Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-03-19
Booked For
Matrirnony
BY NEWTON CHANCE.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associates
Literary Press.

AstcE4TI freSS- ?
SSN'~NN~NNN<>N~NN~~NN~~NNN~~NS
Paul Ardmore nodded his thanks to
the conductor as he swung down the
cur steps to the snow covered platform
and made his way toward the waiting
room.
No cxpectant committee gathered
about the stove, and the only signs of
life were the clicking OF the telegraph
instruments aud a thin film of very
rank tobacco smoke that curIed from
under the closed window of the ticket
Office
He waited minute: then he rapped
on the ground glass, and presently n
face, appearing In the opening. eyinced
surly interest.
Il nm Professor Ardmore," explained
Paul. Il am to give a 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
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
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 I'm the Star course
last night and didn't come? The ladies
got up show, so they wouldn't have
to give the money back"
Paul clutched at his pocket and ex.
trnRfn6 n L.
nne feminine handwriting and breathed
p sigh of relief
ut Is for the 17th," he announced
IN relief. II am so absentminded that
] 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 Il 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.
~ ne was In sight OF the church that
was attended by the towns fashIona.
bic families.
To his relief the lights shone ont
and little knot OF people stood about
the door.
4hey eyed him curiously as he push
cd his way through to the door and
entered the vestibple. Several young
women came forward expectartiy ms h.
entered, and Paul, deciding that thew
were the committee OF the Ladies'
guild, grasped an outstretched hand.
They told me at the station that
tne lecture was yesterday. or, rather.
that the audience had gathered YES.
terday through some error" he said
cordially. 81 am glad that YOU were
able to gather them together again this
evening. presume an error was made"
The welcoming smile faded from the
girlish faces. You are the lecturerY''
cried one. I'VE thought you were the
bridegroom"
''Mercy. nor exclaimed Paul. color
ing yividly.
1.-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 Mt least have telo-
graphed when you found that you
could not come."
"But have come" declared Paul as
he produced his letter. "Your commu-
nication says very distinctly that the
lecture Is on the nth"
The girl took the letter unbelIeyipg-
ly. then gave n little cry OF dIsmay.
"fou are Professor ArdmoreY' she
cried. at was Burton Brooks, tho
Psychologist. who wns TO have lee
turcd last night. Your lecture is to be
given on the eth. made the mistake
In the date. This is my letter. am
very sorry"
Il can come again on the 9th"
promised Paul as he perceived the
girls distress. 81 take II that there Is
wedding here this evening. May I
stay until II is time for my train? II
is scarcely inviting at the station, and
the agent smokes very bad tobacco"
Eyes: we've reported his bad man
ners to the company dozens OF times"
was the discouraged reply. "You are
welcome here. but II 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 peated, and at
the first strains there entered the
groom and hts best man. An elderly
woman, who seemed TO have constttut- !
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 chance! He's got to |
play the march all the way through. |
and IL you come out now you'll have |
to stand like a toy figure waiting for
the bride to come In! Don't come un- |
I'll l say Now and then remember the |
place In the musicw
The groom and his supporter stun
bled back into the Yestry, and again
the organ pealed out the wedding
march. Paul turned curiously to look
at the bridal party. and for q moment
his pulse seemed to cease Its beat.
The little bride was none other than
Eleanor Kingsland, the one. woman I'm
the world that Paul worshiped. and
bis worship was not the less intense be-
cause he had never told OF his love.
he had thought OF her always as a
child. Cor he was very young himself
for the position that he held, and In
felt himself to be tremen-
iously old.
He had meant some day to tell his
owe and seek her for his own, but bs
iad delayed his proposal until IL WINS
90 late. Now she was about to be-