The Democratic advocate., 1909-02-26
Booked For
1atrinnOny
BY NEWTON CHANCE,
Copyrighted, 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

HUu uldue uAS way SoWdAu ehS WuAeAhB
room.
No expectant committee gathered
about the stove, and the only signs of
life were the clicking Of the telegraph
instruments and thin film Of very
rank tobacco smoke that curled from
under the closed window of the ticket
office
He waited a minute: then he raped
on the ground glass, and presently a
face, appearing in the opening, evinced
suIly interest,
II am Professor Ardmore," explained
Paul. 81 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"
'"TheFe Is one generally, but Jim got
a job driving feller over to Moor
way. He'll be back to meet the 043,
but If you don't want TO wait it's easy
to walk there. You go down the road
q 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 feller
that was to lecture In the Star course
last night and didn't come? The ladies
got up a show, so they wouldn't have
to give the money back"
Paul clntched at his pocket and ex-
tracted letter. He glanced at the
fine feminine handwriting and breathed
a sigh of relief.
at Is for the 1Tth," he announced
in relief. 81 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 1t would
be best for me to go over"
He turned up the collar Of his ulster
70 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 In sight of the church that
was attended by the towns fashlonn.
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 vestlbule. 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. presume an error was made /"
The welcoming smile faded from the
girlish faces. you are the lecturer p
cried one. We thought You were the
bridegroom"
Mercy, nor exclaimed Paul. color
ing vividly.
''The lecture was announced for hast
night" went on the speaker. -'The
guild members organized an impromp-
tn concert to avoid disappointing the
audience. You might at least have aele.
graphed when you found that you
could not come"
''But have come" declared Pau as
he produced his letter. Your eommn.
nication says very distinctly that the
lecture is OIL the 17th."
The girl took the letter unbelieving-
ly. then gave little cry OF dismay
"You are Professor ArdmoreT' she
cried. "It was Burton Brooks, the
Psychologist, who was TO have lee
tured last night. Your lecture Is 10 be
given on the 9th. I made the mistake
in the date. This is my letter. n am
very sorry"
81 can come again on the 9th"
promised Paul as he perceived the
girls distress. II take It that there Is
a wedding here this evening May I
stay until It is time for my trnlnf II
lis scarcely inviting at the station, and
the agent smokes very bad tobacco"
Yes; we've reported his bad man
mers to the company dozens of times" "
was the discouraged reply. You are
welcome here, but II Is n 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 rest
ful haven until train time.
Presently the organ pealed, and af
the first strains there entered the
groom aud his best man. An elderly
woman, who seemed to have constitut-
ed herself the mistress of ceremonies
shouted to the organist to stop and
charged npon the sheepish groom.
go baekr' she cried. you don't
give the organ q chancel He's got TO
play the aarch 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 un-
til say Now and then remember the
place In the musiet'
The groom and bis supporter STUN
bled back into the vestry, and again
the organ peaied out the wedding
march. Paul turned cnr1ously to look
at the bridal party. and for 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
his worship was not the less intense be-
cause he had never told OF his love.
he had thought Of her always as
child, for he was very young himself
for the position that he held, and in
consequence felt himself to be tremen-
dously old.
He had meant some day to tell his
love and seek her for his own, but he
had delayed his proposal until it was
TOO late. Now she was about IN no.