Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-05-16

Ira scrubbed out the basin, filled 1t
and tried to dive into it, slapping the
cold water in double handfuls over
his glowing face and putting through
1t like a porpoise.
Meanwhile the heavy-eyed Fosdick
was sinking through the dining-car,
regarded with amazement by DR.. Tenn.
pie and his wife, who were already up
and breakfasting.
whats the matter with the bridal
couples on this train, anyway" said
DR.. Temple.
81 can't imagine" said his wife, 1--WE
old couples are the only normal
ones"
Some more coffee, please. mother"
he said.
But your nerves." she protested.
ITS my vacation" he insisted
Mrs. Temple stared at him and
shook her head: II wonder what mis-
chief you'll be up to today? You've
already been smoking, gambling,
drinking-have you been swearing,
YETI"
Not yet" the old cregyman smiled
1--WE been saving that up for good
occasion. Perhaps it will rise before
the days over"
And his wife choked on her tea at
the wonderful train-change that had
come over the best man in Ypsilantl
BY this time Fosdick had reached
the stateroom from which he had
been banished again at the Nevada
state-line. He knocked cautiously
From within came an anxious voice:
who's there?"
Whom did you eXpect?"
Mrs. Fosdick popped her head out
like a Jill in the box. "Oh, It's you,
Arthur. Kiss me good morning"
He glanced round steaithily and
obeyed Instructions: 81 guess It's
safe-my darling"
Did you sleep, dovie?" she yawned.
Not a wink They took off the
Portland car at Granger and had
to sleep in one OF the chairs in the
observation room"
Mrs. Fosdick shook her head at him
in mournful sympathy, and asked:
What state are we in now?"
"A dreadful state-Nevada."
Just what are we In Nevada?"
Pm bigamist, and you've never
been married at all"
"Oh, these awful divorce laws" she
moaned, then left the general for the
particular: Wont you come in and
hook me up?"
Fosdick looked shocked: Il don't
dare compromise you"
"Will you take breakfast with me
in the dining carp" she pleaded.
DO we dare?"
I'VE might call 1t luncheon" she
suggested
He seized the chance: "All right,
I'll go ahead and order, and you stroll
in and I'll offer you the seat opposite
me-"
But can't you hook me up?"
He was adamant: Not till we get
to California. Do you think | want to
compromise my own wife? Shh.
Somebody's coming" And he darted
off to the vestibule just as Mrs. jim
mie Wellington issued from number
ten with hair askew, eyes only half
open. and waist only half shut at the
back. She made quick squirt to
the women's room, found 1t locked,
stamped her foot, swore under her
breath. and leaned against the wall OF
the car to wait.
About the same time, the man who
was still her husband according to
the law, rolled out Of berth number
two. There was an amazing clarity
to his vision. He lurched as he made
his way to the mems room, but 1t was
plainly the trains swerve and not an.
inner lurch that twisted the fortnight
of his progress.
He squeezed into the mems room
like a whole crowd at once, and sang
out, Good morning, ALL" with a won
derful heartiness. Then he paused
over wash basin, rubbed his hands
gleefully and proclaimed, like another
Chantecler advertising new day:
"Well-I'm sober again!"
Three cheers for you," said his
rival in radiance, bridegroom Lathrop.
How does 1t feel?" demanded Ash
ton, smiling 80 broadly that he en-
countered the lather on his brush.
While he sputtered Wellington was
Tipping water over his hot head and
incidentally over Ashton.
II feel" he chortled, Il feel like the
first little robin redbreast OF the mer'
ry springtime. Tweet! Tweet!"
When the excitement over his re-
demption had somewhat calmed, Ash
ton reopened the old topic OF con
versation:
We'll, l see they had another scrap
last night"
"They-who?" said Ira, through his
flying toothbrush.
The Mallorys. Once more he oc-
cupied number three and she number
seven"
"Well, we'll, | can't understand these
modern marriages" said Little Jim.
mie, with side glance at Ira. Ira
suddenly remembered the plight OF
the Mallorys and was tempted to de-
fend them, but he saw the young lieu
tenant himself just entering the
washroom. This was more than Well
ington saw. for he went on talking
from behind a towel:
We'll, if l were bridegroom and
had a bride like that, 1t would take
more than quarrel to send me to
another berth"
The others made gestures which he
could not see. His enlightenment
came when Mallory snapped the towel
from his hands and glared into his