The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-09-19

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by friends, who joyfuliy, entering the matri-
monia1 bark, bid me god speed onia like cruise.
The sequel Of these thoughts, which flashed
Salohg the wires of memory, issued from my
lips in the single word, wedding 2" '.' y 5''
"You arc good guesscr," said my fair
friend eyes, tits an invitation to the mar
riago and reception Of my lovely little pet,
Minnie Norton, whom you met here the other
evening and admired so much. She was born
in tho Old Dominion, and clings fondly to
every recollection of our glorious old mother
State. For two years sho has devoted herself
exclusively to relieving the necessities of tho
Confederate prisoners, and nursing the sick
and wounded in the hospitals here. Listen to
what she says i'll a noto accompanying the in
vtntipn card;
"Bring your mysterious and agreeable
friend, Mr.. w., with you on the 18th; al
though he will not tell US the nature of his
mission here, because he has tho absurd idea
that Woman cannot keep secret, yet know
it is something connected with the welfare Of
my beloved South, the land of Jackson and
Lee. His hearty cordial tones and dear old
accent are music to my ear; will you not ask
him to grace my wedding with his presence ?"
II shall be only too happy to accept" said
I; that note falls like balm upon my heart;
none but dear little Virginia girl could have
written such. [ hope the man Of her choice
is worthy of the gem he has gained
"Oh, he is noble fellow 2" returned my
hostcssj and the entrance of the break fast nut
an end to the conversation
The eventfu day arrived, and arraycd in
the regulation dress on such an occason-glos-
sy black immaculate chokcr and rreproachabc
fitting kids-a costume in which was some.
what puzzled to make my acquaintance, I took
my seat in the carriage beside Mrs. b., and
was rapidly whirled to the sccnc of enlivenmcnt.
We did not attend the ceremony which took
place in the church.; therefore upon our arriy-
al, tho bride of an hour had already received
the congratulations of her friends upon her ac-
cession to now dignity. Entering the drawing
room, from which the daylight had been care
fully oxeludnd, my Confederate oyes oor,--
plctciy dazzled by the splendid array of bean
ty, fashion and wealth gathered there, and, for
some moments, imagined that I had been
transported to fairy land. was, however,
awakened from this trance, by au exclamation
OF delight from my companion, and found my
self standing before an impcrsonation of grade
and beauty, clad in white satin, orange bios
SONS: illusions, and dozen other airy nothings,
with which the fair sex arm themselves to stay
their unssspccting victims.
Collecting my scattered senses, I soon settled
down to "peace basis" and paying my de-
veais with tolcrablc composurc to the happy
couple, gave place to the eager throng behind
me. Refusing for various reasons, the en-
treaties of my friends to be introduced to sun
dry damsals Of her acquaintance who were
''pretty and so rich," retired to n corner,
from which observation l became an amused
and interested "lool CT on in Vienna,
My cyc royed over the brilliant scene,
The!fashing Of jewels, the futter of 1aces,
And odors of tropical musk;
Men and women, Most beautiful faces,
And eyes of tropical dusk.
mingling with the witching blue Of the North,
crn Cline until at lat, like weary bird, it re-
turned to the figure Of tho bride and rested
there. Something in her quiet, dignifed bear
ing, and happy, trustful face was refreshing
to me, and, almost uncons ciousy, scanned
her whole person. What struck Inc particu-
larly, as, I inwardly commented Oh the tasteful
elegance of her attire, (for l am something Of
Il connoisscur in such Matters was the ab-
sence of NIL jewels Instead of the bridal
pearls, single highly FURNISHED star caught
at her throat the light fall of lace that covered
her neck and shoulders. My curiosity, for |
plead guilty to the weakness was aroused to
fathom thc origin, of fancy, for wearing such
an ornament on the most cvcntful day of a
young woman's life, and musing upon it, my
thoughts took another direction. The camp,
the battlefield, the hope Of promotion, and the
dawn of a day when too, might wear a star,
cngrosscdl me so cntirsly that forgot timo and
place and was only aroused from my rcyeric
by light touch on my arm, and the sweet
voice Of the bride in my ear saying
III II