Wedding and a possible ending??? your opinion, please.

Vancouver – city of adventurers

                                 Chapter XXXIV

                          New Bricks and a Wedding

 

       The next few days were spent figuring out how to use manganese and high heat to color bricks an ashen gray. After a few loads run through the make ‘em and bake ‘em process, they arrived at a solution. Then, they had to paint the outer surfaces of the brick plates with a wash of mortar and water. What time they had extra, they knocked together molds for the new brick runs and crates to deliver them in.

 

         “I think I have worked up some cost estimates for Mr. Conners,” said Jim. “I come up with a figure of about $2,000 delivered. How does that sound to you, Ian?”

        “It sounds like a lot of money, Jim,” said Ian. “But we can’t give these brick plates away. I guess you have to run it by Mr. Conners and see what he thinks.”

         “ Mr. conners says that his need date will be in four months,” said Jim. “ I figure we can turn out a thousand brick plates a month for him. It would still leave us leeway to keep turning out our specialty fire-baked bricks as well. If we get these runs going, it should occupy us for the next six months.”

          “That will be a banner start for our first year, Jim,” said Ian.

           “Yeah, it would be nice to know that this business can support us,” said Jim. “Especially since we might have extras along in the near future,” said Jim with a smile. “I will take these samples and estimates into Mr. Conners tomorrow and see what he says.”

             The lads cleaned up their tools, saddled up and headed for home.

 

             It was Friday morning. Ian was busy getting things ready for tomorrow’s wedding. Even though Laura had already set everything up, Ian was still anxious.

             “I am off to see Mr. Conners,” said Jim. “Maybe you can pick up those suits and shoes that you rented for us today,” said Jim.

             “Good idea,” said Ian. “I had forgotten that.” JIm could only shake his head and smile.

             “See you later,” said Jim. He mounted his horse and rode off.

 

            At the Vancouver Bank site, Jim had to wait for a bit until Mr. Conners was free.

            “Good morning, Jim,“ said Mr. Conners. “What have you got for me?”

            “These are a sample of the brick plates you requested,” said Jim, handing the pebbled, gray plates to Mr. Conners.

 

             “Well, they are the right dimension,” said Mr. Conners. “And the color is ashen gray. What cost estimate and delivery dates can you promise?”

               “Based on your building size, the best I can do is $2,000.00 for the lot. I can deliver them in lots of 1,000 per month for the next six months. That ought to keep your men busy and meet your timetable.”

 

               “Okay, Jim. Let me present these to the owners and see if it is what they want. I will also give them my approval as well. I think they will meet our needs and your price is in reasonable.”

               “Thanks, Mr. Conners,” said Jim. “I will wait to hear from you. Also, Ian’s wedding is tomorrow afternoon, if you are free?”

                The men shook hands and parted.

                Jim met up with Ian at their place. Ian had the new clothes ready to try on. “These things will strangle me Ian,” said Jim.

               “It is just for an afternoon Jim,” said Ian. “And it will make Laura happy.”

                “Okay, that is motivation enough for me,” said Jim.” Also, I have asked Selkirk and Peter to bunk with me for Saturday and Sunday nights. That should make things less awkward for you both.”

                  “Thanks Jim,” said Ian. “I was wondering how we would work that out.”

 

                 

 Saturday morning arrived.” Ian was nervous as a cat.

“The Lord save us,” said Jim. “I have watched you face down murderers, bullies and assassins. You were cooler facing then than now.”

Ian could only smile and stammer about commitment and family.

They breakfasted at Lowry’s leisurely. John had his staff busy for days preparing food for tomorrow. A keg of beer was on ice outside. The sun glistened off a few bottles of fine Canadian Whiskey. They ate their  breakfast and walked back to their home. 

“Time to climb into those monkey suits that you have rented for us Ian,” said Jim. The brothers tried on full, black, broad-cloth suits with a vest. A snowy white shirt and a bow tie topped off the costume, for that was what Jim thought it was. The shiny black shoes made them wonder who they now were.

Walking over to Christ Church Cathedral, people smiled at the two gentlemen strolling the boulevard. At the Church, Peter Sadler and some of their colleagues from the Vancouver Hotel whistled at them.

“Will you be looking at the two dandies,” said Spike Mc Gee. “Sure, the swells have come to town.” Jim and Ian could only smile and be chagrinned. Laura would kill them if they started something.

At Two P.M. the brothers Mac Adams and their retinue filed into the church. The pews glistened in the afternoon sun. The organ was playing classical music in the loft. Various friends and neighbors had already assembled in the pews. Mr. Conners and his wife smiled at them and waved. Mr. Henry Phelan and his wife and three daughters had also come.

           “May the saints preserve us,” said Ian. ”Half the important people in town are here.”

             “They are,” said Jim. “It is a mark of respect to your new family and ours.” The brothers stood at the front of the church expectantly , waiting for the bride.

              A dramatic blare of the organ was followed by John Lowry leading a beaming Laura Sadler down the aisle. She was wearing the white silk dress that her mother had worn at her own wedding. Even a lace veil couldn’t hide the magnificent smile on her face.

 

              John walked Laura to Ian and said,” May god be good to you both Ian.”

              The Reverend William Washington Boland stood there in all of his religious finery. He said in his best baritone, “ We are gathered here to unite Laura Sadler with Ian Mac Adams.” The ritual prayers then occupied them all. The Reverend Boland asked the happy couple to join hands.

              “Do you, Laura Sadler, agree for the rest of your life, in sickness and health, to take this man until death do you part?” The Reverend asked.

                “I do,” said Laura trembling.

               “And you, Ian Mac Adams. Do you agree to have and to hold this woman, in sickness and health, till death do you part?” asked the Reverend Bolan.

                 “I do,” said Ian, smiling with his whole face.

                 “Then by the authority invested in me by the Province of British Columbia, I pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

                  Ian and Luara didn’t need any urging. They embraced each other fully and gave a long and lingering kiss. The audience smiled as one and began to clap for the new couple. The marital music cranked up from the choir loft, as they marched down the aisle to the congratulations of all assembled.

                 They talked outside happily with each of their co-celebrants. Then, Laura and Ian got into the horse-drawn Hansom cab that Jim had hired. They were headed for Lowry’s diner and the festivities to follow.

                  “You made me so happy Ian,” said Laura “I can’t stop smiling.”

                   “And you have made me the happiest man on earth, Laura,” said Ian.  They held each other closely on the ride over to the diner.

                   John Lowry greeted them and escorted them to a table for two that he had set up. “I am happy for you both Mr. & Mrs. Mac Adams,” he said.

                   The next few hours were a blur of happy people wishing them well. Everyone ate the bounty that John had set out. Some few of them settled for beer and a dram of whiskey, toasting the younger Mac Adams and his new bride. It was a gathering long talked about, in Vancouver circles, for months afterwards.

                    Ian and Laura slipped out as the evening waned. They were in a hurry to spend their first night together.

                    “Peter and Selkirk are bunking in with Jim tonight,” said Ian with a smile.

                     “That is nice of all of them,” said Laura. “Although,  I can’t possibly imagine why they would think that we would want to be alone tonight,” she said with a smile.

                      “I guess that is what we shall soon find out Mrs. Mac Adams,” said Ian, with an even bigger smile.

                       The other guests made their way home a few hours later. The church had not fallen,  when Jim entered it. The wedding and the party after had been a big success. It was a good omen for the new union. From the new couple would spring a generation that would help develop Vancouver and usher Canada into the twentieth century.

                                                    -30-

                                               ( 1,521 words)

                                        Joseph Xavier Martin