The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-26
to pay her fare all the way, and twice

| cnliu Wnat Terror ana misery this wild
idea was to bring upon herself and
friends.
At ten o'clock precisely, all the
sleighs belonging to the Pancoast
family drove up to the Westinghouse,
and great stir they made to be sure.
In the first sat Friend Pancoast, his
wife, Roxy, and Tommy. Next drove
up Caleb and Debby in o very small
cutter, while large sledge bore all the
workmen and maids belonging to the
farm.
Very pretty Debby looked as she
alighted, but very pale and trembling
when she took her seat in the gallery,
with all tho old Friends looking at her
through their spectacles, and the
younger ones peeping slyly at her from
under their close bonnets.
| 1 doubt much whether any of the
bridal party heard word of the two
long sermons which preceded the mar
riage ceremony-one from the text,
"The Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away, blessed be the name of the
Lord ;" the other, "My Beloved is
gone down into his garden, to the bed
of spices, to feed in the gardens and to
gather lilies" At length the long pre-
liminary pause is over, and every eye
in the meeting ghouse is turned on the
young couple who stand so solemnly
together he, strong, self-reliant, COM
posed she, trembling, yet confident in
the affection and power of him to whom
she promises in the presence of her
friends, with divine assistance, to be a
loving and obedient wife. Another
pause, and then great hustle and con-
fusion ; friends who are not to be of
the company at the farm, pressing for
ward to offer their hearty congratula-
tions, while Debby's mother nervously
wonders whether Thomas and Caleb
meant to stay all the morning in the
meeting house, and so lose the we'd
| ding breakfast, or miss the train.
Fl lally all are slowed away in the
sleighs, the bells twinkling merrily as
the impatient horses paw and scrape on
the freshly fallen snow, the last tuck
is given to the buffalo robes, and off
they start for the farm.
Merry was that ride, and merry the
breakfast at the end of it. Never had
Tommy laughed so much, nor devoured
so many cakes and sweetmeats. Friend
Pancoast was almost uproarious with
mirth, while many quiet friend for
got decorum to join in the merry MAX
ing.
But Roxy, poor, conscience-stricken
Roxy, could not enjoy the fun at all,
contemplating as she did such an en-
te1rpfise at leaving home unknown to
all.
Many noticed her detection, and, at
tributing it to sorrow at the coming
separation from her sister, kindly
pressed her to return home with them
for day or two after the bridal pair
had started on their wedding trip.
Roxy's mother answered to all invita-
tions, that the child must do as she
thought best about leaving home. 1t
would be dull for her, no doubt, with
out Debby, but she must get used to it
some time or other.
Roxy held her head proudly up to
keep down the rising tears, and clasped
more tightly in the hand she held in her
pocket the gold dollar which seemed
such fortune to her.
The time seemed very long until
three o'clock, when the whole company
were to escort the bridal pair to the
town to see them safely in the cars, and
afterward to disperse to their several
homes.
Roxy rode in the neighbor's sleigh,
so that when the fearful adieus were all
over, and her mother on looking round
the depot did not see her, she made no
inquiry about her.
Roxy was supposed to have accepted
one OF tho many pressing invitations,
while the friends who brought her to
the depot were equally satisfied that
she had returned with her mother.
A crouching form sat in corner of
the railway carriage, trembling if the
couple lar ahead of her did but move to
raise or lower the sash. Fortunately,
or unfortunately for Roxy, Caleb and
Debby, like most happy couples on
their wedding tours, were entirely un-
conscious of every object save the one
beside them.
The conductor glanced curiously at
Roxy, but made no comment as he
handed back ten cent pieces in ex-
change for her dollar. Children daily
went up to the city alone, and it was no
affair of his if the little girl only paid
her fare through.
country girl, unused to travel in the
blocked up with snow; and she felt stiff
and tired, when. at length, after many
stoppings at way-stations, the train
steamed into a long, cold, dark depot.
unquestionably belonging to the city.
Roxy kept sharp lookout for her
sister, and when the train stopped, ran
towards the part of the car where Deb
by sat, intending to discover herself.
Half way down the car she missed her
muff, and turned back to recover it. 1t
lay snugly on the seat where she bad
been sitting, but when Roxy turned to
look for her sister and new brother,
both had left the car.
In vain Roxy quickened her steps,
and jumped hurriedly from the car.
Caleb's black hat and Debby's new vel
vet bonnet were not to be discovered
among the mass of heads thronging the
depot.
Roxy threaded her way in and out
among the crowd, looking around in
vain for the objects of her search. A
quarter of an hour passed before she
found her way into the street. There
she saw long line of carriages, which
the drivers were urging passengers to
take.
One at last was engaged, and Roxy's
heart throbbed quickly as she saw two
trunks, one marked @. D., the other ID.
P, strapped tightly on behind. The
driver had taken his seat and was -four
ishing his whip for start, SO Roxy
sprang forward to arrest his progress.
In her haste, unused to city pavements,
she slipped and fell.
On rising, she found that the hack