Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-03
CHAPTER xxx,
A Weddinu on Wheels.


Grating the scene with white satin
ribbons, trif1e crumplsd and dim OF
luster. Mrs. Whitcomb waved than
at Mallory with a laugh:
Recognize these?"
He nodded dismalIy. His own III.
neral baked meats were coldly fur
nishing forth wedding breakfast for
Ira Lathrop. Mrs. Wellington was
moving about distributing kazoos and
Mrs. Temple had an armload OF old
shoes, some OF which had thunped
Mallory on an occasion which
seemed so ancient as to be almost
prehistoric.
Fosdick was bowling to the porter
to get some rice, quick!
:. How many portions does you ap'
proylmate?"
'"All you've got"
Boiled or fried ?"'
"Any old way" The porter ran
forward to the dining-car for the am
munition.
Mrs. Temple whispered to her hus-
band: TOO bad you're not officiating,
Walter" But be cautioned silence:
Hush. I'm on my vacation
The train was already coming into
Ogden. Noises were multiplying and
from the increase OF passing objects,
the speed seemed to be taking on
squirt. The bell was clamoring like
8 wedding chime in a steeple.
Mrs. Wellington was on chair fast
ening a ribbon round one OF the
lamps, and Mrs. Whitcomb was on an
other chair braidlng the bell rope with
withered orange branches, when Ash
ton. with kazoo all ready, called out;
What tune shall we play?"
81 prefer the Mendelssohn Wedding
March," said Mrs. ,Whitcomb. but Mrs.
Wellington glared across at her.
I've always used the Lohengrin."
Wen play 'em both" said DR.. Tenn
pie, to make peace.
Mrs. Fosdick murmured to her
spouse: The old Justice OF the Peace
didn't give us any music at all" and
received in reward one OF his most
lusclous-eyed looks, and whisper:
But he gave US each other. =
Now and then" she pouted. i..s.
But where are the bride and
groom?" "
Here they come-all ready" cried
Ashton, and he beat time while some
OF the guests kazooed at Mendels-
sohu's and some Wagner's bridal mel
odIes, and others just made noise.
Ira Lathrop and Anne Cattle, look.
ing very sheepish. crowded through
the narrow corridor and stood shame
facedly blushlns like two school chill
dren about to sing duet.
The train jolted to dead stop. The
conductor called into the car: "Og'
den! All out for Ogden!" and every
body stood watching and waiting.
Ira. seeing Mallory, edged close and
whispered: Stand by to catch the
minister Oh the rebound
But Mallory turned away. What
use had he now for ministers? HIS
plans were shattered ruins.
The porter came rying in with two
large bowls Of rice. and shouting.
Here comes the possum-er-pos,
son." Seeing Marjorie. he said:
Shall perambulate Mista snoozle-
ums?"
She handed the porter her only
friend and he hurried out, as lean
and professionally sad ascetic hur.
ried in. He did not recognize his
boyist enemy in the gray-haired. red
faced giant that greeted him. but he
knew that voice and its gloattng
irony:
"Hello, Charlie"
lie had always found that when Ira
grinned and was cordial some trouble
was In store for him. He wondered
what rock Ira held behind his back
now, but he forced an uneasy cor
diality: And Is this you, Ira? Well
we'll! 1t is yeahs since last %e: met.
And you're just getting married. 10
this the first time. Ira?"
First offense. Charlie"
The levity shocked Selby, but a
greater shock was In store. for when
he inquired: And who's the-er-
happy-bride?" the triumphant Lath-
rop snickered: II believe you used to
know her. Anne Cattle
This was the rock behind Ira's back.
and Selby took it with vince: Not
my old"
The same. Anne, you remember,
Charlie
''Oh, yes" said Anne, How do you
do, Charlie?" And she put out shy
hand, which he took with one still
shyer He was so unsettled that he
stammered: We'll, we'll, had always
hoped to marry you. Anne. but not
just this way"
Lathrop cut him short with sharp:
Better get busy-before the train
starts. And I'll pay you in advance
before you set of the fireworks.
The fippancy panied Rev. Charles,
but he was resuscitated by one
glance at the bill that Ira thrust into