Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-04-21

rOunQ FARMER AlteTly 0eaTI0SUOnS
for pretty Bessie was to be married
that night
She don't look as bride ought
to somehow whispered Mrs. Dea-
con Jennings to her companion,
Mahala Bird. She seems to me
just like one o'them snow-wreaths
down in the hollow yonder'
Maybe it's that white Dress said
Mahala; but she does look like a
corpse: Land o. Goshen! what be ]
sayin'? 1t amt considered good
luck to talk about corpses on a we'd
dim night
For the pretty bridemaids had
just led Bessie in, 70 ed in pure
sheeny silk, with snowy geraniums
in her hair, and not vestige of col
or in her cheek.
There! don't she look sweet? said
Susan Jennings. Is it time to go
into the parlor yet?'
'Massy! no, my child' said Mrs.
Jennings; not for an hour. Why,
Jim Grayling hasn't come yet!
So Bessie sat down in the midst of
the assembled maids and matrons,
and played with flowers in her
boquet, thinking--who knows of
what? Perhaps lonely grave un-
der the cruel Southern stars; perhaps
the fair face of the woman who had
wilded hor loves heart away.
Somebody spoke to her; she look
ed up, and all ofa sudden her fright
ened eyes traced figure beyond the
open door opposite to which she sat
"a figure hurriedly passing the
crowd.
Where is she? / aOM see my own
Bessie, wedding or no welding! Who
has better right than r..
The next moment the pale, white
robed bride lay, like a fair, still
statue, in Harry Ives arms.
Stand off 1 say! he cried, fiercely;
let no one come between me and the
woman I love. have earned her to
be my wife-earned her by months
of pain and suf'ering-earned her
by wounds received upon the battle
fields of the country she loves. Do
you say she is to be married 20
James Grayling? What has James
Grayling done with the letters 1 sent
to his care?--with all the messages
1 entrusted to his care? She had
better be in her grave than married
to James Grayling! Mr.. Atterly,
you are a just and good man-judge
between me and the treacherous fox
fant.fed TO be my friend.,, - - $50
Harry, Harry!' faltered the old
man 1 never dreamed of this. Tell
us all about it, my doy, for my old
head swims.'
And Harry Ives, still holdlug Bes-
sic to his heart, revealed the story
of his own truth and James Gray
lings villainous duplcity. When he
had finished the impassioned recital,
Moses Atterly clasped the brown,
strong hand between his own horney
palm; and said, solemnly.
My boy, 1 ask your pardon for
every doubt that ever crossed my
mind, and 1 thank the merciful Prov
idence that has spared Bessie from
being Jim Grayllng's wife. We
were calculatin' to have a weddin'
here tonight; and it isn't too late
yet, if Harry has mt no objections to
bein' married in his soldier
clothes
Father interposed Bessie, now
as rosy as whole boquet of bloom
ing carnations blended into one; but
Harry took her hands in his whisper
ing:
Love! 1 sail not feel secure un-
till can call you wJeh and the re-
monstrance died away upon her
lips.
Are you all ready for the cere-
mony, Elder Wilkins?' said Moses,
cause l b'leive the young couple
is.'
Ali! she looked like bride now,
with the hazel light bnrning in soft
fires under her long, curved lashes,
and the carmine dyes coming and
going upon her cheek; like a proud
and blushing virgin.
The ceremony was scarcely over,
before the silver chime of sleigh bells
was heard at the door, and James
Grayling's voice was heard, exclaim-
ing:
I'm afraid I m q little late; but
the horse sp aimed one of his legs
and 1 had to get him changed at
Squire Ware ltons However,,
yes - Jim Grayling, you ARE
little late,' said Moses Atterly,
taking an unusual prodigious pinch
of snuff; for my daughter is married
already.
.Marriedlf calculated James Grsy-
ling; as if more than half uncertain
whether his intended father-in-lav
were not candidate for the lunatic
asylum.
'Yes-to Harry Ives!'
As Grayling's bewildered eye
caught sight, in the brilliantly -hgh.
ted rooms beyond, of the young SOL
dier, bending his head to listen to
some whispered word of Bessie's
he turned dull, dead yellow, and
a chill dew broke out around his
mouth.