Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-01-13
,EXANDRIA.= La SATURDAY, JANUARY. l3, 1872. =

But the gracefill girl shrank back,
biusEing and confused.
"Dout mind her r. stid the other
one IN an un,lertone.
"No / WON'T" sid the Major.
"Sherl be all right presently"
al dare say he viii p answered onr
hero.
.Bnt it Is such nonsense!r went on
elf. whom the matrons addressed as
.Gr;tcc.n
2 aNow, Clara, you know who it is,
when you arr to be married. to him in
less than week !" -
S Ohio! This was beginning to grow
little serions. ''
Married! In less than week! He,
Major John Parkinson, who had lived
a life of cOr,teuted celibacy for Eve and
forty years. -
n, spite of this resolution not to al-
low himself to be surprised, the Ma
iw felt tire s.RsatiU, rapidly creeping
over him, nut only vi surprise, Int al
NJ a species Of dismay! Married
He blusisl nrore wildly than Ciara's
self.
Surely il was time for an explana-
tion now ;.and he was just opening his
lips wnen Grace whirled him around,
standing on tiptoe to whisper know
ingIy ia bis ear.
'.Don't you want to see the wedding
cake, cousin joint and the wreath
aud the veil n aa s3 SOFA III
Without waiting for an answer she
tiptOed him into another room, pull
ing him xlong by the coat tail.
1t Was very embarrassing, to bt
sure; but then how pheasant it was &
Tlre veil WAS heap Of SNOWY lace
like clond Of vapor; the wreath wa'
| all orange blossoms, woven i'm with tt
M green tNifis bslt the c~lse ! the cake
iswas miniature moantSifi of cling, and
frosted flowers and cupids clriseied IL
sparkling white sagsr, clinging around
the boaqaet OF white flowers ON the
crest.
.Only think of it, said Grace, a lit
tie thoughtfully, as she pulled an or
ange blossom into its place in tl''
chaplet, 'sto have the wedding day v
near after an engagement Of fifhsei
years! Oh, cousin John, you ough
to I'e very happy man,
"I will explain > thought the bewil
.ler,sl Major, breaking into q COLD per
spiratisH! "Yesf Ne began aloud
tsbut T. m
"You1l show me the ring, won't yoni
co,xeti Grace, as if with Suslde,
thuught. ssTln,t's . ds,rihfe, for o
course you have got it in your ves
pU,ket. And what have yon brought
for CIaraf An Indir shawl. af course.
and l hope it's very, very splendid
for there is nothing in all the vorlt
too good for our Clara
..Grare,, said the Major, confidently
taking her hand in his, 81 want t
tell you something. It's very awk
ward, but il isn't really my fault, ant
Pm sure you'll forgive me When yo'
come to hear how entirely, ! have
bern the victim OF circumstances
| Graces blue eyes grew big; he
cherry lips garted-wbat coald It be
4 "well,. she calculated brcathlessly
| SIN not cousin John, at alp sai'
lth~ Major. with i~rk. "i's = nan
take. l',a Maiar rarkinaoar
\ Observation-Disclosures
/ mo, l'm aotLing of the nst,' sai
our Major, yisihly Frightening a
But know John Milward sery We
i came oyer with hiua IN the Ghunsl;
rex. aud il he's your casasin Ioh'
lyoa'se gos . spleudid fellow i1r
cousiIrn
II And then the Major todd Gras
exxesly how il al hapirurd, aud 81
: nlushsd and laayiaed aud xossiers
how they eoslld all have heeu - u
8 piAl, aud confessed that $. after all, 4
: didn't thipk b. lad heesl 20 veTy aAu'
10 blaipew
al @Exespt that you angktst 10 hs
!. kissed Hu~ bask 50 heartily," Gra
taasra ssIicioasly.
ii II xont't next tine,7 sail {
Major humbIy.