The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-19

Shr1IleQ IN detected Cdmp-
Get ready" Shaw commanded
Here's rice for everybody"
Everybody take an old shoe" said !
Hudson. You can't miss il this mar |
row car"
There's a kazoo for everyone. too"
said Shaw, as the outstretched hands
were equipped with wedding ammuni-
ton DO you know the Wedding
Harch?"
u ought TO by this time" said Mrs.
Whitcomb.
Right into the tangle of prepare.
ton, old Ira Lathrop stalked, on his
way back to his seat to get more
cigars.
Have some rice for the bridal
coupler" said Ashton, Offering him or
his own double-handful.
But Lathrop brushed him aside
with romance-hater's growl.
Watch out for your head, them
cried Hudson, and Lathrop ducked
just too late to escape a neck-dlling,
hair-filling shower. An old shoe took
him a clip abaft the ear, and the old
woman-hater dropped raging into the
same berth where the spinster, Anne
| Cattle, was trying to dodge the same
downpour
Still there was enough Of the
| shrapneI left to overwhelm the two
! young friends" who marched into
| the aisle, trying to look Indifferent
| and prepared for nothing on earth
e. oH4
| Mallory should have done better
| than to entrust his plans to fellows
| like Hudson and Shaw, whom he had
| known at West Point for diabolically
| joyous hazers and practical jokers.
| Even as he sputtered rice and WINGED
from the impact of flying footgear,
| he was cursing himself as a double
| dyed idiot for asking such men to en-
| gage his berth for him. He had
sudden instinct that they had doubt
less bedecked his trunk and Mar
iorie's with white satin furbelows and
hdicrous labels. But he could not
shelter himself from the white sleet
and the black thumps. He could
hardly shelter Marjorie, who covered
behind him and shrieked even loud
er than the romping tormentors.
When the assailants had exhausted
the rice and shoes, they charged down
the aisle for the privilege of kissing
the bride. Mallory was dragged and
hunted and shunted here and there,
and he had to fight his way back to
| Marjorie with might and main. He
was tugging and striking like demon,
and yelling, Stop it. stop it,"
Hudson took his punishment with
uproarious good nature, laughing:
"Oh, shut up, or we'll kiss you'll"
But Shaw was scrubbing his wry
lips with a seasick wall of:
Wow | think l kissed the dog"
There was, of necessity, some pause
for breath, and the combatants draped
themselves Imply about the seats.
Mallory glared at the twin Benedict
Arnolds and demanded:
Are you two thugs going to San
Francisco with me?"
Don't worry" smiled Hudson,
we're only going as far as Kedzie
; avenue. just to start the honeymoon
properly"
If either of the clippers had been
calmer, the solution of the problem
would have been simple. Marjorie
could get off at this suburban station
and drive home from there. But their
wits were like pied type, and they
were further jumbled, when Shaw
broke in with sudden: Come, see
the little dove-cote we fixed for YOU
Before they knew It, they were both
hailed along the aisle to the white
satin atrocity. Love in a bungalow
said Hudson. sit down-make your
selves perfectly at home"
"No-neyer-oh, oh, OH" cried Mar
jorR, darling away and throwing
herself into the first empty seat-Ira
Lathrop's berth. Mallory followed to
console her with caresses and muir
murs of, There's there, don't cry
deariei"
with mawkish mockery: Don't cry
dearie."
And now Mrs. Temple interviewed
She had enjoyed the initiation cere
mony as we'll as anyone. But when
the little bride began to cry, she re-
membered the pitiful terror and shy
Z, shame she had undergone as a girl
wife. and she fastened to Marjorie 6
side, brushing the men away like
gnats.
You poor thing" she comforted
Come, my child, lean on me, and
= have good cry"
: Hudson grinned, and put out his
own arms: she can lean on me, II
: she'd rather"
e Mrs Temple glanced up with indig
nant rebuke: Her mother is fal
t away, and she wants a mothers breast
to weep on. Here's mine, my dear.
t The impudent Shaw tapped his own
2 military chest: "She can use mine
:. Infatuated at this bride-baiting, Nal
g lory rose and confronted the two
imps with clenched fists: You're
pretty pair of friends, you are"
: The imperturable Shaw put out
pair Of tickets as his only defense:
t Here are your tickets, old boy.
And Hudson roared jovially: I'VE
: tried to get you a stateroom, but j
t And here are your baggage checks,
laughed Shaw, forcing into his fists
few pasteboards I'VE got your trunk:
: on the train ahead, all right. Don't
mention it-you're entirely welcome
: 1t was the porter that brought the
first relief from the ordeal.
: IF you gemmep is gettin' on a
Kedzie avenue, you'd better stel
smart We're slowin' up now"
Marjorie was soobing too audiblI
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