Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

We will run a series of stories by Loren Moore and other writers as our final farewell to a wonderful man.?  There will also be a tribute by Kathy Baker to be included in this series as well.? 

Special Treat ??“ Clara Westerfer & Loren Moore

March 20, 2006

NEW ORLEANS

(SEQUEL TO FORT WORTH)

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BY LOREN MOORE & CLARA WERSTERFER

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LOREN WRITES;

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THE NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST, LOREN TOLD CLARA TO WAIT IN THE LOBBY WHILE HE WENT TO THE TRAIN STATION TO BUY THEIR TICKETS.?  WHEN LOREN RETURNED HE HAD A SMUG LOOK ON HIS FACE.

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???LOREN I WILL BE SO HAPPY TO GET BACK TO THE RANCH.?  DID YOU GET THE TICKETS????

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LOREN PATTED HIS VEST POCKET AND SAID, ???YES CLARA I GOT OUR TICKETS BUT WE??™RE NOT GOING BACK TO THE RANCH.?  AT LEAST NOT NOW, THESE TICKETS SAY NEW ORLEANS!???

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SO LOREN AND CLARA BOARDED AN EAST BOUND TRAIN THAT WOULD TAKE THEM TO NEW ORLEANS.?  THE TRIP WOULD TAKE TWO DAYS SO LOREN HAD TICKETS IN THE PULLMAN SLEEPER CAR.?  DURING THE DAY EACH OF THEM HAD A SMALL COMPARTMENT WHERE THEY COULD SIT ON A SEAT AND LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW AT THE SCENERY.? 

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AT NIGHT A PORTER WOULD COME IN AND MAKE DOWN A BED FOR THEM TO SLEEP.?  BUT MOST OF THE TIME DURING THE DAY CLARA WOULD RIDE IN LOREN??™S COMPARTMENT WITH HIM AND ONLY RETURN TO HER COMPARTMENT TO SLEEP.?  THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR MEALS IN THE DINING CAR.?  THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT CLARA OR LOREN HAD EVER TRAVELED IN FIRST CLASS LUXURY LIKE THIS AND THEY ENJOYED IT.

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CLARA KEPT ASKING LOREN QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW ORLEANS, BUT HE COULDN??™T ANSWER THEM.?  HE TOLD HER THAT THE ONLY PART OF NEW ORLEANS HE HAD SEEN WAS THE DOCK AREA ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.?  WHEN LOREN HAD OWN A SHIP HE HAD MADE THE RUN FROM GALVESTON ISLAND TO NEW ORLEANS.?  WHEN HE GOT THERE HE HAD HIS CARGO UNLOADED AND BOUGHT ANOTHER CARGO TO TAKE BACK TO GALVESTON.?  SO GOING TO THE TOWN OF NEW ORLEANS WOULD BE AS BIG AN ADVENTURE TO HIM AS IT WOULD BE TO CLARA.

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WHEN THEIR TRAIN PULLED INTO THE STATION IN NEW ORLEANS LOREN HIRED A MAN WITH A HORSE AND CARRIAGE AND TOLD HIM TO TAKE THEM TO THE BEST HOTEL IN NEW ORLEANS.? 

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CLARA WRITES;

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THE CARRIAGE DRIVER ASKED LOREN IF THEY WANTED A LARGE HOTEL, MID SIZE OR SMALL.?  LOREN THOUGHT A MOMENT AND TOLD HIM TO PICK A MID SIZED ONE WITH GOOD DINING ROOM. THEN THAT WOULD BE THE LA RICHELIEU, REPLIED THE DRIVER. IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED ON CHARTERS STREET AND NOT TOO LARGE. IT HAS AN EXCELLENT DINING ROOM.

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UPON ARRIVAL AT THE HOTEL, TWO BELLBOYS CAME OUT TO COLLECT THE LUGGAGE FROM THE CARRIAGE DRIVER.?  LOREN PAID THE DRIVER AND THEY ENTERED A VERY ELEGANT LOBBY.?  HE AND CLARA WERE BIG EYED ADMIRING THE ART WORK AND FURNISHINGS.?  NEVER HAD EITHER OF THEM SEEN SUCH BEAUTIFUL THINGS. LOREN WALKED TO THE DESK AND ASKED FOR TWO ADJOINING ROOMS. WHEN THE CLERK INQUIRED AS TO HOW LONG THE STAY WOULD BE, LOREN SAID IT WOULD DEPEND

ON HOW WELL THEY LIKED IT, BUT FOR NOW, TWO OR THREE NIGHTS WOULD DO.?  AFTER LOREN FINISHED REGISTERING, HE AND CLARA WERE ESCORTED BY THE SAME TWO BELL HOPS TO AN ELEVATOR.?  THEY WERE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHICH MADE CLARA HAPPY AS SHE COULD WALK

AND NOT HAVE TO RIDE THE ELEVATOR, WHICH ALWAYS MADE HER STOMACH LURCH WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP.

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THEIR ROOMS WERE NICELY FURNISHED WITH A LARGE BOUQUET OF FLOWERS ON A SIDE TABLE. THE BELL HOP ASKED CLARA IF SHE WOULD LIKE A MAID TO COME AND UNPACK FOR HER.?  CLARA WAS TAKEN ABACK AS SHE HAD NEVER HAD SOMEONE PACK OR UNPACK FOR HER. BUT SHE HAD NOT BEEN A LOT OF PLACES IN HER YOUNG LIFE, EITHER. NO, THANK YOU.?  I WILL HANDLE THE UNPACKING, SHE TOLD THE BELL BOY. THE BELL BOY THEN ASKED IS SHE WANTED THE DOOR OPEN BETWEEN HER ROOM AND LOREN??™S.? IT IS KEPT LOCKED UNLESS THE GUESTS WANT IT OPENED FOR CONVENIENCE.?  YOU WILL HAVE THE ASK MR. MOORE THAT QUESTION SHE REPLIED.

LOREN WRITES:

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WHEN THE BELL BOY ASKED LOREN IF HE WANTED THE DOOR BETWEEN HIS AND CLARA??™S ROOM UNLOCKED, LOREN TOLD HIM NO.?  THEN LOREN KNOCKED ON CLARA??™S DOOR AND TOLD HER HE WAS GOING TO THE DOCK AREA WHERE HE USE TO COME WITH HIS SHIP. ? WHEN HE RETURNED HE WOULD MEET HER IN THE LOBBY AT 6 O??™CLOCK.?  AT THAT TIME THEY WOULD EAT SUPPER IN THE HOTEL DINNING ROOM.?  AFTER SUPPER THEY WOULD HIRE A CARRIAGE AND SEE SOME OF THE NIGHT LIFE OF NEW ORLEANS.

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LOREN WENT TO THE DOCKS AND WATCHED THE SHIPS COMING IN AND THE MULATTO DOCK HANDS UNLOADING THEM.?  LOREN KEPT LOOKING FOR HIS OLD SHIP, BUT SHE WASN??™T THERE.?  HE SPENT MANY HOURS JUST WANDERING UP AND DOWN THE DOCKS REMINISCING ABOUT YEARS GONE BY.?  THEN LOREN WALKED BACK TO THE HOTEL LA RICHELIEU AND WENT TO THE LOBBY.?  IT WAS 10 MINUTES TO 6 BUT CLARA WAS ALREADY THERE.

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WHEN THE MAITRE DE SHOWED LOREN AND CLARA TO THEIR TABLE, CLARA ASKED LOREN WHAT HE HAD DONE WITH HIS DAY.?  ???I JUST HUNG AROUND THE DOCKS ALL DAY RELIVING SOME OF MY PAST.?  THE DOCKS HAVEN??™T CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH.?  IT??™S THE SHIPS THAT HAVE CHANGED.???

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AFTER THEY FINISHED SUPPER, LOREN AND CLARA WENT OUTSIDE AND HIRED A CARRIAGE FOR THE EVENING.?  LOREN TOLD THE DRIVER THEY WANTED TO SEE THE NIGHT LIFE OF NEW ORLEANS.

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CLARA WRITES;

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The driver drove the two blocks over to Bourbon St.?  Sounds of music? escaped from the open doorways of the bars and saloons that lined the street.?  People lounged in front of the bars or leaned against the gaslight poles.?  Clara had never seen nor heard anything to compare Loren had visited once when he was working there and wasn't as shocked as Clara was.?  The driver drove slowly for a few blocks before making another turn on St Ann St down to Jackson Square.

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Here was another place like nothing they had seen before.?  There were shops, street vendors and pubs.?  Across the way, Loren and Clara could see the Mississippi River. Loren instructed the driver to head toward the river and drive along the shore.?  They saw the lights of a riverboat with paddlewheel.?  Loren inquired of the driver if they could pay for a ride on the river.?  The driver replied that he was sure they could.?  After stopping, Loren approached the boat and asked about a ride. He was told they would be leaving within the next hour for a two hour cruise.

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Loren paid the passage for the two of them and went to the carriage to get Clara and pay the driver.?  He then made arrangements with the driver to come back to the pier and meet the boat to take them back to the hotel.

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Walking up the gangplank was very exciting for Clara who had never been on a boat before.?  There was a row of seats on the deck and a casino/bar which they entered. Clara walked around and looked at the roulette wheels and the poker tables.?  All these games of chance were a mystery to her who had never seen the likes of this before. They each ordered a cup of the chicory coffee.?  Clara kept putting sugar and cream in hers, but she sort of wrinkled her nose and let it sit. Loren finished his, but didn't think he wanted it again. ? ???Shall we go sit in the deck chairs???? she asked Loren. ???Yes, that would be nice??? said Loren.

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They had hardly taken their seats, when the boat got underway.?  The whump, whump of the paddlewheel was very? loud and Loren suggested they move to the front of the boat.?  The moon was full and there were lights on the boat making it very bright and walking was easy.?  They found two chairs all alone on the front of the boat in a secluded corner.?  Loren pulled his chair closer to Clara??™s before sitting down.?  After just enjoying the breeze and the silence for a few minutes, Loren reached over and took Clara's hand.?  ???Are you having a good time??? he asked. Clara, who nodded and smiled.? 

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???I wish this night could go on and on??? said Clara.? 

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???Well we may not be able to make the night continue, but we may be able to make the pleasure of the night and each other's company go on for the rest of our lives. ?  That is, if we are together as man and wife.?  Do you think you could put up with me for years???? Loren asked.

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LOREN WRITES;

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? ???OH YES, LOREN.?  BUT WE MUST WAIT UNTIL WE GET BACK TO YOUR RANCH SO MAE AND RAMON CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUR WEDDING JUST AS WE DID THEIRS??? CLARA WHISPERED.?  ???YOU DON??™T KNOW HOW LONG I??™VE WAITED TO HEAR THOSE WORDS.???

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???CLARA THAT??™S A LONG TIME TO WAIT BUT IF THAT??™S WHAT YOU WANT, THEN THAT??™S WHAT WE??™LL DO??? LOREN SIGHED AND DROPPED HER HAND.

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WHEN LOREN AND CLARA GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL, HE TOLD HER THEY WOULD CHECK OUT TOMORROW AND GO BACK TO THE RANCH.?  WHEN LOREN WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT HE WAS STILL DISSATISFIED WITH HAVING TO WAIT TO GET MARRIED.?  HE LAY IN BED A LONG TIME THINKING ABOUT THAT BEFORE HE WENT TO SLEEP.

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THE NEXT MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST LOREN TOLD CLARA HE WOULD GO BUY THEIR TICKETS AND SHE SHOULD WAIT FOR HIM IN THE LOBBY.?  LOREN WAS GONE FOR OVER AN HOUR AND WHEN HE DID RETURN, CLARA ASKED HIM IF HE GOT THE TICKETS.

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???NO CLARA, I ONLY BOUGHT ONE TICKET AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET IT.?  IT WAS THE LAST STATEROOM THEY HAD ON THE PROMENADE DECK.???

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???STATEROOM, PROMENADE DECK, LOREN WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??  TRAINS DON??™T HAVE PROMENADE DECKS.???

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???YOU??™RE RIGHT CLARA, BUT I??™M NOT TALKING ABOUT A TRAIN.?  I??™M TALKING ABOUT THE DELTA QUEEN, A BIG PADDLEWHEEL RIVER SHIP THAT MAKES THE RUN FROM NEW ORLEANS TO ST LOUIS, MISSOURI AND BACK.?  WITH THE MANY STOPS IT MAKES, IT TAKES SIX WEEKS TO MAKE IT TO MISSOURI.?  DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT BOAT RIDE????

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???OH LOREN THAT SOUNDS WONDERFUL.?  YES, YES, YES I??™D LOVE TO GO!???

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???WHOA CLARA, THERE IS JUST ONE PROBLEM WE HAVE TO SOLVE BEFORE WE CAN GO.???

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CLARA??™S ENTHUSIASM VANISHED AS SHE ASKED WHAT PROBLEM?

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???WELL CLARA I TOLD YOU THAT I COULD ONLY GET ONE STATEROOM.?  SO THAT MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO BE MAN AND WIFE BEFORE WE BOARD THE DELTA QUEEN AT FOUR O??™CLOCK TOMORROW AFTERNOON.?  WILL YOU MARRY ME IN THE MORNING????

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???LOREN YOU SNEAKY OLD MAN, YOU PLANNED THIS JUST SO YOU DIDN??™T HAVE TO WAIT TO GET MARRIED.???? 

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LOREN JUST GRINNED.?  ???OK, IF YOU CAN ARRANGE IT, I??™LL MARRY YOU IN THE MORNING.??™

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LOREN WENT TO THE HOTEL MANAGER AND TOLD HIM WHAT HE WANTED.?  THEN HE WENT BACK TO CLARA, GRABBED HER ARM AND TOLD HER TO COME WITH HIM.?  ???WE??™VE GOT SOME SHOPPING TO DO AND THE FIRST THING WE??™RE GOING TO BUY IS TWO LARGE TRUNKS TO FILL UP WITH THE CLOSE WE WILL WANT FOR OUR SIX WEEK CRUSE ON THE DELTA QUEEN.???

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CLARA WRITES;

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INSTEAD OF GOING BACK TO THE ROOM, LOREN AND CLARA WENT OUT THE DOOR WHERE THERE WAS A WAITING CARRIAGE.?  "TAKE US SOME PLACE WE CAN BUY A WEDDING DRESS.' LOREN TOLD THE DRIVER, WHO

GAVE THEM A BIG GRIN AND SAID, "YES SIR, RIGHT AWAY, SIR"

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THE SECOND STOP THEY MADE, CLARA FOUND THE PERFECT GOWN.?  IT WAS PINK AND WHITE WITH AN EMBROIDERED BODICE AND FULL SKIRT.?  CLARA SELECTED WHITE SHOES AND A WHITE VEIL.?  "NOW, MR. MOORE,

LETS FIND A SUIT FOR YOU, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO BUY ENOUGH CLOTHES TO LAST US FOR THAT LONG CRUISE"? 

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NEXT DOOR AT A MEN'S HABERDASHERY STORE, LOREN MADE A DECISION ON A NAVY BLUE SUIT WITH A VEST AND MATCHING ACCESSORIES.?  THEY ASKED IF THE PURCHASES COULD BE DELIVERED TO THE HOTEL AND WHERE TOLD THEY COULD.? 

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THE TWO SHOPPERS CONTINUED DOWN THE STREET, BUYING THINGS AT RANDOM AND GETTING THEM DELIVERED.?  CLARA HAD TRIED ON SO MANY DRESSES, SHE WAS GETTING A DISHEVELED LOOK.?  LOREN JUST SMILED AT HER WHILE SHE CHATTED AWAY WITH THE SALES PEOPLE. THEY HAD REALLY HAD A GREAT DAY, BUT BOTH OF THEM WERE GETTING A LITTLE SILLY.?  THEY WERE GIGGLING LIKE SCHOOL KIDS AND ALMOST GIDDY BY SEVEN PM.?  LOREN LOOKED AT CLARA AND SAID "WE HAVEN'T HAD A BITE TO EAT ALL DAY SINCE BREAKFAST AND WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE HOTEL AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND OUR ROOM WITH ALL THOSE DELIVERIES PILED UP."? 

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THEY MADE A STOP AT A SMALL RESTAURANT WHERE THE SERVICE WAS FAST AND THE FOOD VERY GOOD. LOREN HAILED A CARRIAGE FOR THEM AND CLARA SAT DOWN AND TOOK HER SHOES OFF.

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"MY? FEET ARE KILLING ME"

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SHE TOLD LOREN, "BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MUCH FUN. DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH WE HAVE BOUGHT TODAY?? ? I? HAVE NOT HAD THIS MANY CLOTHES IN MY WHOLE LIFE, ALL PUT TOGETHER"

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LOREN? RUBBED HIS CHIN AND SMILED AT CLARA. "YOU WILL PROBABLY BE NEEDING ALL OF THOSE THINGS, CLARA.? MAYBE A LOT MORE TOO. I'LL HAVE TO BE GOING

LOTS OF PLACES ON BUSINESS IN THE FUTURE AND I DON'T INTEND TO LEAVE YOU BACK AT THE RANCH WHENEVER I LEAVE."

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THE CARRIAGE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE LA RICHELIEU AND CLARA HAD TO PUT HER SHOES BACK ON.?  SHE HOBBLED IN HOLDING ON TO LOREN'S ARM.?  "HOPE I AM ABLE TO WALK DOWN AN AISLE TOMORROW, MR. MOORE.?  OTHERWISE YOU WILL HAVE TO CARRY YOUR BRIDE TO THE ALTER.?  MAYBE YOU COULD GET A BELLHOP TO DO IT FOR YOU" CLARA

SNICKERED.? 

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LOREN WENT UP TO THE DESK CLERK AND INQUIRED IF EVERYTHING HAD BEEN ARRANGED FOR THE FOLLOWING MORNING.?  WHEN HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THE ANSWER, HE AND CLARA PROCEEDED TO THE ELEVATOR WHERE CLARA WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GET THE RIDE UP.

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WITH TONGUE IN CHEEK, LOREN ASKED CLARA IF SHE WAS SURE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO WALK UP THE STAIRS.

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LOREN WRITES;

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THE NEXT MORNING LOREN KNOCKED ON CLARA??™S DOOR AND IT WAS OPENED BY THE HOTEL MANAGER??™S WIFE.?  LOREN SAID, ???I JUST STOPPED BY TO TAKE CLARA DOWN TO BREAKFAST.?  MAY I SPEAK TO HER????

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???CLARA WILL BE EATING BREAKFAST IN HER ROOM THIS MORNING, MR. MOORE.?  WHY DON??™T YOU GO DOWN AND HAVE BREAKFAST WITH MY HUSBAND.?  HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.???

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LOREN WENT TO THE MANAGER??™S OFFICE AND FOUND HIM SITTING AT HIS DESK DRINKING COFFEE.?  WHEN LOREN WALKED IN HE WAS HANDED A CUP OF COFFEE BY THE SECRETARY.?  THE HOTEL MANAGER TOLD LOREN THAT ALL HIS INSTRUCTIONS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT.

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THE PARISH PRIEST WOULD COME TO THE HOTEL AND PERFORM THE WEDDING CEREMONY AT 11 O??™CLOCK.?  THE HOTEL WAS GOING TO OPEN A LARGE BANQUET ROOM FOR THE CEREMONY AND RECEPTION. THE HOTEL MANAGER??™S WIFE WOULD BE CLARA??™S BRIDE??™S MAID AND THE HOTEL MANAGER WOULD STAND WITH LOREN.

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THERE WOULD BE ENOUGH TIME BETWEEN THE WEDDING CEREMONY AND RECEPTION FOR LOREN AND CLARA TO GO TO THEIR ROOMS AND CHANGE INTO THEIR TRAVELING CLOTHS.?  THEN HOTEL MAIDS WOULD FINISH PACKING THEIR TRUNKS AND THE TRUNKS WOULD BE SENT ON TO THE DELTA QUEEN AND TAKEN TO SUITE 103.?  FINALLY, THE MANAGER CALLED IN THE CAPTAIN OF THE BELLBOY??™S AND TOLD HIM TO ASSIGN A BELLBOY TO STAY WITH LOREN UNTIL THE WEDDING.

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LOREN WENT BACK OUT INTO THE LOBBY AND SAT DOWN IN ONE OF THE OVER STUFFED CHAIRS.?  HE DECIDED HE WAS TO NERVOUS TO EAT BREAKFAST.?  AS HE WAS SITTING THERE LOREN LOOKED UP AND THERE STOOD ONE OF THE YOUNG BELLBOYS.?  LOREN GOT UP AND WALKED OUT THE FRONT DOOR ONTO THE BOARDWALK.?  THE BELLBOY FOLLOWED ALONG BEHIND HIM LIKE SOME LITTLE PUPPY DOG.

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LOREN WALKED AROUND THE BLOCK AND THEN BACK INTO THE HOTEL.?  HE DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GO TO HIS ROOM AND GET DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING.?  LOREN??™S FAITHFUL PUPPY DOG WAS WITH HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, INCLUDING COMING INTO HIS ROOM.?  LOREN PUT ON HIS NAVY BLUE SUIT AND VEST.?  BY THIS TIME IT WAS 10:45 SO HE WENT BACK DOWN STAIRS AND FOUND THE HOTEL MANAGER STANDING AT THE OPEN DOORS OF A LARGE BANQUET ROOM NEXT TO THE HOTEL DINNING ROOM.

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THE MANAGER GRABBED LOREN BY THE ARM AND LED HIM THROUGH SOME TABLES AND CHAIRS TO THE FAR END OF THE ROOM.?  THERE WAS A BIG FLOWER COVERED ARCH THERE WITH A PRIEST STANDING UNDER IT.?  ???WE??™LL STAND HERE LOREN AND CLARA WILL BE COMING IN THE DOOR ANY MINUTE NOW.???

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JUST THEN A PIANO STARTED PLAYING THE WEDDING MARCH.?  LOREN COULDN??™T HELP BUT THINK OF THE CHILDISH RIME ???HERE COMES THE BRIDE, BIG FAT AND WIDE.?  HERE COMES THE GROOM, SKINNY AS A BROOM.???

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JUST THEN CLARA ENTERED THE ROOM.?  SHE WAS DRESSED IN HER PINK AND WHITE GOWN AND SHE HAD ON THAT WHITE VEIL.?  IT LOOKED TO LOREN LIKE CLARA WAS FLOATING INSTEAD OF WALKING.?  CLARA WAS CARRYING A SMALL BOUQUET OF FLOWERS AND THE HOTEL MANAGER??™S WIFE WAS FOLLOWING ALONG BEHIND HER.

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AFTER THE CEREMONY LOREN AND CLARA HAD GONE TO THEIR ROOMS AND CHANGED CLOTHS.?  WHEN THEY GOT BACK TO THE BANQUET ROOM, THEY SAW THAT A BUNCH OF HOTEL GUEST HAD BEEN INVITED IN FOR THE RECEPTION.?  THE HOTEL HAD FURNISHED CHAMPAIGN AND EVERYONE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.?  LOREN JOINED IN THE FUN AND EVERY TIME SOMEONE WOULD PROPOSE A TOAST LOREN WOULD DRINK ANOTHER GLASS OF CHAMPAIGN.?  CLARA JUST SIPPED HERS.?  SHE WASN??™T USE TO DRINKING ANYTHING.

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BEFORE THEY KNEW IT, IT WAS TWO O??™CLOCK AND TIME TO LEAVE FOR THE DELTA QUEEN.?  AS LOREN AND CLARA WENT TO THEIR CARRIAGE THE HOTEL MANAGER HANDED LOREN A MAGNUM OF CHAMPAIGN.

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WHEN THE CARRIAGE GOT TO THE LOADING RAMP OF THE DELTA QUEEN, LOREN GOT OUT AND LEANING AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE CARRIAGE, HELPED CLARA OUT.?  HAND IN HAND THEY WALKED UP THE RAMP AND AT THE TOP OF THE RAMP, STOOD AN OFFICER OF THE SHIP.

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LOREN ASKED IN A VERY LOUD VOICE, ???PERMISSION TO COME ABOARD?????  THEN HE SALUTED THE OFFICER AND TURNED LOOKED UP AT TO FLAG FLYING OVER THE PILOT HOUSE AND SALUTED IT.?  LOREN WOULD HAVE FALLEN OVER BACK WARD IF CLARA AND THE OFFICER HADEN CAUGHT HIM.

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???PERMISSION GRANTED??? SAID THE OFFICER WITH A BIG GRIN.

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THE END

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?© 2005

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