The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-26
Mistellaueuas.
THREE WEDDINGS IN A DAY.

THREE WbDDlhGS IN a DAY.
Il do wonder,' said Miss Polly whittle-
sea, suspending her knitting and her rock
ing, and sending an indignant gaze across
the street. where young lady dressed In
the cloudiest OF white muslins. and the
bluest Of blue ribbons, was being helped
into carriage by young gentleman.
Il do wonder what's the sense OF w0-
mans getting married! making slave
of herself, when she might ne comfOrta-
bic. and being dictated to by somebody in
pantaloons! There's that jerks girl in
tlicating the young lady before mention
ed: she had everything she wanted ut
home, and her Pa was worried II she
scratched her finger; she could dress as
she liked, 90 where she liked, and do
what she liked; and here she must up
and marry that ridiculous snip of clerk,
who earns six hundred n year! OF all the
ioollshness. Six hundred I wonder where
she'll get her ribbons and her Cologne
It's a melancholy example Of blindness
and peryersity, and hope you girls VIII
profit by it,
But for Miss Polly's last remark, the
reader might have supposed she was alone
In her shady parlor that afternoon. IL
would have been u mistake; her neice,
Jane, a tall, demure looking young lady
of twenty-five, sat ut the table near by,
dotting an embroidery pattern. Her
ucice, Molly, a eurly-headed damsel OF
seventeen years. sat In the window, swing
ing the sprays of blossomy lilac abstract
edly. and watching the couple who had
excited Miss Whittlesea's Indignation,
with envious eyes. II was little old
fashioned parlor, witha high. gilded look
ing glass, few quaint pictures, claw-ioot-
ell chairs. spare curtains, and great vase
of syringa set on the mantle. Miss Polly.
an antiquated female of forty-iive, looked
quite as Old-fashloned rs the room, rs she
sat knitting vigorously, In her starched
cap and black silk apron.
Il hope continued Miss Polly, after
waiting reasonable time and receiving
no response to her former remark, Il shall
never see either Of my neices making Il
fool of herself
NO, certainly, aunt said Jane, bend
ing down to pick up u reel of cotton.
'0h no" echoed Mollie from the win
dow.
sAsI have always said, want to save
YOU from tie universal stumbling block of
the sex. want you to keep what health
and happiness you have, and not slave
Yourself to death for other people.
Yes was the subdued response OF her
two listeners.
Il see YOU understand me. Why, Mol
lie, there comes Mr.. wilkins home TO sup
per, and there's no fire made. Run, child
oh, stop minute-I forgot 10 say that
am going out 10 tea Tomorrow night,
Mr.. Wilkins and 10 Mrs, Green's. She's
been talking about having a tea party for
two years. and now it's coming of. It's
a regular party. We're TO 80 at three,
and stay till nine.'.
Mollic whirled about suddenly In the
doorway. and there was u peculiar cN-
preston in James gray eyes rs she raised
them tO her aunt's face.
shall you stay SO later she asked.
L mean to, IL I'm well. I don't go
merely To get my supper: i 20 FOR the
sake of social intercourse. What are yon
waiting for, MOllicg
Nothing. responded that damsel, dane
ing of with sudden light-heartedncss.
Supper In fifteen minutes, auntie.'
hate explanations, so will only say
that Miss Polly was maiden lady with n
moderate fortune. living In the village OF
Bolton, Jane and Mollie were two orphan
neiccs whom she had educated, and whom
she loved rs II they were her own daugh-
tiers.
Like most maiden ladies, Miss Polly
disapproved Of matrimony, and she had
striyen with apparent success, To impress
her own opinions on the minds of her
charges. The Mr.. wilkins obscurely
mentioned above, was an elderly gentle
man whom Miss whittlesea was board
ing for the summer, driven thereto by n
scarcity Ofpocket money. lie was tall,
spare man, n widowcr, with stiff gray
hair. and a curiously puckered face, which
wore perpetual feeble smile. He always
had most amazingly stiff shirt collars,
and the squeaklest boots In the world,
and his whole conversation was prol0ng.
ell meandcr among words--a hopeless
search after terms that should sufficiently
praise Miss Polly. Perhaps this was the
reason that the latter endured him with
such wonderful patience, and reprovcd
Jane and Mollie tor laughing ut his pc
culiarities. III any one had been looking
for Miss Jane Immediately after break
fast the next morning, he would have
found her In her chamber. hastily scrib-
bling letter. OF course we cannot make
her correspondence public, SO we will
merely watch her while she puts the let
ter In her pocket, dons gray shawl and
bonnet, and starts for the village, walking
grayely and innocently rs II that pocket
was empty. Amer doing one or two small
errands, she goes into the post Office.
Now we are on the lookout; the letter Is
directed 10 Mr.. Lyman Ellis. The post
mistress smiles n little as she sees the
name, and Jane turns away with flushed
checks.
'She must have thought Ii a business
letter. Jane soliloqulkes, pcrturbedly !:
but TO be sure, she must have wondered
why I didn't call ut his Office. don't
care what she thinksl Surely II Is not
wrong. Aunt win never know Ii. and l
have so few chances 10 see him.
Nevertheless James conscience troubled
her a little, and she walked more slowly
than usual, as she came near home. Mol.
lie was out nc the gate, looking as pretty
rs the morning, ostens'bly occupied In
breaking dead branches of the rose BUSH
Is, with reckless disregard ofthorns.
why, where are your scissors and
gloyesr inquired Jane.
II lon't want them said Molite Ia sfily