La Junta tribune., 1910-04-16
Booked For
Matrirl1Ony
BY NEWTON CHANCE.
Copyrighted. isas. by AssociAted
Literary Press.

Paul Ardmore nodded his thanks tc
the conductor ~ be swung down the
car steps to the snow covered platform
and made bis way toward the waiting
room.
No exp3ctant committee gathered
about the stove. and the only signs o,
life were the clicking of the telegraph
instruments and = thin dim ot very
rank tobacco smoke that curled from
under the closed window Of The ticket
ofiice
He waited a minute: then be raped
on the GRIND glass. and pr.sently a
face. nppeai ing In the opening. eyinced
surly interest.
Il am Professor Ardmore.- explained
Paul. Il am to give 4 iec,urr at The
Gothic church. There IL no COMMITTEES
to meet me. and there seems 10 be NJ
hack about the station"
There Is Que generally. but Jlm go,
job driving feller over rn Moor
way. He'll be back to meet the 9i3
but II you don't wnnt to wnii lt's easy
to walk there. You 10 down the road
. piece TIL you come to Pinr 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 10 lecture In the Sta cuurs,
last night and didn't come? The ladies
got up a show. 30 they woulIn't have
to give the money back
Paul ciutched at his pocket and ex
tracted letter. He gianced Mt the
fine feminine handwriting anu breathed
sigh Of relief
1T Is for the 1ifh," he announced
In relief. Il am 80 nbsentm luIcd tina,
l have to bc very careful of my dates
Perhaps the committee has discovered
the error and VIII gather thc audience
again tonight In any even Il would
be best for me TO go over"
He turned up the collar of hIs ulster
to protect his throat and. leaving the
station, plunged through iha drifting
snow.
II was not long walk. flr Maple
wood was small place. mi present
ly he was In sight OF the church tina,
was attended by the town flshlona
bic families.
To his relief tn. lights sbuue ON,
and a little knot Of people stood about
the door.
They eyed him curfously ns he push
ed his way through to fhc door and
entered the vestibule. Sey.-lI Young
women came forward expey tau,ly as h,
entered. aud Paul. deckding thit they
were the committee Of the Ladies'
guild. rrasped an outsir-tc he'd hand.
They told me ~ the station thai
the lecture was yesterday. 4, rather
that the audience had gsthered res
tessiay through some error." he sait
cordially. u am glsd ilIat you wcr,
able to gather them togcihes amip thi
evening. presume IN error was made.
The welcoming smile fadsd from ,h,
gtriish faces. You are The lecturer 2
cried one. I'VE thought you werp th,
bridegroom"
Merry. no. exclaimed Paul. color
ting vividiy.
The lecture was announced for las
night" went on the speaker. .sTh.
Guiid members Organized an impeomp
tn concert TO avoid islppointing tn.
audience. You might AZ l.ast have sele
rraphed when you found that yo,
could no, come"
But have come" decisrcd Paul n
he produced bis letter Your commu
nication says very distinctly that III,
lecture l. on the i5th"
The girl took the letrrr unbe,ieving
iy then gave n ll'rir rry OF diSmay
"You are Professor rdmorey' sh
cried. 1t was Burton Brooks. th
Egyptologisi. who was 10 have lee
turcd last night Your l-cture Ia 10 b
given ON the 27th m1de the mistake
In the date. This is my letter. IN
very sorry"
II can come again On the 9th.
promised Paul ~ be- perceived tn
girls distress. Il take II that thcrc 1
wedding here this rvcninx Mar
stay until II Is time fpr my trainf
Is scarcely lnvi'ing at ihe station. ans
the agent smoke. rcry lad tobacco
Yes. we've reported his bad man
ncrs To the compSny dozsus Of times.
~ss the discouraged rcply. "you ar
welcome here. hut II Is rehearnsl 10
the bridal party. not the wedding
She led the way Into The body o
the church. and Paul siirp~i into I
pew on the side aisle. glad Of . rrst
full haven until train lime.
Presently the organ I,salsA. and .
the nrst s'rnins there esesred th
groom and his best mau. A. etderi.
woman. who seemed 20 have ceustitu,
sd hcrsslf the mistress of cssensouIsa
shouted TO the organist 20 sop an'
charged upon the sh.-plsA groom.
~tso back she cried. "You doo'
give the organ chance! Hs's 0ue .
play the sssrch all the Way s1esogt
aud u you come out nov you'll hav
TO stsnd like toy hguss waiting 70
The hide TO come In. IDes't CONE %
IN ] ~ Now nnd then seme0bes a
/ nharo In the ,pu.,..ss. 4.t H