Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-09-07
! A Soldiers
! Wedding
He Was Called to the ColOrs
and to Matrimony With
Equal Suddenness.
BY 2. A. Mitchell

by u ~. rlh0w6S
@&-&-*-%-+-+-%-$-@-%-*-*-4
Being ordered to Join the colors for
the great worlds war donned my uni
form and took a train for the rendez-
vous. On alighting at the terminal sta
ton was passing between two lines
Of persons who had come to meet ex-
pected wayfarers, when suddenly I saw
q pretty girl among them looking ra-
diant with happiness. which Il was
plain, arose from seeing me. Since she
was stranger to me, thinking 1t was
q case of mistaken identity, advanced
toward her to bring about an explana-
ton. As soon as I reached her she put
up her mouth to be kissed.
Soldiers are not noted for throwing
kisses over their shoulders. I kissed
the ruby lips. and they acted like wine
to steal away my discretion. I permit
ted the young lady to continue in her
mistake.
II have the car outside" she said.
And as we walked along she comment
ed on the change In my appearances
since she had seen me last, noting e.
peclally that my mustache made a great
difference In my appearance and was
an improvement. When we reached the
car / hesitated. Dare I meet the young
ladies' relatives, who might easily de-
tect the difference between me and the
man for whom had been mistaken
The girl got in and took the wheel.
"WellT she said, looking at me In
surprise that did not follow her.
II suppose should report at the rem
devious at once" said.
II thought you had arranged to be
excused till after the
She hesitated and failed to go on.
"Oh, yes; forgot" said.
I took the seat beside her, and we
started on. Where we were going !
did not know. On the way 1t came out
that the young lady had not seen me
or the man I was mistaken for-for
three years, but that q love affair be-
tween them had lain dormant during
the period and had been warmed into
life by tho war. The most important
point did not come out. II it had
should have made an immediate and In
glorious retreat.
During the, ride had excellent prac
tice in defensive diminishing. I was
constantly on the ragged edge Of ex.
posture, for It would have been an ex.
posture Of my taking advantage Of the
young lady's mistake. II when the
day Of fighting came should act on
the defensive with as much keen per
ception Of dangers and as much In
genuity In meeting them l would come
out OF the fray with a medal Of honor.
had an advantage In the years she
and her lover had been separated, and
made the most of 1t. My memory
proved very defective.
formed plan. Sooner or later
the fact that there had been a mistake
must come out. Then l would pre-.
tend that had made 1t as well as the
girl. That would let me out.
We drove several miles into the
suburbs and entered grounds In the
center Of which stood handsome
house. from the roof OF which hOated
the Stars and Stripes. Surprising
should soon meet persons who would
detect the difference between me and
the man had been mistaken for,
prepared to act my part. When we
brought up under porte cochere a
number OF persons. young and old,
came out to meet us. Not one of them
looked at me with any surprise,
though middle aged lady-she turned
out to be the girls mother-when she
kissed me remarked that had she met
me casually she would not have known
me.
Evidently the time had not come for
II denouement. regretted this. for
felt that ! was getting deeper In the
mire every minute We all went into
the house. and was shown to room
where ! might get the dust OF my
clothes. | was long about II, for | was
trying to think up new plan for ex-
Treating myself. the one | had laid
having failed. could think OF no
other and resolved to be guided by
circumstances. To suddenly come out
and acknowledge that had permitted
the young lady to continue IN a mis-
take which knew from the first was
a mistake would put me In a position
I did not like.
After spending half an hour In my
room | went downstairs Every eye
In the room was directed toward me.
The girls mother led me to a man In
clerical garb and introduced me. Why
was he there. and why was especially
presented to him? My valor began to
desert me. ! was on the verge OF panic.
The girl entered the room, and.
wonderful to say, she was In bridal cos.
tune! Everybody looked at me, and
must have presented startling ap-
pearance. for they all regarded me In
tently.
Then for the first time It occurred to
me that this was one OF those quick
soldier weddings, the man being sud
denly called to the colors. The groom
had not put In an appearance and !
had been mistaken for him.
There are two kinds OF persons In the
world. The one on meeting an enemy
IL seized with an irrepressible impulse
TO take to his heels; the other Is seized
with an equally irrepressible impulse
to dash forward. This does not pertain
alone to physical encounters; Il n
equally true in necessarily quick. I'm
portant decisions. Judging from my