The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-03-29
THE THIRD
AUTO
BY MIRIAM ELDRlDCE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

your name, sir?" asked the clerk O.
the marriage license bureau.
Edgar Clark Stewart" replied tn,
gentleman.
THE lady's, pleasei"
Cynthia B. Geddes."
The clerk filled out the license ant
handed 1t to the prospective groom, q
pompous man, who laid down a five
dollar gold piece in lieu of fee and
drew the lady away without waiting
for the change.
/ A few days later the clerk asked the
usual questions Of a couple standing
at his window.
"Gentleman's nameP
willis d. Rathbone."
'Lady'sT
| Cynthia Geddes."
The clerk looked aside at the lady.
1t seemed to him that be remembered
giving a license for one of that name
before. Not recognizing her face. he
turned back the leaves OF his book till
he came to the names Of Edgar Clark
Stewart and Cynthia B. Geddes, no.
ticed the "B." IN the lady's name, con
cluded that II was a case Of coinci.
dence. wrote the certificate and hand.
ed 1t to the man.
"H'mP remarked the recipient.
"Alrs well that ends we'll"
The same morning men were at work
putting up an awning before a hand.
some dwelling In residential portion
OF the city. and in the evening guests
were to assemble for the reception
after the wedding of Edgar Clark
Stewart and Cynthia b. Geddes. The
wedding was notable one, for the
contracting parties both stood high in
social circles. the groom was rich. and
the brides parents were also blessed
with a fortune. Automobiles were In
attendance to convey the bride from
her home to the church, where, as had
been especially arranged. she was to
meet the groom Miss Geddes insisted
on planning the affair TO suit her own
fancy, and II is brides privilege to
have her own way In all things per-
tanning 10 her nuptials. She declared
that her father and mother should pro.
coed to the church in one auto, the
others In another. while she and her
sister. Miss Esther Geddes, would 20
In third
No one understood this within. but no
one thought of making any opposition
TO it. Indeed. the father and mother
Of the bride were only too delighted
TO give their daughter her own way
In the matter of the wedding so long
as she was yielding in marrying the
man OF their choice instead Of her own
Mr. Geddes had worked hard for the
fortune he had accumulated, and II is
well known fact that wealth assimi
lates with wealth Mr. Stewart could
match the pile of his father-in-law ex.
pectant
At the door stood three autos. Into
the FIRST Mr. Geddes handed In his
wife, then got in himself Into the
second entered two of the brides aunts
and younger brother Into the third
stepped the bride and her sister. Usage
required that the order and the dis |
position Of persons be reversed, but the
little procession started as stated.
The first auto drew up at the church,
and the second auto did the same. But
where was the third7 Mr.. Geddes
stepped out on to the sidewalk and .
handed out his wife and looked about
for his daughters. He sent the others
present into the vestbule of the church .
and waited outside If he had waited
till the arrival of the third auto be
would have been there to this very
day
But the third auto. The procession
had no sooner started than IT began to
lag At every street crossing the
chauffeur seemed disposed to give
place TO all vehicles In his path. Final
Iy, after quite lengthy halt, starting
up, at the next corner he turned aside
and. being well out Of sight of the au-
tos In front. put on speed There was
4 sputter and the auto dashed away,
leaving behind fine odor OF old
amps
Half an hour later this third auto
drew up before parsonage ten or If
.een miles from the church where the
was to have taken place. The