The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-01-22
from the Philadelphia Pres
AGNES WILLARD.
A NEW YEARS STORY,
CHAPTER ".

'Ihere Is to be wedding at the church
to-day" said Mrs. Hatfield one fine Sunday
morning, about year after AIS sudden
fight. "a queer wedding, too, for no Que
knew anything about the parties. only that
they are city folks. Almost every one in the
village is going, SO | think l. will, too,-
You can have the day to yourself, for | am
going to take Nellie with me, and stop to
dinner with Aunt Sally. so you can pick
up as much as you please after am gone
Mind you tidy mp the house, though, first.
aud see abont lInisr for the men You won't
need more than two hours to bedeck yourself
in, ! am sure. She glanced contemptiously
at the little figure husily washing up the
breakfast dishes. without heeding the tre-
NOR that shook the two little deft hands, or
the sad sorruwful look Of the downcast eyes.
At the appointed hour, Mrs. Hatfield, duly
equipped set out for church, ironically re-
| marking, as a parting benediction, '1t will
he time enough for you to attend weddings
| ten years bence."
| The house had been satisfactorily put to
rights, as her mother termed it, and as that
| lady spoke gnes stood before the old fash
| ioned kitchen glass thoughtfully unbraiding
her hair, absently smoothing the curly nut
brown mass as if her mind were far away.
| The quick light that came to her eyes for an
instant died out, and whatever the secret she
| carried in her heart she gave it no voice
but the lingering look remained us if she
| would fame unburden her soul. She regarded
her cold, unmotherly mother a moment wist-
fully, saying abruptly, "You are going to
church, and to a wedding. Kiss me once for
the bride, aud say God bless you, Agnes
said it when al ran away with all my soul
| Kiss me Just once on THIS day, mother. In
| III thaco hnya uona ir For
my fathers sake, kiss me this Sabbath morn
| ing"
Agnes drew near her astonished parent,
aud tearfully lifted her face for the enved
caress.
Impeled by the dim. undef1ed fear at her
heart, that mother bent down and gently
touched the offered lips of her daughter, re-
marking in grim tenderness.
There now, are you satisfied Seems to
me you act mighty strange today You are
changed so much in everything of late that l
harlly know you But will not scold yon
today Perhaps may not stay to dinner
after all-Aunt Sally is such poke. There
now, 90 and comb your hair and don both
er me, or / shall be late" The mothers
toll hardened hand dropped kindly on the
soft unbound tresses, as IN spite OF her scorn
she loved to feel its glossy richness Actua.
ted by some hidden impulse, she again kissed
her and hastened away. Was it the gentle
pleading of gnes, or her brief allusion to
her dead father and lost brother that touched
the mothers heart the husband of her
youth, the child of her love ? Who can
tell? Long years after she remembered
that beseeching look the timid prayer for q
mothers kiss and blessing.
Ten minutes after the departure Of Mrs.
| 10
the gate and two ladies alghted, coming
quickly along the grassy walk to the front
door r-the one, elegant, fair, and stately, at.
tired in bridal white the other more plainly
dressed, carried large box. 1t was Annie
Stewart, accompanied by her maid. Skill
fully and rapidly they arrayed the trembling
Agnes in her bridal robes The superb white
silk, covered with misty lace, ioated like q
cloud about her graceful form. Magcally
Aggie stepped from her coarse cow-hide shoes
to dainty satin slippers and silken hose
The brown curls danced free under the mag
niicent point veil, bound with pearls ane
| orange blossoms. Between them they drew
on the white gloves, for Agnes was passive
in their hands, and both Annie and her maiC
pronounced her perfect. In moment, as II
were, Agnes Willard had left behind for
ever the faded calico and slat bonnet with
the sorrows of her old life. Happiness, love
home, and husband awaited her. The mex
hour would crown her blessed among women
There she stood, With her old clothes lyint
in homely heap beside her, shimmering il
lace and jewels SO rare and costly that sh
scarcely knew herself, only that she was very
very happy and in half an hour would b
Robert Stewards wife-safe in his love, witt
his home and family to give her loving vel
come.
Robert had wisely confined everything t
bis sister and she, like sensible woman
she was, gave his chosen bride sisters al
fection, volunteering to arrange the matte
properly.
Robert met them at the church, which wa
crowded with wondering villagers, anxiou
TO witness the ceremony. "Be brave"
whispered to the frightened little creature o
his arm, as they passed up the aisle unde
the fixed gaze Of the eager eyes bent upo
them. Surprised CALCULATIONS greeted ther
| from all sides. "Who would have though
lii y "Did you ever 7" "Well. of all things
"Aggie Willard, as ] live Bob Stewart