catch it? rs slow
one, and I could drive you down
in about half the time in the motor
I pleaded.
Elsie hesitated, then, like a true
woman, consented. 1t was not,
however, till we were nearly at
the end Of our journey that Elsie
preached the subject Of my mis-
take
But ! really don't see how you
came to nuke it, Mr.. Stratford,
she said. Alice Barton and 1 are
not the least bit alike.
Ishould think not I exclaimed
energetically. But you see it
was this way. Jim practically
told me to look out for the lowell
est woman I had ever set eyes on.
So did, and having found her
Well ? murmured Elsie.
Oh, well, I have resolved to do
my best to keep her! said I,
boldly. kept my word, and we
were married within the year,
our wedding being the occasion of
IL general reconciliation all round.
I found old Harcourt TO be very
decent old boy in the main. He
thinks the story Of the elopement
by deputy rather a good joke, and
both Elsie and agree with him.