The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-11-13

Inc DeauLiIul u1dIIldrc ocINlce OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church was to be
repeated in concert by minister and
two magistrates.
When the eusual objections to the mar
riage about to be solemnized were
called for, deathly silence pervaded the
vast assembly. The gossip concerning
Annie Lees imprisonment was yet at
its height, and the fair girl felt that
crisis was coming.
During the moment of silence, she
suddenly frightened up, her face SEEM
ing lit as with a unexpected thrill Of
thought. Stepping forward in front Of
the other waiting brides and grooms-ex-
pectant, the deep flush upon her cheeks
and the blazing light in her large black
eyes, betokening her deep emotion, she
said, in a silvery voice that rang out
clearly upon the startling stiffness /:
my friends: While 1 am yet Annie
Lee have a few words to say to you. /
know that all of you are taken by sur
prise over my sudden resolve to address
you, and certainly none are more aston
ished than myself. You are all aware
of much that 1t is in my past history, that
has been hard for me to bear, but which,
as I look upon my large family of
healthy aud happy brothers and sisters,
1 feel well repaid for having undergone.
You all know about my recent arrest,
imprisonment, partial trial and hon.
orable aequittal. Melvin Hastings and
have been betrothed for years but /
have always told him that never, unless
L could be considered his equal in the
eyes of his associates /; never until l
could know that his friends would feel
that he had not stopped from his high
position to espouse me, would consent
to become his wife. With myself 1 am
satisfied. OF him / am proud. With
out him, life to me would be an unbeara-
bic burden with him, no matter how
much Of poverty and suffering might be
my lot, 1 should ever be happy as the
day. But dear as be is to me, far dearer
than my own hearts blood, of which
this fuchsia in my hair is a fitting en-
blem, 1 will not pronounce the vow
that shall legally seal me to him for
ever, unless have the unanimous ac-
quiescence Of these, his friends, in our
union. Annie Lee will never be stum-
bling block to the fame and social posi-
tion of her husband. Now, let as many
of you as in your inmost hearts
fully and unreservedly exonerate me
from any sort of eonnivauce at, COM
plicity in, or commission ofany kind of
crime, make known the fact by cheer
fully responding aver
Notwithstanding the deep astonish-
ment with which the company had lis
tened to this strange request, q hearty
AYE broke forth upon the listening air,
while at the same moment, a canary
that hung in a recess near them, began
to trill a sweet, voluptuous song.
"Contrary-No," said the speaker, shak-
ing, for the first time, as if convulsed
with an ague fit.
No one responded.
"The ayes hare itgp exclaimed Mel
win Hastings, stepping forward and
grasping her hand, which was like ice,
and kissing her burning forehead while
uttering low words of tenderness.
Cheer after cheer filed the air, and re-
sounded through the great mansion, fill
ing every heart with unbounded happi-
ness.
The ceremony went on and was CON-
pleted.
The prolonged congratulations Of par
ents and friends were simply indescriba-
bic. The widest Imagination might
conceive, but the most gifted pen could
not portray the scene.
Clara Morton Hastings, who had re-
Gently become an honored guest in hel
uncle's home, moved like a queen
through the assembled throng, her face
illumined by a quiet pleasure, such as is
only born of sorrow that finds solace in
doing good.
With the exception of the fugitive,
Robert Green, every member Of Henry
Lees political club was present. But
among them all none but Henry had
learned that "Col. Jones Of the late c.
S. a" WIS the brilliant niece Of the affa.
ble host, who was too happy in the re-
union Of the long divided family, and
too proud of their matrimonial success
to allow the least vestige of his usuaI
: irascibility to ruffie his voice or temper
Uncle John Ainslee was calm, happ,
and dignified. His beautiful bride wa
looked upon by all other younger friend.
almost as one risen from the dead. And
as they clustered around her, kissing
caressing and praising her, not a few
suddenly recalled some old time petu
lance with which they had annoyed her
when she, as ''Afiss Lees nodiste,n ha,
taxed her ingenuity to its utmost in he
marvellous attempts oplease them will
artistic trifies in the millinery line.
Mrs. Ainslee felt that she could detec
this sudden remembrance in every on
who thus experienced pangs Of con
science, and she inwardly prayed tha
they might take warning from thei
present confusion and treat Others bet
ter in similar circumstances than the,
had once treated her.
"ofwhat are you thinking, my dear?'
queried Henry Lee, as be bent over th,
chair of his bride and noticed her deel
! abstraction.
! u was thinking Of the awful doom