Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-05-04
THE THIRD
AUTO
BY MIRIAM ELDRIDGE
Copyright b. American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
By MIRIAM ELDRIDGE

- NAAhaNt''''''-
The lady's. please|
Cynthia r. Geddes"
The clerk filled out the license and
handed it to the prospective groom.
pompous man. who laid down a five
dollar gold piece in lieu of fee and
drew the lady away without waiting
for the change.
\ few days later the clerk asked the
usual questions of couple standing
at his window.
"Gentemau's name|
"Wllis D. Rathbone."
"Lady'sT
Cynthia Geddes.'
The clerl, looked aside at the lady
1t seemed 10 him that he remembered
giving license for one of that name
before Not recognizing her face, he
turned back the leaves Of his book till
he came 70 the names of Edgar Clark
Stewart and Cynthia B. Geddes. no
ticed the b in the adys name, con
cluded that IL was a case of coinci
dence. wrote the certificate and hand
ed il to the man.
HIM 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 a residential portion
Of the city. and in the evening guests
were 10 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, us had
been especially arranged. she was to
meet the groom Miss Geddes insisted
on planning the affair to suit her own
fancy, and it is a brides privilege to
have her own way in oil things per-
tanning to her nuptials. She declared
thar her father and mother should pro.
coed 10 the church in one auto, the
others in another. while she and her
sister Miss Esther Geddes. would 90
in third
No one understood this whim, 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 It Is
we'll 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,
ana the second auto did the same But
whore was the third? 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 vestihule of the church
aud waited outside. II he had waited
till the arrival of the third auto he
would have been there to this very
day
But the third auto The procession
had no sooner started than Il began TO
lag At every street crossing the
chauffeur seemed disposed to give
place to all vehicles in his path. Final
ly, after quite a lengthy halt. starting
up, ar the next corner he turned aside
and, being well OUT of sight of the au-
tos in front, put ON speed There was
a sputrer and the auto dashed away,
leaving behind fine odor Of old
lamps
IIHlf an hour later this third auto
drew up before a parsonage ten or fif
teen miles from the church whore the
wedding was 20 havc taken place The
chauffeur handed the bride and her sis.
ter out the three went INTO the par
sonlgo and the chauffeur handed n
marriage license To the parson II
read Willis u. Rathbonc and Cynthia
Goddas
Aud $50 IL was that while the gentle.
man pP fI. FIRST lf..rtg, .,,.,.s ,,.,f+i,.r .,t