The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-05-13
Booked For:
Matrirr1Ony
The Surprise at the
Rehearsal
BY NEWTON CHANCE.


car steps to the snow covered platform
and made his way toward the waiting
room.
No expectant committee gathered
about the stove. and the only signs of
life were the clicking OF the telegraph
instruments and thin film of very
rank tobacco smoke that curled from
under the closed window of the ticket
office.
yIe waited minute; then he raped
on the ground glass, and presently a
face, appearing in the opening, evinced
surly interest.
~ am Professor Ardmore." explained
Paul. Il am to give a lecture at the
Gothic church. There is no committee
to meet me. and there seems to be no
hack about the station
There in one generally. but jim got
job driving a Teller over to Moor
way. He'll be back to meet the DAB,
but if you don't want to wait it's easy
to walk there. You go down the road
piece till you come to Pine street
Then you 20 over to Maple until you
come to Spruce. It's just around the
corner of Spruce. Are you the Teller
that was to lecture in the Star course
last night and didn't come? The ladies
got up a show, so they wouldn't have
to give the money back
Paul clutched at his pocket and ex-
tracted letter He glanced III the
fine feminine handwriting and breath
ed a sigh of relief.
1T is for the 18th" he announced
In relief Il am so absentminded that
| have to be very careful Of my dates
Perhaps the committee has discovered
the error and will gather the audience
again tonight. In any event 1t would
be best for me to go over"
He turned up the collar of his ulster
to protect his throat and, leaving the
station. plunged through the drifting
snow.
1t was not long walk. for Maple
wood was small place. and presently
| he was in sight of the church that was
attended by the towns fashionable
families
To his relief the lights shone out. and
little knot of people stood about the
| door
They eyed him curiously as he push
ed his way through to the door and en-
| tered the vestibule. Several young
| women cahie forward expectantly as
he entered. and Paul. deciding that
| they were the committee Of the Ladies'
| guild. grasped an outstretched hand.
"They told me at the station that the
lecture was yesterday, or, rather. that
the audience had gathered yesterday
through some error" he said cordially
Il am glad that you were able to gath
err them together again this evening. !
presume an error was made"
The welcoming smile faded from the
| girlisb faces You are the lecturer
cried one. 1--WE thought you were the
bridegroom"
Mercy, nor exclaimed Paul, color
ing wildly.
THE lecture was announced for last
| night" went on the speaker The
guild members organized an impromp
tn concert to avoid disappointing the
! audience. You might at least have tele-
graphed when you found that you
could not come"
but have come" declared Paul as
he produced his letter Your commu-
nication says very distinctly that the
lecture is on the 18th"
The girl took the letter unbelieving-
", then gave little cry of dismay
"You are Professor ArdmoreT she
cried 1T was Burton Brooks. the
Egyptologist. who was to have lee.
tured last night. Your lecture is to bt
given on the 9th. ! made the mistake
In the date. This is my letter. an
very sorry"
II can come again on the 9th.
promised Paul as he perceived the
girls distress IL take II that there Il
a wedding here this evening. May
stay until it is time for my train? Il
is scarcely inviting at the station. and
the agent smokes very bad tobacco"
Eyes; we've reported his bad man
ners to the company dozens of times
was the discouraged reply. you arr
welcome here, but it Is rehearsal fol
the bridal party, not the wedding"
She I'd the way into the body Of
the church. and Paul slipped into
pew On the side aisle, glad OF rest
. full haven until train time.
Presently the organ pealed. and a
the first strains there entered thu
groom and his best man. An elderl.
woman, who seemed to have constitut
ed herself the mistress Of ceremonies
) shouted to the organist to stop ant
charged upon the sheepish groom.
go back" she cried You don
give the organist chance! He's got t
play the march all the way through
and if you come out now you'll hav
to stand like a toy figure waiting 70
the bride to come in! Don't come IN
| til say Now and then remember tn
place in the music!
] The groom and his supporter STUN
bled back into the vestry. and agall
, the organ pealed out the weddin