The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-08-02
ReeORlDense.

Is InaU O1uIOWn cnurcn yOnuer, II
you please sir?" t5F2lI q ST .aet
A girl spoke to me. There are wo--
men of sixteen, and children of six
teen This one was child. She
wore the scantiest of cotton dresses,
belted at the waist, "a pair of leather
boots, and a white apron. In her
hand she carried a sun bonnet, and
her hair, cropped close like boys,
curled in black rings about her head.
The face was a baby's face in sweet
ness and in innocence, the little brown
hands the hands of toll. No young
lady this. yet there was nothing coarse
and vulgar about her unless it were
those hands.
That's Oldtown church, my dear"
| said, Are you going there2'
" Yes, Sir, to see the wedding. Are
you?'
/. Il was, more fool, I, though I did
not say so to this child. The bride
for whom the bells were ringing was
to have been mine once, and would
have been but for the accident which
had crippled me and changed her
heart. She had done nothing openly
treacherous, but / saw the truth and
set her free. She took her freedom
gladly, and we were two She had
quite forgotten me, no doubt. [ be-
lieved then / never could forget her.
| knew exactly how she would look
in snowy silk and lace and coronet of
pearls. I had dreamed of her in
bridal robes so often.
nodded to the little thing beside
me trudging over the meadow path
with the tall grass almost to her waist,
and looking at me wistfully.
+" | never saw wedding, F" she said.
MOP"
No, sir. Grandfather said | might
come. He didn't care himself. It's
long walk, too, from the tavern, and
he is very Old
Does your grandfather keep the
tavern?" [ asked. &
No, SRI wish he didP' said the
child. I" He has only his fiddle, and
people half the time don't care for
tune What else can he do though?
Tonight there's dance and he's to
play for them. That's why we stop
ped" aa
A poor fddler's untaught grand
child-as poor as decent poverty could
be-yet her presence somehow cheered
me- Half child, half woman, and
child az heart. Innocent, and beauti-
full, and kindly. | encouraged her to
linger at my side. | said to he:
/ will show you place where you
can see the bride well. 1t is in the
gallery. Will you like that?"
don't know she said.
haven t. often been to church. We
pray together in lonely places, grand
father and |. Will you be there,
Strip
s" Yes"
II know I should like it.
Come with me, then, | said; and
she followed me.
had meant to hide myself in the
gallery and see my lost love married
quite unseen. This companionship
had not been in my role at all. But
I liked it. No friend, no relation, not
my own sister, would / have had be-
side me; but the elfish thing was too
innocent to fear. [ led the way up
the dark stairs, and toward a spot
quite sheltered from the public view.
There sat down, and she stood lean
ing over the balustrade.
The church was full of bonnets;
here and there only masculine head.
The minister was in his seat, reading,
in a position taken for effect. He was
a handsome man, and knew it per-
fectly well.
Girls whispered and giggled, mat
rons famed themselves, and men
yawned. Soon the soft roll of car
riages on the gravel path was heard,
and the bridal party entered. | saw
her at last. Alctta.
Is that the bride?" half sobbed
the girls voice at my side. Is it
real lady2 She looks like wax. Oh,
how how + pretty how beautiful Look
She touched me with her little
brown hand, and looked at me, her
eyes sparkling:
ibid YOU ever see her before?" she.
asked. us she like that in everyday
clothes? Oh, how pretty how pref
Men have no right to weep. I put
nv head down on the cushion of the
pew and hid my eyes. I.felt the child
creep close beside me.
Poor thing, he's tired !" | heard
her whisper, and put her little hand
out and pat me softly By stealth; :,
Soon / looked down into the church
again, and saw Grant Stockton kiss
his bride
Is it over? asked the girl.
Eyes, child said; all over.
Then I must go, she said.
Thank you for being so kind to me,
sir. Good by
! GOOD by" I said, and her little
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