Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-09-09

look as serious as possible while the
Episcopal marriage service was being
read. Lettie even slipped q ring of
her finger and gave to Mr.. Gilcreast at
the right time, then we signed our
names on a piece Of paper, and we
were said to be married-paps laugh
ingH declaring tina. he felt too much
interested in his own happiue 10 De
anxious about his daughters.
"Do you know that you are really
my wife ?n Mr.. Gilcreast looked quite
serious as he held my hand in his, willie
he anxlously watched my face. "The
gentleman who married Us is a clergy
man; he has been ordained, though
he looks so young. l thought you
knew itp
at was very silly joke Of Let
ties" l laughed, uneasily, Mr.. Gil
creast was looking at me SO strangely.
"Papa, did you know Mr.. - men
tioning the gentleman's name is a
clergyman, and Mr.. Gllcreast says that
we are really marriedW / tried to
laugh, but papa looked so serious that
he sObered me.
at is really so.p The gentleman
who had performed the ceremony was
the speaker. III thought you all un-
derstood that was clergyman, and
rhat was why was seleCtel.n
"Ihis Is carrying a joke too far.n
Papa was more angry than | had ever
seen him.
care you sorry, Kate?n Mr.. Gil
creast whispered.
eyes, hate you,0
| don't know exactly what | said,
but | know that | was so excited that
| frightened Lettie and every one.
And Lettie was crying quite as much
a | was, and then papa. But | don't
like to think about it, papa was 50 an
cry, and it was all so dreadful.
The next morning papa gave Lettie
good scOlding, and | was 50 sorry for
her that it lightened my own trouble.
| did not go on deck all dsy, but |
knew that papa had a serious talk with
Mr.. Gilcreast, and appeared more like
himself at dinner-time. He kissed
and petted Lettie and me, and told US
not to be unhappy, that it was only u
joke; and that we had a stupid old
papa, who did not know how to take
care Of US, This Of course, we would
not listen to, and then Lettie and | had
a good cry and felt better. So by the
time dinner was ready, we were ready
too-that is, for dinner.
| avoided Mr.. Gilcreast for the two
days that followed; and he was very
good and did not trouble me. But /
could not help looking al him; hewas
taller than any man on the ship,
and had lovely eyes, though Rttie
said they were horrid, and that she
would never forgive him. Lettie is
very unjust in her likes and dislikes,
and l would rather have been married
to Mr.. Gilcreast than any one on the
ship, though it had been silly piece
of business.
1t was the last evening we should be
on the ship, and was sitting in the
cabin reading by the fading light-ior
it was very nearly dark. "You will
spoil your eyes, Miss Kate.n MIR.
Gilcrea~t was the speaker, and could
but put down my book. "I have
something | would like to say to you
will you come on deck, where We can
be less iuterrupted?j The weather
had changed, and it was quite cool, st
every one had crowded into the cabin
| felt like saying mo-" but !
thought mabe he was sorry, and wan
ted TO be forgiven; and Lettie had
been so upjust, and papa was SO an.
cry, dear knows what lie had not said
and then it was foolish making such 9
fuss about it. | said | would 20, and
put down my book. had my cloak
around me, and my hood was beside
me on the seat,
"Put on your bOots,0
at is very warm.n l felt reJelIIous
though the slippers were nav, andhac
lovely bows on them and, though ]
hated him, was glad he had seer
them. 81 am not at all afraid Of be-
ing cold, but it might ruin my slip
pers if the deck happens to be wet.'
"And they are very pretty.o Ht
finished my sentence for me.
did not know whether he mean
that my foot was pretty, or the slip
pers, or both; | did not mean t
laugh, but l did, and then he laughe(
and grew serious again. l could no
find my boot-hook, and | ruined fou
hair-pins buttoning my boots. AnC
| had to wash my hands, and knew
l was a long time, but lac was waiting
patiently for me when | again return
ed to the cabin. | cannot pretend t,
tell you all that he SAID to me, but h.
told me that he loved me the first tint
he saw me, which was, Of course, al
nonsense, and | told him 50. Ant
then he said he was sorry that he Ia,
given me 50 much trouble, and b.
watched my face very anXiOusly, an,
| looked at the northern lights, an,
wished that papa would come.
"You know you are my wife" IL
did not pay any attention to my indlg
nant denial. II will come for my an
swer in six months, and, meanwhile
Imay write."
Ofcourse, if he would write, coul
not help that; but told him that
would make no difference, and was
great waste Of time. | tried 10 b
dreadfully cross, for | knew that
should never like him, and did no
want to give him trouble; but | ar
afraid l was not half cross enough
he looked so sorry l could not say all
intended to, and, when we came dow
into the cabin, he looked very we
satisfied, which was provoking.
We were put Oft from the steamC
before Plymouth, in miserable littl
y-boat, and were pretty wet belor
we reached the shore as it always rain
on the English coast. We hoped to /
able to leave Plymouth in the te
, o'clock train for London, rs it wa
only seven then, Mr.. Gilcrea5t weI
7 with us to the Duke of COrnWall's HC
tel, and shared our breakfast OF mu
! fins, rolls, and English breakfast-te,
, l was not sorry to say goodbye to m
husband, as the joke was rather to
} serious to suit papa, who was though
full aud unlike himself. We left Ply
.. mouth at ten o'clock, and goin
through the loveliest part of Englan,
reached the PaddingtOn Station, Lon
don, by six o'clock, not feeling at a
/ tired. 1t had been lovely day, and
was interested in looking at the diIe
, ent places we passed through. Thel
! being on dry land was delightful, aft,
( the continual rocking of the last te
b. days, and, though the sun shone mist
, ly, as it does in England, liked i
r and ould not have mad ii different,