The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-12-02

dimplea rosy mouth looked as II ii
could not resist tho temptation Of
smiling. She was young and fair,
and her girlish bea lty was sobered
into 4 quiet dignity that was very
winning. The slate. .colored silk
falling in graceful folds, seemed to
transform my old playmate from
tbe careles, laughter. loving romp
10 dignified maiden.
Harry Benson's merry face was
grave for once, and with sigh Of sat.
isfactioE was about TO lean back
in my seat, bot the unsteady mo>
tiou recalled INC 10 the fact that To
preserve my equilibrium | must
malntain dighified attitude.
The ceremony commenced, and
at the FIRST words OF the minister
hush took The place Of the confus
cd murmers. His manner was
singularIy grave and impressive,
and in voice, thrilling with sol.
cmnity he asked
"lf any man can show Just cause
why they may not lawfully be joins
ed together, let him now speak or
else hereafter forever hold his
peace"
Stepping back with graceful dig
nifty to give force to the appeal, he
touched the trap door once used in
lowering bags and boxes, and dis
appeared from the dSt0nished UieO of
the horJied asSemJtdge!
Surprise and Consideration filled
every breast. The crowd seemed
paraIySed at the SUD den and mys
terous disappearance, and before
they had recovered from their sur
prise, a deacon came forward and
explained that tho minister was
unhurt owing to the basement be-
ing partially flIod with wheat,
and that u Iittlo delay would be
the worst result of the accidont..-
A rope was procured and by it's
aid the worthy clergyman ascend
cd in safety. He looked somewhat
confused and trlfi, frightened
but was still dlgnifed in the ex-
tremc. as he awaited in dread 81.
lenco the approach of the youthful
pair. Harry Benson had risen
and stood serene and grave, as if
in defiance of any natural embar.
rassment, but the unfortunate
bride was not yet recovered from
her agitation. A stranger might
have supposed her hysterlcal from
the contortions of her beautiful
shoulders, and the choaking sounds
that occasionally issued from her
lace handkerchief, but | turned
alternately hot and cold, for |
knew better than to So mistake
her apparent emotions My only
consolation was that Ned had left
the church when the catastrophe
occurred. He had declared his in
tcntion Of "murdcring" Belle If she
laughed during the ceremony; and
his savage look when he made the
threat. almCst alarmed me.
Bello mado light Of both looks
and threat, but | breathed freer at
his absence, and felt a thrill OF re.
lief as Belle, with a flushed face,
and rather unsteady step, took her
place in front Of the table used for
IL reading desk.
Her response was given in a
firm, clear tone, but the ministers S
question thrilled mo with u new
fear, and | actually gaspe1 for
breath as | heard, "Who giveth
this woman to be married to this
man."
Ned was gone and Uncle James,
the most bashful OF men, was the
only person 10 appear.
Mrs. Smythe leaned nervously
toward him and Whispered. and
with the perspiration standing in
drops on his forehead, and his face
in q perfect blaze, he rose to his
feet and made u frantic rush for.
ward.
Mrs. Smythe's despair rendered
her desperate, and she Clutched al
his coat, but he eludcd her grasp
and with something like a groan
! she resumed her usual dignity
: She had, Of course, only intended
him to rise and bow. What the
infatuated man meant to do IS moi
known TO this day. The very wife
of his bosom has never dared to
mention the subject. closed my
eyes and with desperate calmnesI
awaited tho result; but almos
sprang 10 my feet at the sound of {
0 heavy crash My first terrible
8 fear was that tho unfortunate min
lister had rushed into another pi
r fall, and my very sight grew din
at the thought.
, A silvery laugh, clear and dis
! tinct--a laugh | knew too we'll
, cleared tho mists from my eyes
D and | saw the bridal party and thu
, minister, bat uncle James was y
: ing prostratc at their feet.
The shrll voice of tho minister
broke the silence that followed
0 Bellies laugh, and with my eyci
6zed on the shining patent leather
\ boots of Uncle james, like one il
a dream, listened to the conclu
a sion Of the ceremony. How Uncl'
: James scrambled to his feet | can
y not tell. My next horror was see
ing him seat himself on the unoc
n cupied bench in front of the con
= grcgation, entirely forgetting tha
it was unsafe. 1t tottcred as hi
t agitation increased, and as tn
n bride and groom rose from thei
IS knees, after receiving the blcssin
}, it gave way with a fearful crash
u and his frantic efforts to save him
self DESTROYED tho onnilIbrinm G