Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-03-19

door opened, with most provoking familiarity.
Her uginess was more apparent from the ex-
IRENE beauty of the bridesmaids, who seemed
as if they might have been Hours from Para
disc. As the major entered, the bridal COM
pany arose simultaneously. The parson step
ped forward and opened his book. Every eye
were turned upon the newcomers.
"' You are very late, my love- said the old
bag, turning TO the major.
SIS Late my love-! said he, starting back,
and turning with establishment, from his con-
ductor, to the bride.
"'I have brought you to your wedding,
you see,' said the odd little fellow composedIy,
| and with tantaizing grin, didn't hear you
| say, on the common, 'that you'd like to see
| the woman you'd marry" dindn't !! and he
| grinned again.
"s Yes, my duck smpered the hateful
bride, leering on the major, and I've been SO
| alarmed lest you might have met with an ac-
cident to detaln you. Why were you so long !!
and she placed her hand fondly on the majors
| arm.
Hands off, Numbered the major, spring-
| ing back, and again turning bewldered from
one to another Of his tornen;ors.
| "'Come, come, now, MAJOR said his con-
ductor, with malicious grin, it's no use to
resist, for that said he with emphasis, point
ing to the old bag, is your bride. 1t is fate !;
and what is written, is written you know.
l've no doubt and here he gave another ma
licious grin, that you're married life in future
will be one of unmi,gated felicity. Come,
don't you see the parsons waiting!
| eyes, dear said the bride, dlstortlng her
J wilhered Jaws into what was meant for smile.
! sand don't let US think, by any more hard
| IL, horo cho cd oh that
fatigues have thrown you into fever and de-
| lirium.'
"CoId drops of sweat were on the majors
brow, as he looked around the room. and saw
every eye bent upon him, some with amaze
ment, some with contempt, but most with IN
dignation. There was menacng air on the
brow of his conductor, which made him shake
as if he had an ague chill. The major, more
( over. was unarmed. But he made desperate
effort, and said pi'eously,
! s." Marry! didn't want TO get married.
| "s Not want TO get married, when it's your
| destiny! broke in his conductor, with voice
of thunder, striding up to the major, whose We
nv teeth chartered with fright at his peril.
! So Why--why-y--fve no particular objec-
tion-tl,at is to saw exclaimed the majo with
another desperate effort, if must get married,
I I'd rather take one of these pretty, blue-eyed
bride maids here
"' You would, would you" said his con.
ductor with threatening look, 'dare but to
think of it, and I'll make you rue 1t to the last
day of your existence and again he scowled
upon the major with brow backer than mid
| pipht, and which had fearful indentatlon-
the major used to say-as Of gigantic spear
head. right in the centre.
"The major always said that he resisted
stoutly for long time, even after his tormen-
tor had fairly Frustrated him with only tap
of his finger, and until strange figures, of un-
earthly shape, utterng terrible cries OF anger,
and attended by strong smell Of birthstone,
| came rushing into the room, without any APP
parent way eff ingress, and surrounding him IN
body, awaited the signal of his conductor to
bear him off, he knew not whittier, and infllct
Oh him unheard OF torments; but as knew
the major was sometimes given to vaporla9 IN
his cups, l always set the better part OF II down
forexaggeralon. However, at length he gave
in, even according TO his own account, and sig
nifed his willingness. though not without some
quaIms as he looked at the bride, TO have the
ceremony performed.
81 knew it, major-a brave man never
should struggle against fate,' said the little
fellow with google eyes,
"Needs must, when the
"'Sir,' said the little fellow, turning fierce
ly around.
81 beg PARDON said the major meellly,
d" But to wind up my story-for, egad, be-
lieve you're asleep--tFe major was married,
had kissed the bride, and was actually perfor-
ming the same duty on the bridesmaids. when
the little fellow with the google eyes, percei-
wing what he was at, seized him angrily by
the arm, whisked him up the chimney, bore
him swiftly through the air, and with roar OF
malicious laughter, that might have been heard
a mile, eXclaiming,-
There-wait, and your wife will pop in
on you when you least expect 't,'-let him
drop to the earth, on The very common, and
aside of the very pile of stones, where he had
been sitting when he first saw the little old TEL
low. Blu, meantime the night had passed, and
it was broad morning. The birds were sing
ing in the nelghborIng Woods,-the Soma OF
the village clock striking the hour. Ooo"eu
clear upon the alr,--and d few cattle, with the
monotonous tukle Of their bells, were leisure
| ly crossing the commons, under the charge OF
| d herd boy. For some minutes the major could
not persuade himself but what it had all been
| dream; bat the damp sweat was sill upon
his brow, and every limb achsd with the tall.
SO he couldn't comfort himself with that ASST
rance, but set himself down, on the contrary,
| as one of the most luckiess men alive.
From that hour, sir, the M Ior was firm
believer in destiny, aud used to sigh whenev-
er any one would talk Of mattlmony. He lIv-
eed in constant fear lest lis wife should find
him out, and at last threw up his commission,
only, believe, that he might go to Europe,
| for better security. Some used TO say 1t was
a 6 fnh ko hoI
been awakened by falling upon the stones, but
if the major heard it he was sure to challenge
| the saRderer, so that, in course of time, his
l.