The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-08-25

her, but none dared TO boast or naVlne
received any sign of preference from
the lady. We had all proposed to hel
once, and some of us half a dozen times
She Just made light oft; said we wert
crazy, and didn't know what we were
about; but she came to know after a
while that we did.
'There was open war. We all acted
like madmen, except the Judge; he
would not answer any of our taunts, but
was most pleasant to all. Yet he grew
to look real care worn, and every time
he met any of us alone he would say he
hoped Will would come soon. He
talked to us about keeping the peace
and appealed to our honor as men and
our love for our old cOmrade. Kate
herself had quite little talk with each
one. l don't know how she managed IT,
but she left the impression upon us all
that we were most likely to be accepted II
we behaved ourselves and kept quiet but
twas no go-we could not.
"One evening she refused to sit down
with us to the table, and so little was
eaten. She walked up and down the
room, and then said, emphatically, i
am going off, don't know where; but
| must 90 away; this is getting unbear-
able. / cannot meet one of you but L
am importuned to marry you. Don't
you know, gentlemen, / cannot marry
you all, and if l choose to know one bit
of pleasure in the society of any one, the
rest are all angry. Now | ask you, what
shall | do? Will doesn't come, and /
am all alone. wish you would drop all
this nonsense and behave yourselves.
Why won't you?
-,
and finally asked Jack, Come, you own
to being wicked, and you have been an
awful teaser; won't you reform, and then
all the rest will -
"Aunt Betty said IF you care for
any of us, make it known, and then the
rest shall behave, Or-there will bea row.
"'That's just it-yoU will fight any
way, you are getting so savage. In
being lovers l am afraid YOU have for
gotten to be gentlemen
Wasn't that stinger for us? But
we didn't feel it then as we have since.
We all promised not to say a word after
her decision was made known to us.
Each one may have been elated, think
ing he was likely to be chosen.
''She sat down and put her face on her
arm, but it was only for a moment
Then she said: Il shall ask for two days
to think of it. Next Sunday there will
be wedding here, and a supper after
ward, which we will help to prepare. If
any one speaks to me on the subject
between this time and that, his doom is
sealed
''There was an Oldish man over Mt the
next cabin, who seemed to have a faith
erly care over Kate And | might as
well say here, that all of the thirty who
We're unmarried had offered themselves
to her and been refused.
"Well, Kate and old man Howe had
long talk together, and then he went off
and did not get back till Sunday, and he
brought a minister with him. There
was some kind of service in the after
noon out under the trees, but none of us
paid much attention. Oureye were all
for Kate, and she was crying softly all
the time. When it was over, she took
the preachers arm and talked with him
some time. Then she went into our
cabin, and we all followed. Mean,
wasn't it? But we did not see it in that
light then.
1.-THE man took the Bible from his
pocket, and said This lady informs
me that you have promised to abide
quietly by her decision, and dwell in
peace and harmony together. For her
sake you will not object to come here,
one by one, and take an oath which
shall dictate. 1t is that YOU reiterate
your promise with hand ON this sacred
book
1--WE advanced and received it as
sOlemnly as though it was to be the last
Of our lives. Then he told us that Miss
Browning was very much attached TO us
all, but of course could not marry but
one, and we must bear our disappoint-
ment like men.
''She went and stood beside him. I
thought she would faint, but she did not.
We all arose when the minister said,
Let us pray When he was part
the Judge sat down, completely
overcome by his feelings. | am free to
say that this was the longest prayer I
ever heard. If the minister had been
between heaven and the other
place as we were, he would have made
fewer words, 1 am sure.
"When it was over he said: Il am
here to sOlemniZe a marriage between |
Ca:harine +. Browning (he must have |
ielt an inward chuckle over the torture 1
lie was infiicting, for he paused, well, |
nay be only a minute, but it seemed an !
lOur), and James \. Woodruff If anv
If you know cause or just impediment 1
why these two persons should not be /
oined in holy matrimOny you are to
ieclare it now, or else forever hold your
)eace'
''Jim had not stirred a step. The
minister took his hand and placed him
beside the bride He walked up then,
md | guess the look he gave her salts
led her, for her face cleared up like a
summer sky after a rain.
"rhe brief service was soon over that
made the Judge "A happy benedict, and
Is, perhaps, bachelors for life.
'Jim looked up so earnest at us =
Boys, | do not deserve this happiness
IS much as either of you; but il has
allen to me, and / will do my best to
make her happy. Will you not wish us
iod speed ?'-and he held out his hand.
Zach Of us was man enough to walk up
md take it and the little brown hand
which had been given to Jim.
''Ihen we had supper. There wasn't
much eaten, yet we all lived through it;
nut none of us have felt much hankering
fter weddings since, l reckon"
TEMPERANCE LECTUREsS.-T tai
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