August 13, 1935-A Newlywed Story That Has An Ending You Would Not Guess
The Washington Daily News—Tuesday—August 13,—1935
A Newlywed Story That Has An Ending You Would Not Guess
By Ernie Pyle
MOHAWK LAKE, N.J.--- The 100 people or so who were in the Hofbrau at Mohawk Lake the other Saturday night about midnight would be surprised to know the ending to this story.
Now the Hofbrau on a Saturday night is a ver gay place. Everybody comes, young and old, families and everything, and they sit around at tables and eat and talk, and a little fellow in a white suit plays the piano and sings in an old-fashioned tenor, and everybody is friendly and has a very great time. Things were going along like this the other Saturday night when a couple came in, bare-headed and in summer clothes.
They sat on a bench, on the same side of the table, and ordered something to eat, and talked and listened to the music and paid little attention otherwise to what was going on about them, or to the people who were making a large generalized gabbing sound, or to the ones dancing in the aisles, since there wasn’t any real dance floor to dance on.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Each seemed very much interested in what the other was saying and since each one during his say had quite a long say to say, and was very animated about it, an impression got about the place.
The impression was first born, it is probable, in the piano player’s mind, for he went over and asked them what they would like him to play. They said play a couple of our old-timers, “Who?” and “Lady Be Good.”
So he started playing and singing, and they went over and stood behind him and listened, it was so pretty, and helped him sing a little now and then when they could remember the words. The crowd thought it was great too, and they, gave a big hand when it was over.
Then the piano player asked them if they weren’t just married, and they said yes, just two days ago.
WELL! WELL! WELL!
The piano player must have spread the word, for three or four people went over and gave the girl very much sincere and earnest advice on how to live happily, just how to handle a husband, what not to do and so on.
Then the couple, left alone, got started talking again, and they must have been in a very deep discussion about something, because they were facing each other and were talking with their hands, too, and very explosive about it, and another impression got about– that they were having a quarrel, maybe.
But they were all unaware that anyone was paying any attention, you see, so they were very much startled indeed when all of a sudden the piano playing stopped, and there was a great silence all over the place, and out of the silence came a loud voice from somewhere, saying:
“Aw, kiss and make up.”
And that was followed by a louder and closer shout, sort of like an order, which said:
“Go ahead and kiss her!”
So the man and girl looked around, and every person in the place was looking at them, waiting. So the man, being no doubt a gentleman, leaned over and kissed her, a great big one, and then the wildest applause and shouting and hand-clapping you ever heard broke out all over the place.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
And then, one by one, every person in that Hofbrau flied past and shook hands with them, and congratulated them on their marriage, and wished them long happiness and many things, and it wasn’t any joke either, for they were all very radiant about it, and serious too. And the couple smiled and accepted, and thanked them all.
And as the last ones were filing by, the place was closing for the night, so the newlyweds left too, along with the others, and got in their car and drove away with people still “good-wishing” them off into the night.
They drove away practically busting, for there was certainly a joke on somebody. For both of them had already been married many years, and very happily too, and not to each other. So they drove on home and told their respective husband and wife about it, and everybody thought it was funny.
And the man for one, and very probably the girl, too, was quite happy about it, for it must be true that there is a little springtime in everybody, and all the people had been so genuine and enthusiastic about it, and then, it was a little flattering too. Especially to the man.
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P S — I know this story is true, for I was there and saw it. In fact I was the bridegroom.
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