Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-12-16
Number 3.
CHAPTER v.
AILAsA's WEDDING.

bride and bridegroom left their small farms
aod cottages to join the big PROCESSION.
There were two processions, indeed-that
of Ailasa's friends, who had their own
piper awaiting them at Killeena, and that
of Alister Lewis's friends, whose piper
was at Darroch. About sth o'clock these
parties landed at different points on the
great island adjoinipg-the mainland it
was generally cohsidered-;-and proceeded
by couvergent routes across the moor to-
ward a certain small iun where the ccrc-
mony was 10 take place.
1t was beautiful norniug--,hr dir
was sweet with the resihous gale growing in
the marshes. the sun shoue brightly on
the blue sea all around the islands. The
people walked in couples, the piper at
their head marching with his proudest step
letting his ribbons fly, and playing his
most galsome tunes. As they passed the
solitary farms, the old aud withered pee.
pie came out to watch them with bleared
eyes and give the young man good wish
some would have had him take glass for
good luck, and he thanked them ir such
fine English, and he looked SO handsome
in his smart Glasgow clothes, that he quito
wnn the old women 5. hearts.
Just before the inn was, reached wild
cry Of alarm was raised Was not that
the brides party-a thin, bright line of
color far over the moorland? Theycould
hear the faint sound of the pipes. ltt was
Ailasa's party, sure enough, and shame
would fall on the young man if She and
her friends should reach the place of ap-,
poiDtment first. .......
by Kott," cried N:col Lewis to the,
company behind him, sit is you old ones
you can stay behind if you will, but Ais
ter and me we will hef a run to the inn;.
as sure as | am alife we will not hef Mrs.,
Macdonald's friends be first at the inn."
And they would have rushed on by
themselves, but the piper swore dread
full oath that the bridegroom should rosE
90 to meet his bride unheralded by music,
and the old man set out running too;;
whereupon all the people followed him..
with wild shouting and LAUGHING and help
ing of the elder folks. until, sure enough,
thoy were at the inn first, the old piper
recovering his breath sufficiently to be
playing splendid strain when the young
bride and all her people arrived.
There was a great greeting of friends
and every one was looking at Aiasa and
her fine clothes that had come from Storm!
oway. Then she came forward to shake
hands with them all and most specially
she came forward to Duncan Lewis, and
held out her hand. Alister Lewis had
asked her to make friends with his brother,
since he was coming to the marriage.
"And it is ferry glad | am to see you
this day, Duncan Lewis" the young girl
said, shyly.
ooh, ay," said he, looking OF her 50
that she turned her eyes away; "a young
lass is ferry glad to see any one on her
wedding day"
That was all he said to her; and pres =
emily they went into the inn. the central
room of which had been cleared =; and
there wasa great noise of talking, and
calling for glasses of whisky and pieces
Of bread and cheese, until the news went
round that the minister had come. Then
hash fell over the assembly and Ailasa,f
standing near to Alister Lewis, begah''to
look frightened. The minister came iht6e'
the room--a small thin white.haired,,A
kindly loking man, who looked as though 4
he had been fisherman in his youth. h
There was small circle cleared sin the
crowd, and then the ceremony began 1t"
was all in Gaelic, for there were many
old people there who did not know much
English and some of these~~ old comes
may have thought the exhortatioh exceed.
ingly long, as they were standing all the
time. Aut at lergh it wastrlf'over, and
then tho minister shook hands with 'theN'
newly married pair, and drank to thor
health a glass Of whisky. which Licot =
with great cuurtesy, brcughtih or a plate
Ttcn the pipes struck up outside, and.the
people trooped out to rhc' dancing, while
the old woman of the inn aud her daugh-
tcrs began to arrange sbo,tahles again. 80
that the guests might h@@VS something to
eat by-and-by.
The great festivity, however, was to be
held at Hector Lews's house in Darroch
that cvshug, after which the young peo-
PIE werc TO go over TO Caru.Slean,1 where
Alisteo Lewis proposed to remain for a
few Gays until the cottage attached to the
schuol-housc Of Maoi-oeg was fsished and
ready for them. So-tho people didfno