The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-12-02
From the Toledo Commercially
Belle Smythe's Wedding.
BY FRANK. GREENWOOD.

Belle always said she would
laugh az her wedding, and she did
laugh; but if ever an unfortunate
victim To u keen sense of the ridic
ulous could have been excused for
setting the rules OF propriety at
defiance, Belle was excused on that
memorable occasion.
Ii the minister did not pass the
bounds OF sobriPty, (as from the
old ndagc "cnough TO make u
preacher laugh" We must infer
minister, occasionally do) it was
because his was not tho most
agreeable portion Of the farce He
could not have laughed any more
than could tho frogs in tho fable;
and their pathetic appeal to the
boys who wero pe!ting them with
stones, This may be fun to you,
but It's death to U.S." would have
been unfortunately applicable in
his case.
Bellies life was one perpetual
comedy, and her mirth so irresis
tibIe that il was impossible to look
serious when her contagious laugh
set the example for merriment, ard
when say that even her brother
Ned could not always resist her
pranks, ! express in the strongest
terms her power. Her intended
WAS, if possible gayer than herself
and thought her widest freaks ex.
cusable, but as the wedding day
approached he became alarmed
lest she might really be guilty OF
tho unparalleled enormity Of laugh,
ing during her own wedding cere
mony. Ned had evidently made
up his mind to the worst, for he
said that sit would not surprise
him 10 see Belle laugh AT her own
funeral"
The bridal trusseau was magnif.
cent, and Belle sported gaily in the
midst of silks and satins and laces
as unconcernod as if she were a
child, and only playing ut "being
married." Mrs. Smythe being the
most aristocratic person in the
village, decided that the wedding
should be tho grandcst affair, no,
only of the season, but an event
that would throw q mystical halo
over the future. Her first disap
pointment was Bellies refusal Il
have bridesmaids.
"1ts no use to talk, mamma,
should be sure to laugh" said that
incorrigible maiden, and her conf
cal recital of some of our prankc
and tho mirth that cnsued put an
end TO the controversy.
The next failure was Bellies dc
cision that to be married in the
parlors elegantly fitted up for the
wedding festivities, was clearly i'm
possible" Ned left the room will
terrible scowl on his handsome
face at this announcement, and
Mrs Smythe fairly cried with vex
rtion when all her arguments ant
Harry's enlrcaties failed TO olici
more than a laughing refusal
Bello at this stage suddenly be
came contrito, flung her arm
around her mothers neck, and be-
tween tears and smiles explained
that she knew she was foolish, bu
it was no use 10 waste time in re
grets-she was not fit to be mar
ried. Harry had better selec
some prm. dignified lady Her
she fairly broke down, and th
grief.strickcn, repentant lover dc
serted Mrs. Smythe and went owe
~ the fair enemy.
Strengthened by this victory
Belle raised her fearful face fror
her mothers shoulder and gave
as her unalterable 6etermina'io
that, as she could not be dignified
she would not wear any Of the bri
dal paraphernnlia, the satin o
orange blossoms. but a plain trav
\ cling dress. and bo married in tn
room occasionally used for EpiscC
pal service. and, she added, wit
! an irresistible smile and caress:-
"Dcar mamma, have as grand
reception as you please in tho eve
ming, and l will wear all the finer
you suggest"
So it was all decided, and a
Episcopal minister, from ncigt
boring town, invited to officiate.
The Episcopal church was NO
completed, and largo, airy roor
in the upper portion of ware
0 house, fitted up with benche
: served as temporary place
!, worship.
J. The wedding morning dawnec
= and each one of the terribly ur
9 steady seats was filed with cage
n expectants. The very aisles wer
crowded.
The sun shone brightly over th
!. gay dresses and bare white.washe
r walls, and the summer air cane |
: through the open windows fragrar
y with roses and lilacs. There wa