Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-04-20
HENRIETTA, THE BRIDE.

H., ndu introduced oil BlOOmer WHICH
fNed all eyes; and of course all female hearts
set on having a suit like the Queens. Her Majesty
had appeared in the Park with whte-faced wastcoat
or jacket and crimson, short petticoa and little
hat with feather. After this, there rest for
the dress-makers till every lady had her short petit
coat and jacket The gentlemen proessed themselves
scandalzed, not at the pecoat, but at the ladies but
tonng their Jackets to the throat as men button their
coats in cold weather We hear something, also, of
periwigs under the hats but this, which TO
the only Objectionable part of the Dress (and it
part not by the Queen,) seems TO have passed
without challenge in those days of irizzled pates.-
Amidst the pressure the dress-makers, the brides
claimed to be first served and the claim allowed ;
for it was clearly impossible for young ladies' to be
married till their wardrobes prepared for the
est fashion, But it became more and more difficult to |
supply the brides; for the apprentices and even
the dress-malers themselves, dying very fast, |
some said witt heat and fatigue, others with something
worse. The fact was, the plague in London, and
spreading FAST though nobody in the fashionable world
chose to own it. The physicians, seeing what would
please, and believing alarm to be dangerous denied the
fact in genteel houses, though they swallowed lump
of spicy electuay when they in the morning. and
went their rounds with lozenges in their mouths and
kept flask of Canary wine handy to orfy themselves
when exhausted They let the world know of these
precautions afterwards but. at the time, they seemed
to deride all apprehensions and helped to cry Peace
peace y when there was peace
Miss Henrietta Holmes Of the intended
brides of that summer, and for her many needles
piled, ill apprentice after another dropped from
her STOOL or failed to come to work in the morning.
The gay girl knew nothing of this for her lover kept
from her knowledge all he could of the spread Of the
plague; and her parents kept it from themselves
They were very happy and they did not like to think
! n IL
scarcely any fear He and his beloved were as health
full as people could well be and everybody thought
they carried long life in their faces. Unless by
accident from over-adventurous spirit, they seemed
as youth, strength energy and hearts could
make them.
The weddng-day arrived. There was great din
ner at two o'clock All the relations who in
London present and the clergyman, and the
family physician, and some intimate friends besides.
Henrietta was that day, sight to make the most mel
ancholy person cheerful. Her round, rosy face and
dimped chin, gave her the air of being younger than
she really was and she looked too childke to be
BRIDE She rallied and toasted rather much as
child, Charles thought, by some of her fathers
friends but they had handled her as a babe, and had
fnrqnnen the lapse of years Just before her mother
and the other ladies' left the table, Charles observed
that Henrietta looked uncomfortable for moment, and
shivered slightly, if from cold. He ordered the
door which led down to the garden to be closed and
observed that draught of air to be avoided
on hot days, when it pleasantcst, than
ions when nobody liked it. Henrietta thanked him
with smile, and presently withdrew followed by
mother and aunts, all eager to dress her for the
mony of the evening.
twas her mother who put the finishing hand to her
Dress by fastening the embroidered Jacket and arrang
;, ing the lace ruff within it. While doing this the
mother became suddenly SILENT turned the girl round
TO face the light unasened ewelled button or two,
and then in constrained voice, asked her daughter
how she thought she would go through the ceremony,
whether she felt strong and at
+ 80 yes,' replied Henrietta 81 shall get through
very we'll Why mott"
''If you feel the least anxious, or faint, or weak
my dear, let me know, and you shall have cordial
which will strengthen your heart"
f ''Talk of cordias," said an aunt "to girl with
check like this !" patng it fondly. "She is fresh
a rose. She wants cordials."
But Henrietta did not say
'Better give her a little cordial" said another
aunt. "a girl may need it on such day this,
, who never did before and never may again. Beside,
l saw her shiver before we left the table,
Henrietta" said her mother, nervously fastening
the buttons again, "are you well Tell me.'
"Yes, mother; that is, very nearly, indeed. On
ly just little sick"
very naturally, am sure, said everybody.
, 1--WE will ask Dr. Hodges about the cordial !" and
: the mother was going to call him, when Henrietta
, stopped her, laughing. She would not have word
to say to any doctor. She we'll now quite we'll
the little qualm had passed, was quite gone
DIR. Hodges came, however. He was told that
Henrietta felt slightly unwell In spite of himself he
looked grave till he mad felt her pulse looked al her
tongue, and so forth. Then with really cheerful
face-for he loved the girl as if she had been his
daughter-he told herit only little nervousness,
natural enough such day. She had not lost her
Appetite he had observed dinner her pulse was
steady, her complexion natural, her breathing easy,
and she had no pain he would venture to call her
perfectly well, and in this she laughingy agreed
Once MORE her mother turned her towards the light,
unastened her Dress put aside the lace ruff aud watch
ed the physician countenance. lie knew it and he
commanded his counenance well. The specks he saw
were minute and few; but their character not to
be mistaken
lie wished himself hundred miles off, He would
fain have had those little marks his breast rath
' err than go through what he must happen that
e night. But he would not leave the scene. He was
called away 10 a case more advanced than hers but
: he FASTENED back in time to witness the ceremony
: He her married and his composure no doubt re-
moved the fear Of the MOTHER for all was done cheer
It fully and merrily and when the guests sat down to
the evening banquet but himself seemed TO see
: that Death was Of the company. As as the ia
g BILE was cleared, however, the ladies' withdrew for
It the bride could not conceal that she was oppressed
u with the headache. After that, all was gloom and
= terror When the poor girls frantic cries were heard
from up stairs the one low groan from the bridegroom
sent everybody away. The young husband could moi