Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-05-30
TIE UNWILLING BRIDE.

NAeh 70 memory y "''o"ooo we WANDER away
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NUN ,,~w,r,,vc pp,nU
lhH ON"lAh'N" D"lDE'
Very few r'rsons who, ever knew
Ruth McIlwain could ersily forget her
When first met her, she was slAteen
The mother OF knth Mcllwaln dec
while size was an infant, and her fathel
remian led q widower Tor ten years, anC
then martied r lady who had Z daugh
ter by her formef husband. The sec
ond Mrs MclIwain was womat O.
plausible manners, but OF selfish ant
artfnl disposition, and her daughter
Ellen FeFsmnied her exactly.
Jonas Mcllwain wes one OF those
every day persons who hare nothing
marked IN their character, II we excep
only great portion OF obstlnacy.
One day when Ruth had just entered
her seventeenth year. a gentleman
whom she had never seen before, cam'
to tea with the family. lie was q wid
over, about forty years OF age, OF gooC
figure and fine manners, but plain ever
to rgliness,, lie was silent and reserved
Ruth PAID little attention to nm, anC
wonId have thought no more about hn
had not her father Sa d TO her wheh he
was gone "WelI, k1th, what do yor
think Of MIR. Walker?
!" | think be is extremely ugly, re-
piled his daughter.
Hnmph responded her father,
that IS nnIueky, for he IS to be youl
husband.
My husband, father? sald Ruth,
raising her blue eyes and gazing at hei
parent with look OF astonishment.
"Oh you are testing; that IS impossl'
BILE"
" Not at all, answered Mr.. Neil
vain, You will lind it very true. |
assure You am S~eflol'n' serious -, ;, .-.,..,
VIII never marry ,,!i LII I III lei'.e" 3a
nun anu so'Lotiy ii ,i'i'A i'' IL '',
slte al an l!l89 un"l'llu8 olIue; % ..-,,,:..-
bH' yOu y,1 Wili ,o. no' s,tho pI "n """ii''iS
or,oT 'tststed ;., lier 81 l"Inti tatiou o,nt;n
D3n dI mlsIuh9 llg, i9Siiei Tout,i I1 .I.i
uea NUN 4 ullnly DuT N'nul'; 'f.o,:, ,n III y
matter mus! consulC consult my 'gS''ns'' :,
iS2 caaH0' GoulullI 30 sleaU " ,,, SiiI'
en- we slI"'l see Iooiil iral,oI,!e'' "
9lr' MIN, Ms''"Nln' ANU 'Ne 'oN''''"'''n
orOpPeu' ,,..-.- r .,.-......
OHleo AMI Naa iuIn IS u .,,,ti l,l.oti29
wealth; Ia cary me ne inu s W' rACeu G
10 LouISlallu' wien .' Vno I'tS VI MI ;,T.l w.
leans was sc"Ice!y more 'ntn t, 1t I .uIuSo,
ana luulG'otsly inses.iiis @ rne ne"n1 ,It nc
~ ~NosseSSeI' nc ,:5 "Ll3sSeu Sneav ,. "eulSn' .,a
no man hau hlilueT , or 9o[G TIt synlPa' fg
thlHlh8 nature tilSl OaIeo "S'h'I; IL lte
was very cnatiIaole, 9ut m US ne sHtHnh Sl,.,iI
from oDSerNaIIo5, anu WIS ,: 50 ulop,Ia
slVe Iue hn?mleuBJ VI sI LIS ooIet toiInu' L;n,
was almost invariaDly ! cGhllGeH n; y 10 nm
sell ana 'ue leoiP'en'S u niS 'oUu'"
Mr., Walker continued his visits to
the McIlwains and Ruth made it a
point to keep out OF ms way as much
as possible. She had little difficulty in
doing this, as ne paid no particular at
tention to her. She perceived, how
ever, that her step'mother and sister
were frequently closeted together, and
that their minds seemed always occu-
pied with something that she conld not
discover They sometimes looked Mt
her in peculiar manner.
One day, when she was alone with
Ellen, she said;
" What is it that occupies You and
mother so much p
Her step-sister answered with great
deliberation, The preparation for
your marriage, my dear.
I" My marriage, sister With whom?'
"Your father certainly has informed
you that you are to marry Mr.. Walker, "
replied Ellen, looking tixedly into
Ruth's face.
"Oh yes, he said So" replied
Ruth, "but | cannot believe he means
it.
Why not?" asked Ellen, elevating
her eyebrows.
because" replied Ruth, "it's a
very summary way of disposing of my
affections, and think l am entitled to
a say in the matter"
Ellen laid her hand on Ruth's sh1ul-
der. "My dear" she said, ''don't he
silly You certainly will marry Mr..
Caleb Walker. He is n gentleman Of
immense wealth, and will make You an
excellent husband. Besides, he is
fond of you. though you will not give
him chance of making You sensible of
the fact. There is not a girl in the
community but what would dance at
vour chance. am sure would"
"Then take him." said Ruth.
"But can't tai ke him." replied Ell.
len "he don't want me. Besides, my
ovn aea voT We5dinS wordroe t s0 is Tpo pnr