Of course, the members of Frank’s athletic team were present to the last man. Besides these there were others who had been his chums and comrades in college. Bink Stubbs and Danny Griswold were together again, fussing in their old, friendly way. Dismal Jones had turned up from somewhere, as long-faced as ever, quoting Scripture to fit all occasions. Grog Carker appeared more rabid in his socialistic views than in the old days, and equally easy to lead into prophesying the coming of the “great earthquake that should overturn the social conditions of the whole world.”
A surprise that delighted every one was the appearance of Jack Diamond and his handsome wife, Julia, bringing with them a little Diamond somewhat more than a year old. Jack had “crossed the pond” to make a visit in Virginia and arrived just in time to hasten to Bloomfield for the wedding.
Barney Mulloy came on from the West, and his brogue seemed not a whit changed, while his wit and good nature remained quite as infectious.
It was the day before the wedding. A select party assembled at the station for the purpose of meeting Inza, who was to arrive on the afternoon train, accompanied by Winnie Badger, with Buck Badger and Bart Hodge as escorts.
Frank had reached Bloomfield earlier in the day.
As train time drew near a closed carriage that was quite unfamiliar in the village drew up beside the station platform. The curtains at the carriage windows were drawn. The carriage was drawn by two fiery horses. On the seat sat the driver, a wide-brimmed hat slouched over his eyes, while his features were almost wholly hidden by a profuse mass of whiskers.
Some of the people on the platform observed the driver closely. One man walked past and surveyed him. This man hastened to join some of the loungers.
“Say!” he exclaimed, in a hoarse whisper, “I bet ten dollars that feller’s wearin’ false whiskers!”
“Git out!” retorted several. “What makes you think so?”
“I seen Sile Levitt wear whiskers jest like them in the play over to the Four Corners Schoolhouse last winter.”