The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-12-27
Sei6ct Stofy.
ECON II Il ~ s E.


if you please sir I" ..r
A girl spoke to me. turned round
and looked at her She wore the scam
test of cotton dresses belted at the waist,
a pair Of leather boots, and a white
apron. In her hand she carried sun.
bonnet. aud her hair cropped close, in
black rings about her head. The face
was a bady's in sweetness and in inno-
cence the little brown hands, the little
hands of toll. No young Lady this, yet
there was nothing rough or vulgar about
her unless il was her hands
"That is Oldtown Church, my DEAR"
I said care you agoiug there p
d" Yes sir, to see the wedding. Are
you 2
was, more fool I, though I did not
say so to this child. The bride for
whom the bell was ringing was to be
mine once, would have been but for the
accident that crippled me and changed
her heart. She had done nothing
treacherously but l saw the truth and
set her free. She took her freedom
gladly, and we were two She had quite
forgotten me, no doubt. believed then
| never could forget.
knew exactly how she would look
in snow silk and lace, and coronet OF
pearls. | had dreamed of her SO often
in her bridal robes,
nodded to the little thing thing be-
side me, trudging over the meadow path,
with the tall grass almost to her waist,
aud looking at me so wishfully. ...
Il never saw u wedding said she.
'No?'
No sir Grandfather said 1 might
come, he didn't care hiMself. It's a
long way too, from the tavern, aud he is
very old l.a
Does your grandfather keep the tav.
ern ? 1 asked
No sir-I wished he did, said the
child. He, has only his fiddle, and
people half the time do not care fol
tunes. What else can he do, though
To night there is dance, and he's t
:, play for them. That's why we stop
, ped
A poor fddler's untaught child-a'
r poor as untaught poverty can be-ye
/ her presence somehow cheered me-
Half child, half woman, and all chilC
a heart. Innocent, and beautiful ant
kindly. | encouraged her to linger a
. my side. | said to her:
L will show you place where yo'
can see the bride we'll 1t is in the gal
! lery. Would you like that
}, t don't know she said. haven
+ often been to church. We pray togeth
er in lonely places, grandfather and
u Will you be there, sir:"
d Yes
e Il know should like it,
Come with me then,' said, and sh
1t followed me.
- l had meant to hide myself in tn
, gallery, and see my last love quite ur
seen. This companionship had not bee
i in my role at all. But I liked it. n
y, u, friend or relation, not my own siste
Of would | have had beside me but tn
unselfsh thing was too innocent to foa
| led the way up the dark old stairs, an
D towards a spot quite uusheltered fro
Up general view. Then l sat down an
u she stood leaning over the balustrade.
The church was full Of bonnets,-
ID Here and there only masculine hea
The minister was 10 his seat reading,
i' a position taken for effect. He Was
T. handsome man and he knew it perfectI
we'll.
L. Girls whispered and giggled, matrol
famed themselves, men yawLed. Soc
> the soft roll of carriages on the grav
= path was heard, and bridal party ente
- ed, l saw her at last Aletta.
Is that the bride p half soppcd Il
4 girls voice at my side. Is it re
,s s' lady ? She looks like wax. oh, he
of pretty, how beautiful Look l LooE
70 70 She touched me with her little broy
!. hands, and looked at me, her eyes spar
II. ling, -..- -. z....t..
ty Did you ever see her before 2 s.
on on asked Is she like that in every d.
is. clothes !? o how pretty how pr'