Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-09-12


broad shoulders, and over and above all,
the browning glory of the whole outfit,
was that bonnet. her little wrinkled face
appearing in the middle of the huge cir
conference in the proportions of a bum
ble-blc in the center of pumpkin-blos-
som.
"Tho gals have gone, s'pose," said
grandma pausing at the foot of the stairs
in the hall. "Bolindyw she squcaled
up the staircase; but there was no an
swer, so on she went. Her son dutifully
gave her his arm. and his wife patted
meekly along behind, looking neither to
the right nor left. Tho girls pecped from
the window and laughed till they cried
"Its too ridiculous" said Lucy, wip-
ing her eyes. do you see mother trot-
ting on after thom like little dog p
Like lamb to the slaughter, should
say I'd like to be there aud sec how
people look when they gosin," said Be-
linda, "that is If could without being
seen"
II hope she won't take a notion to 60
all Summer" said Lucy.
ooh hope not, indeed exclaimed
Belinda ats too bad for even to-day,
for they really need US on that new an
them"
Everybody but us is out to-day, and .
they all seem to be going to our church"
There's Mr.. May, and see, he's got
on new suit" For that gentleman,
hearing the rumors, and knowing we'll
enough how they started, took no pains
to contradict them, but rather helped
them along by buying new suit of
clothes on Saturday. black dress-coat,
| lilac vest and gloves, drab pants and hat.
| He passed the slow paced Freeman fami-
ly on the church steps, and entering the
fast-filling room, took seat near the
| door, apparently unconscious of the scru-
tiny bent upon him Many curious CLAN
ces went to Belnda's usual seat in the
gallery, but tho general opinion was that
she would appear just in time for the GER
emony.
The entrance of the Frcemans put an
end to all doubts in any minds, as well
to sobricty in most. Little children gig
gled outright, older ones Uttered, and
even the most sober minded found it
hard to suppress smile The church
filed up rapidly, pews all full and crowd
ed, and still they came. The somewhat
prosy parson looked at the gathering
multitude in quiet surprise, not having
heard the flying rumors, and not know
ing what power Of his had drawn out
the people. Truth compels me to state
that he hardly received his share of tho
attention from the audience, however.
Mr.. May and grandma divided it about
equally. grieve to add that at the 9th
er church the minister almost literally
preached, that morning, to bare walls
and empty pews, only few Of the staid
fathers and mothers in Israel appearing
in their places. But the minister with
the small audience was the favored one,
after all for the large audience fdgcted
uneasily all through the services. hymn
followed prayer, benediction followed
hymn, and still no hint came of we'd
ding ceremony Slowly tho audience
fled out, looking extremely blank and
puzzled.
"What does this mean, May ~ asked
one young man Of our hero as he stood
coldly on tho steps.
sold ~ replied May, briefly, leisure
| ly taking his way homoward.
The word flew from lip tolip, eve are
all Sold" and ono after another looked and
probably felt, cheap perhaps made tho
wise resolution, then and there, never
to put faith in flying rumors.
Grandma Freeman looked around in
a dazed sort of way, as the people scat
tered. "Wherc's the weddin' z" she
squeaked to her son. He looked blank.
''Where's the wcddin' 2" she repeat
ed in a higher key. Belinda and Mr..
May was goin' to be married you know
lie shook his head in surprise, and all
at once it seemed to burst on her that
she had been deceived
"IIe lied to me, he did, the miserable
| lynn critter p she burst forth in huttcr
Of excitement In vain did they try to
still her, for the walls Of her wrath were
uncorkcd, and she poured them out all
the way home.
"The good people of the town have
learned one lesson to-day, besides what
they have heard in the sermons, if Pm
not mistaken" remarked Mr.. May to
Belinda, as he walked home with her
that night after evening service.
"Why, yes" she replied, II think
they may have learned one if they will
profit by it, 1t isn't safe to believe all
that we hear"
ut has made good deal Of sport to
SEQ how easily people have been sold in
this matter. have been wicked enough
to enjoy it, but suppose your grand
mother will never forgive me-"
II fear not. She persists in thinking
you meant 10 deceive her."
"That would have been cruel indeed.
As the matter stands, know of no bet
ter way to atone for my crime than to
make my supposed story true, and marry
Belinda, after all"
As saith Sam Lawson, Goals never du
tell these particulars just as you'd like to
hear EN-, so | cannot tell what Belinda
said, but when Fall came, and Mr.. May
had been admitted 10 the bar, there was
wedding at Mr.. Ereeman's house in
stead Of the church, and Belinda's dress
was pearl gray silk instead of poplin.
Grandma had on a soft, neat, tulle cap
in place Of her big bonnet, and after the
ceremony, as a proof that she had for
given Mr.. May for his supposed decep-
ton, She waddled up to him and gave
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