Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-10-21
Booked For
MatrinOny
BY NEWTON CHANCE.
Copyrighted, 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.
BY NEWTON CHANCE.

car steps 10 the snow covered platform
and made his way toward the waiting
room.
No expectant committee gathered
about the stove, and the only signs OF
life were the clicking of the telegraph
instruments and a thin film OF very
rank tobacco smoke that curled from
under the closed window OF the ticket
office.
He waited minute; then he raped
on the ground glass, and presently a
face, appearing In the opening, evinced
surly interest.
IL am Professor Ardmore," explained
Paul. II am TO give lecture at the
Gothic church. There Is no committee
to meet me, and there seems to be no
hack about the station"
There is one generally, but Jim got
a Job driving Teller over to Moor
way. He'll be back to meet the 9:43,
but II you don't want to wait it's easy
to walk there. You go down the road
a piece till you come to Pine street.
Then you go over to Maple until you
come to Spruce. It's just around the
corner on Spruce. Are you that Teller
that was to lecture in the Star course
last night and didn't come? The ladies'
got up a show, 80 they wouldn't have
to give the money back"
Paul clutched at his pocket and ex-
tracted a letter. He glanced at the
fine feminine handwriting and breathed
sigh OF relief.
at is for the 17th," he announced
In relief. 81 am so absentminded that
1 have to be very careful Of my dates.
Perhaps the committee has discovered
the error and will gather the audience
again tonight. In any event 1t would
be best for me to 60 over"
He turned up the collar of his ulster
to protect his throat and, leaving the
station, plunged through the drifting
snow.
1t was not long walk, for Maple
wood was small place, and present
ly he was I'm sight OF the church that
was attended by the towns fashiona-
BILE families.
To his relief the lights shone out,
and little knot Of people stood about
the door.
They eyed him curiously as he push
ed his way through to the door and
entered the vestibule. Several young
women came forward expectantly as he
entered. and Paul, deciding that they
were the committee Of the Ladies'
guild. grasped an outstretched hand.
They told me at the station that
the lecture was yesterday. or, rather,
that the audience had gathered yes
terday through some error" he said
cordially. II am glad that you were
able to gather them together again this
evening. Ipresume an error was made"
The welcoming smile faded from the
girlish faces. "You are the lecturerr'
cried one. I'VE thought You were the
bridegroom"
"Mercy, nor exclaimed Paul, color
ing wildly.
'The lecture was announced for last
night" went on the speaker. The
guild members organized an impromp-
tn concert to avoid disappointing the
audience. You might at least have tele-
graphed when you found that you
could not come"
"But have come" declared Paul as
he produced bis letter. "Your commu-
nication says very distinctly that the
lecture Is on the 17th."
The girl took the letter unbelleving-
ly, then gave little cry OF dlsmay.
"You are Professor ArdmoreT she
cried. cit was Burton Brooks, the
Psychologist, who was to have lee
tured last night. Your lecture is to be
given on the 9th. made the mistake
In the date. This Is my letter. ! am
very sorry"
IL can come again on the 27th,"
promised Paul as he perceived the
girls distress. IT take II that there Is
a wedding here this evening May I
stay until 1t is time for my train? 1t
is scarcely inviting at the station. and
the agent smokes very bad tobacco"
"Yes; we've reported his bad man.
ners to the company dozens OF times"
was the discouraged reply. "You are
welcome here, but 1t Is a rehearsal for
the bridal party. not the wedding"
She led the way into the body OF
the church, and Paul slipped into a
pew on the side aisle, glad OF a rest
full haven until train time.
| Presently the organ pealed. and at
the first strains there entered the
groom and his best man. An elderly
woman. who seemed to have constitute
ed herself the mistress Of ceremonies,
shouted to the organist to stop and
charged upon the sheepish groom.
~Go backr' she cried. "You don't
| give the organ chancel He's got to
| play the march all the way through.
and II you come out now you'll have
to stand like q toy figure waiting for
the bride to come In! Don't come I'M
III say Now and then remember the
| place IN the muster
The groom and his supporter STUN
bled back into the vestry. and again
the organ pealed out the wedding
march. Paul turned curiously to look
at the bridal party. and for a moment
his pulse seemed to cease its beat.
The little bride was none other than
Eleanor Kingsland. the one woman In
the world that Paul worshiped. and