Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-08-09


bridal party left the church, | be-
thought me of my silk umbrella
and l had not brought it with me.
| And while / was hesitating if /
Nigh some oaitiff had lifted her in
his arms md hidden her and her
finery in the coach, and left me to
drive back with another bridesmaid
a ceature of common clay.
l spent fortnight and more with
my aupt-in.law after the bride and
groom had gone, and DR.. Wilder and
little Rose and some others staid too,
to break the edge of the first lone
someness for the good lady, who,
however, wanted mono of us in reali-
ty; but it was Mareia's arrangement.
The doctor prolonged his visit, and
we left little Rose there with him,
and lame ankle. What time it
was in the clear, bracing December
weather all life seemed mere frolic;
and sleighing and skating, singing
and dancing, watching the high
heavens of stars, sitting by twilight
by the fire, up to see winter sunrises
we forgot it was ever going to
stop. | passed my time in state of
exhilaration amounting to light
headedness. | have since understood
that my behavior was a credit to me.
But an intoxicated man has as much
remembrance of himself as / have of
exactly what l did on any one fixed
moment of those seventeen days. |
lived inside gigantic bubble full of
sweet colors, sweet tones, sweet
smiles, which only broke and dissolv-
ed into worthless, lifeless air when l
found myself trnmping over the field
in driving rain to my pig-sties,
without my umbrella, which | had
left at Waterway.
Of course for some days | was in
all the fatness of that despair in
which people are apt to fiud them
selves after fall from any great
height of exuberant spirits. / could
recover my umbrella but how was
[ to recover my old equanimity or
peace, or gain in its place that crown
of content which belongs to the con-
seriousness of the accepted lover =? l
was child crying for the moon. My
cousin Marcia's cousin Rose was just
as far beyond me. What right had
/, with my little farm, my narrow
means, my quiet life, to think of this
petted beauty, the darling of wealth
and pleasure, who had only fed on
the roses and lain in the lilies of life.
They were on the sunny side; was
in the shadows. All the lands and
title-deeds of the family had gone on
Marcias side had my two hands
and my few acres. Why, could
not allow wife for her whole years
outfit the price of the silk and pearls
Rose wore at Marcia's wedding. If
she had no money of her own, as
once she limited, she was used to
other peoples money. | must put
that life, that people, out of my
thoughts. As-as-weIl, as the best
way to do it, went back to Water
way for that umbrella.
My aunt was 50 sorry DR.. Wilder
had taken it by mistake, and left that
morning with Rose for Bentford-
her leave was more than up. The
Burbanks of Bentford were very
particular people, and her position
my aunt had SD much trouble to get
it for her, she was so young and so
pretty-as governess there, allowed
no tr;fiing.
'Governess | Why, l thought
'Yes, suppose So said my aunt
systematically. Il told Rose she must
let you know she had no fortune
Tod her p
sYou have been apart from US so
much, Allen, and your side of the
house has always married for love,
and grown poorer, and ours well,
ours is like the old farmer it goes
where money u.s.
well, then, why has Rose no
fortune p
| 'Oh, Roses father said the good
woman, ran through with everything
like winnowing machine; and when
he died she had nothing but her wits
and some of her mothers old finery.
Why, my dear, Marcia had to send
her her dress and veil for the wed.
ding. Its great shame, so pretty
and sweet as she is. He was a grace
less scamp. / told him just how it
would be- said my aunt, leaning
back among her cushions and folding
her ieweled hands.
sWhy don't yon take her to live
with you, aunt, in Marcia's place p l
said, boldly.
'In Marcia's place As if any body
could take my daughters place
And when l have been looking for
ward to being alone ever since Mar
cia had lover, now that the thing is
done, go and undue It'll Ny childr
That proposition cost me legacy.
But little thought l of legacies
then. My one idea was that now /
could go to Brentford, and call-for
my umbrella. How differently peo-
pie are made Here was my aunt
in-law longing to be alone, and here
was l.
| Wi GhtDll kuO OLlGcE tOlu luC III Tux
station, the accommodation train had
ten minutes start, but the limited ex-
press overhauled it at the junction.
The tickets were half q dollar more
by the express-the express was just
leaving. When it left, it took me
with it and it did overhaul the ac>
comodation, but in very sudden
way. To be concise, just rounding q
bad curve, the express engine and
the rear accommodation car teIe-
scoped. One moments too long de-
lay, occasioned by some woman's
stopping to kiss all her relations, and
q couple of miles farther it was all
over. Fortunately the rear car was
empty, and an old one, going to
pieces easily, and beyond q few
bruises and the shock, nobody was
hurt; but the trains were off the
track, the cars were off the trucks,
aud there was general wreck and