The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-08-21
But we have just been thinking who can
be found to play the minister said Miss

d Here is dilemma chimed the milliner.
l. Not in the least replied Gilbert. i
i, have thought of that already. NV friend
i Morris, who graduated with me at ale, last
year, is just the man. He looks as much
r like parson as if bred to the cloth-I will
ride to town in the morning and let him in.
] to your frolic.'
e 'There, now all is arranged We must
t give her wedding dress, Gilbert, and that
will console her for your loss,' said Miss
S Warner. c ~9
They Walked toward the house, and
t found Lida standing in the hail. She ad-
vanced to the milliner as she came in.
L am not well enough to work this after
noon-can 1 go homer a-'
'Uh, certainly! We cannot expect YOU to
; think of trade, now said the milliner, cast
ing glance of SLY rdicule at Miss War
ner. Mr.. Gilbert, of course, will see you
bome'
The blood burned in Lina's cheek, but she
replied with quiet dignity, that she wished
to see her mother alone.
Then she is not washing, to-day?' in
quired the mlliner, with another covert look
at g fiber, and his companion.
! Li1a could not understand the low malice
of the question, so she answered, quietly,
that her mother was at home; aud left the
party, when they went toward the milliner's
| room.
The next morning the washerwoman was
! st our house very eariy-she w ish ed to con-
! suit with those who had been kind friends
| to her, regarding the strange proposal which
her daughter had received. Mr.. G ilbert had
been at her house the night before, she said
and every thing was settled for a wedding
on the next evening but one. Of course. no
| opinion could be given after affairs had gone
so far-consenting that the children might
como to see Lida on her wedding day. our
mother allowed the kind woman to depart.
without expressing any of the misgivingS
that beset her mind.
Mr. Gilbert drove by our house during the
| afternoon, and took the New Haven road
The second day from that we were permitted
to visit the washerwomans house behind
Castle rock.
1t was bright day, and the little house
looked neat and cheerful, as we approached
it through foot path cut across meadow,
golden with butter cups and mottled lilies.
Lida was gathering flowers from little
yard which surrounded the only door In her
dwelling, and in few moments we were as
busy herself gathering daisies from the
meadow, and wild honey suckles from the
rocks which were brought down in armsful
and heaped on the doorstep, ready for use.
Before sunset the widows house might
have bsen mistaken for a sylvan lodge. it
was so fragrant with blossoms. The whole
dwelling contained but three apartm ents. a
kitchen and two small sleeping rooms-but
these neat as human hands could
make them. The pine floors and splint
chairs were secured white as it was possible
for wood to become-tne little old fash :nn-
ed looking glasses were crowned with as
paragus branches, where the red berries hung
thick and bright as coral drops, along the
delicate green spray-the scant window cur
tans of coarse but snow white muslin were
festooned with wild blossoms and ground
pine, woven together-while that in the spare
bed room was looped up by a single wreath
of wild roses and sweet briar, which Tiled
the windows with delicious fragrance. On
the little table, in this apartment, stood
japan waiter. with decaDter OF wine in the
middle. surrounded by slender wine glasses;
and fine napkin was spread over loaf OF
cake close by. A dress of the purest muslin
lay upon a counterpart of Old fashioned
dimty that covered the bed like sheet of
snow.
We stood by while the old woman array
ed her child for the bridal, and wondered /,
why her hands trembied SO, and why tears .
should fill our Lida's eyes SO constantly,
when she observed her mothers agitation.
1t was scarcely dark when we saw party :
of two ladies. aud many gentlemen, COM
ing along the foot-path toward the house.
The washerwoman closed the bedroom
door. and went out to receive her guests,
leaving US with the bride. How beautiful
and pure she looked in the simple dress. that
had exhausted all the money which her
no tier hal hoarled for winter. in the pur- {
chase. The black hair, which she usually
wors twisted in one heavy woof over her
lie ID, was now divided into three rich braids
and knotted together oa one side, just back
8 I, ,gr1a ulit r
bu I, with the blush leaves just bursting as
under, lay within the folds of sheer muslin
that covered her bosom. When she placed
it there, Lida's cheek grew pale, aud her
hands began to tremble, 70: that moment
sh e heard Gilbert's step in the next room.
1t was instantly drowned by the voice of
Miss Warner and the miliner, both in high
and cheerful conversa ation. That sound only
caused our friend to tremble the more But !,
when her mother came into the room, fold
ed her in kind embrace, and led her to- +.
ward the young man, who came forward to
receive her. soft blush broke over her
cheek, and her fingers wove themselves in
his, conf1ingly, as if she had nothing to
fear then, yet could not help trembling all
the time.
!, BE kind to my child. said the washer
woman gently; when was married to her
father, he was prosperous. happy. and proud
as you are. He died aud left Us in poverty
His child has mayer heard a harsh word be-
meath this humble roof-bs genrle to her, as
[ have boen.' ~ s~4
The d.wonan sat down. aud bending her
head. began to smooth the folds of her faded
silk dress, and thus tried to conceal the tears
that her own words had unlocked.
u Gilbert did not answer, b1t his cheek turn
ed shade paler. aud he bent his eyes almost
sternly on the two females who had urged
him into his present embarrassing position.