Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-16

and his companion.
Ida couldnot understand the low malice Of the |
question, so she answered quietly that her moth |
er was at home, and left the parry, when they /
went toward the milliner's work-room.
The nextmorning the wssherwoman was at our
house very early-she wished TO consult with |
those who had been kind friends to her, regard
ing the strange proposal which her daughter had
received. Mr.. Gilbert had been al her house the /
night before, she said, and every thing was set
lied for a wedding on the next evening but one.
OF course, no opinion could be given after affairs
had goneso far; so consentngthat "thechildren"
might come 10 see Ida on her wedding day, our
mother allowed the kind woman TO depart without
expressing any of the misgiVings that beset her
own mind.
Mr.. Gilbert drove by our house during the af-
ternoon, and took the New Haven road. The
second day from that we were permitted to visit
the washer@oman's house, behind Castle Rock.
ltwas bright day, and the little house looked
neat and cheerful as we approached it, through a
foot path cut across a meadow, golden with but
tercups and mouled lilies. Ida was gathering
flowers from a liule yard which surrounded the
only door in her dwelling, and in few moments
we were busy as herself gathering daisies from
the meadow, and wild honey-suckles from the
rocks, which we brought down in armsiul, and
heaped on the doorstep, ready for use.
Before sunset the widows house might have
been mistaken for sylvan lodge, it was so fra.
grant with blossoms. The whole dwelling con.
lained but three apartments, kitchen and two
small seeping-rooms but these were as neat as
human hands could make them. The pine floors
and spint chairs were secured white as it was
e., ,bo l;ttla fach
ioned looking glasses were crowned with aspara-
gus branches, where the red berries hung thick
and bright as coral drops, alongthe delicate green
spray; the scant window-curtains, of coarse but
snow-white muslin; were festooned with wild
blossoms and ground-pine woven together-whlle
that in "the spare bedroom" was looped up by a
single wreath Of wild-roses and sweet-brer, which
filled the windows with delicious fragrance.-
On the little table, in this apartment, stood ja-
pan waiter, with decanter of wine in the mid
: die, surrounded by slender wine-gasses and a
fine napkin was spread over loaf Of cake close
by. A dress Of the purest muslin lay upon a
counterpart of old-fashioned dimity, that cover
I ed the bed like sheet of snow.
}, We stood by while the old woman arrayed her
child for the bridal, and wondered why her hands
trcmbled so, and why the tears should fill our
Lida's eyes so constantly, when she observed her
mothers agitation.
: twas scarcely dark when we saw party o
two ladies', and as many gentlemen, comingiaIong
S the foot path toward the house. The washerwo
] man closed the bedroom door, and went out Il
e receive her guests, leaving us with the BRIDE
e How beautiful and pure she looked in the simple
e dress, that had exhausted all the money which
g her mother had boarded for winter in the Pur
g chase The black hair which she usually wore
twisted in one heavy woof over her head, wa!
now divided into three rich braids, and knotteC
!, together on one side, just back Of the ear, by
. single white rose. Another bud, with the bIust
leaves just bursting asunder, lay within the fold
4 of sheer muslin that covered her bosom. WheI
she placed it there, Lida's cheek grew pale, ant
+ her hands began to tremble, for that moment sh'
heard Gilbert's step in the next room.
o 1t was instantly drowned by the voices ofMi
Warner and the miIlner, both in high and cheer
ful conversation. That sound only caused ou
}. friend TO trembe the more. But when her moth
q er came into the room, folded her in kind EN-
n brace, and led her toward the young man, VIII
/. came forward to receive her, a soft blush brok
over her cheek, and her fingers wovethemselve
: in his, confdingly, as if she had nothing to fea
}. then, yet could not help trembling all the time.
"Be kind to my child" said the washerwoma
g gently; "when was married to her father, h
was prosperous, happy, and proud as you are
r He died, and left me in poverty. His child ha
f., never heard harsh word beneath this humbl
G roof-be gentle to her, as have been."
+. The old woman sat down, and bending he
head, began to smooth the folds of her faded sill
II Dress and thus she tried TO conceal the tears tha
- her own words had unlocked.
o Gilbert did not answer, but his check turned
|. shade paler, and he bent his eyes almost sternl
O on the two females who had urged him into hi
present embarrassing position.
80 The student arose. He had been wisely che
ot sen by the ploters for never was clerical digni
+ ty more thoroughly put on. He looked seriou
to and earnest enough TO have deceived more susp
le cious persons than Ida and her honest hcarte
d. mother. He pronounced the ceremony with i'm
e, pressive olemnity-so impressive that Miss Wal
t. ner and her companion could hardly suppres
Il, their laughter at his successful acting.
n The young couple sat down. Ida, pale, con
yh fused and wembling-but Gilbert sat motlonlcs'
,r and his eyes bent seadfastly on the two female
who stood nearer the door. They were whl'
t! perng together. Miss Warner seemed strivin
n to suppress her inclination to mrth till the proI
er time, and slight gggle now and then brok
tn from the milliner at the exquisite success Of the
be joke.
The washerwoman arose and brought forth II
We tray Of cake and wine. Ida could not taste
IS drop, but she touched her lips to the glass, viii
Gilbert drained his to the bottom. The millint
n. was compelled to set her wine on table, to col
We ceal the laughter which shook her hand-whi
10 Miss Warner gracefully drank to the bride.
ne Sand now," said the young lady, setting dow
ed her glass, and dusting the crumbs of cake fro
g, her white gloves, "as our amusement is over f
the evening, we will return home, if you are re
We dy, Mr. Gilbert"
n. Ida lifted her eyes almost in terror to the m;
whom she believed to be her husband, while Il