Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-09-12
NTISCELLANY.
The Sudden Choice; or, Where's the
Woman that Wouldn't.

4 few years ago made one Of the serenity
nine passengers on board the fast steamer En-
ily Barton, bound up the Tennessee. Apleas-
ant, intelligent, go-ahead captain, good stew
ard. and social, refined company, made the trip
one of pleasure; indeed, long shall Ircmember
the saucy Emily Barton and her superb living
freight. One lovely summer afternoon, it was
whispered that we were to have wedding be-
fore the boat reached her destination; said
whisper started low near the ladies' cabin, and
speedily made its way to the hall, the boiler
deck. and even to the MAIN like the snowbalis
down the mountain gathering size, form and
momentum. as it rolled forward, until tho prin-
cipals in tho interesting scene were not only
pointed out, but the pcrsons-some scraps in
the history Of cach-fc:ion, fact and surmise,
all lashcd up ingcniously, leaving you in
the half pleasant, half painful suspense and
doubt that opens the eyes so wide and strains
the drum Of the ear so tight to all transpiring
around you. Well, we landed to wood at
magnificent beach bottom, the tall, heavy leaf
ed tree, with silver gray trunks, making a deep
cool shade, while they, with the grassy green
ban,. that bore tho,s,, were in the CLASSY river,
so clear, so true, that inversion only pointed
the false from The real.
Cutting this charming spot in twain, came
a murmuring crystal brook, scarce four spans
wide, to lose itself in the mass Of Tennessee
waters, they in turn to be alike lost in the
toundiess sea.
No sooner was thc staging ont than there
emerged from the ladies' cabin fine, manly
looking fellow, dressed in faultless taste, intel
lect beaming in every feature, while all over
his face, perfect happiness shono like phospho-
rus on the sea ; and leaning on his arm was the
most lovablo woman it has ever been my lot to
behold her fine hazel eyes ltcll-tales that they
wcrcD speaking deep emotion, and her express
sivc lip quivcring with suppressed excitement,
while her step, dress and grace was that Of a
queen. "Thcrc they ore!' "That's hcr.-
90, how landsomc~ burst from many lip
as VIC iustnctiyoly made way TO let them pass
to the altar, and where that was wc had about
as clear an idea as a transcondcntalist general
" has Of what he is talking about. But one
thing we all seemed to know, that there was
fun ahead. and that to fall in their wake was
the way to see it.
As tic ladies passed, gallant arm was Of
fercd to each, and thus we marched cut Of the
cabin, down the stairs, across the staging, and
up the sloping bank. Some fifty yards up the
brook tie pair stopped and, joining hands,
they stood with the clear water between them
-brid-cd as it was with tie twining fingers,
and crossed by q stream Of lovcos pure as itself
al was silent, stil, until broken by the minis
ter reading in an impressive manner;
And the rib which the Lord God had taken
from man made he woman and brought her
unto the man. And Adam said, This is now
bone Of my bones and flesh of my flesh; Size
shall be called woman, because she was taken
out cfman. Therefore shall man leave his
father and his mother and cIcaye unto Lis wife:
and they shall be one flesh
He closed the book and Offered a most touch
ing prayer; not heart but seemed to feel that
earnest appeal to tie Throne Of Grace.
Then, asking the usual questions he pro-
nouncod them husband and wife. The bride,
slowly sinking on her knees, raised her beau
tful face. all covered with tears, and hey clasp
cd hands. aad. in q most thriili1g, sweet voice,
tremulous with deep emotion, said;
"And now, 0! merciful Father! graft That
our two lives, thus united, may peacefully flow
into one. even as tLis riyulot, until wereach the
Rirerof Death and, undivided in faith or con-
duct. he permitted 70 enjoy Thincetcrnal smiles,
in the land Of the pure aud the Jlcst"
Every pulse seemed still, hoping, wishing for
more Of this beautiful drama. Not word, not
a movement from all that tbrongi all, ell was
happiness. o! lovely panorama! how deep
ly thou art craven on the heart. The happy
man was in The act Of imprinting kiss npon
the smiling lips Of his magnificent wife, when
the clear tones Of manly voice startled all IRON
their pleasing reveric; universal gaze rested on
. tall Tennessean. whose eagle eyes spoke the
mana atrepresentatiyo he was Of the State
where sleeps a jackson.
~ can't stand this any longer, I cant, by