Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-04-06

in, with that dancing-master gait Of his
which was so disagreeable in our criti-
cal eyes. We both rose.
Don't go, my dear girls said Mr..
Specklebury, with infinite patronage.
'We are not your dear girls, said
Kate, flushing up.
And, added |, I'VE prefer not to re-
main.'
Melissa said Mr.. Specklebury, turn
ing with half-closed eyes to the bride
elect, will you allow Inc, your chosen
husband, to be insulted thus by these
upstart girls?'
Don't, girls said Aunt Melissa, feeb-
ly. 49,,
L can't endure much said Mr..
Specklebury, 'but not this. Tell them,
Melissa, that they can no more remain
inmates of your hOme.'
Il have told 'em,' said Aunt Melissa,
with strong symptoms of approaching
mysteries.
'They are vessels of wrath, said Mr..
Specklebury. They are bold and in
sOlent. They lack the spirit of submis-
sion which is so beautiful in a young
maiden. And, my Melissa, you must
either give up me, or them.'
sOf course, 1 couldn't give yOu up,
DEAR said Aunt Melissa, as he squeez-
ed her hand with fishy grasp, meant,
no doubt, to express affection. And
Mr.. Specklebury's glance at US convey
ed so much of exultstion and triumph
that could cheerfully have boxed his
ears.
Well, of course, this was the end Of
it. Aunt Melissa begged us privately
- TO oft ho xxynddfnn ho-
cause there was so much to do, but the
moment the benediction was pronounc-
ed over the newly-joined couple. we
knew we were, to all iDtents and pur-
poses, turned out of doors.
Aad Mr.. Specklebury had triumph
ed a!
1t was the day before the wedding.
The big cake had just come out of the
oven, huge mass of sugar, citron, and
chopped raisins. Kate, who was skill
full in such matters, had frosted it all
over, and she and were busy in sur
rounding it with garland ofsparkling
sugar rose, while Aunt Melissa was
rubbing up the best spoous with a
piece of chamois leather, and polishing
the glass drops of the girandoles, when
there came ring at the dOor-bell.
Aunt Melissa dropped her chamois
leather.
Something's happened said she.
'Nonsence,' said 1, it's only the man
with the maecarOon castle and the
candy temples. You are nervous, Aunt
Melissa, that's ALL
Just then the door opened, and Peg
gy, the maid-of-all-work, trotted in.
'It's lady, ma'am, said she, wants
to spake wild yezn
And the visitor, instead of waiting to-
be shown into the parlor, followed Peg
gy into the setting-room, where we
were all at work.
She was quite stranger TO all of us.
A stout, middle-aged woman, with inn
itation diamonds in her ears, very bril-
liant, scarlet flowers in her hat, and a
prodigions Roman nose.
(which of you is it p said she, start
ing around her, in careless, self-pos-
sessed sort of way.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am,' said
Aunt Melissa.
The bride!' said the stranger. THE
fool who is going to marry Moses
Specklebury! Which is it?'
1T is II said Aunt Melissa, straight
ening herself up, and preparing for war.
For the Roman-nosed lady's manner
was age ressive in the extreme. Il am
to marry Mr.. Specklebury tomorrow,
at one O'Clock p
No you WON'T said the lady, seat
ing herself, on the nearest chair. Nor
any body else won't marry him!'
'Ma'am p said Aunt Melissa.
Because he's got one wife living al
ready said the lady. And that is me!
/ am Mrs. Moses Speckleburyr
Il don't believe you ? almost scream
ed Aunt Malissa, who had turned a
dull, chalky white.
Here's my marriage lines, then, to
prove it, asserted the stranger; 'and
my wedding ring. Moses pecklebury
left me in Chicago, and came East to
see if he couldn't do better in the wife
business. Moses always had banker
ing after money, and he thought if he
came out as far as this, wouldn't have
the pluck to follow him! But there's
where he was mistaken, you seen and
the lady chuckled grinly. 'Oh! here
he is now.'
And at the self.same moment, Moses
Specklebury tip-toed in, behind bask-
ct of flowers which he had brought
from the forist's-eharged of course, TO
Aunt Malissa's account.
'A-hem-m-mp said the Roman-nosed
matron. How dye do, Moses?'
Crash went the rosebud5 and hell
otropes over the floor. Mrs. Speckle-
bury stood looking like Hamlet on the
stage when he sees his fathers ghost
a little awkward about that we'd
ding 10 morrow, isn't it said Mrs.
Come, my dear! This
lady'lI have to wait until I'm dead be-
fore she has any use for that big cake =
Moses gasped Aunt Melissa, clutch
ing at his sleeve, lis this true?'
Mr.. Specklebury stood limp and help
less in the middle of the room, looking
like whipped cur. Oneglance at him
was enough to confirm the accuracy of
the Romau-nosed lady's assertion.
1 never can remember just how Mr..
Specklebury and his real wife got them
selves out of the room. Kate cannot
either. We were both SO busy with
poor Aunt Melissa, who had fallen, ,
on the floor, that we had no ;
eyes after anything else.
But there was no wedding for the
And Kate and /, at Aunt Q
Melissa's humble entreaty, remained !,
with her, instead of becoming saleswo- |
man, or giving music lessons.
We are sorry for Aunt Melissa's cruel :,
although, of course, it :
was genuine blessing. But we !
we're not at all sorry for Mr.. Speckle- :
bury.
Gaming from the New York Even v