The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-02-08
MARTHA MARBLEHEAD
The Maid and MatrOn Of ChehaIem.
CHAPTER xxxI

ueLtloub& GouSeluluB Aue usually az
cepted form OF story writing as to fail to
close a narrative like this with the in
evitable wedding.
grant you that usually find life's
most earnest histories beginning where
the average novelist leaves them of,
but this, my pet story, is a striking ex-
ception, for l have little more to tell
you Of it except the wedding, and Of
that you shall forthwith be apprised
The elegant mansion occupied by Col
onel Augustus Marblehead was thrown
open to receive a throng of glad, expect
ant guests.
Major Marblehead and his exacting
better half had arrived in the morning
from Washington, bringing Martha's
children, and the waiting bride had
spent the day alone with them in her
own upper chamber.
The hurry, worry, and fatigue of prep
aration had been going on ali day, but
she was purposely oblivious to it.
81 wanted a quiet wedding so we
might escape all this fuss, but you
wouldn't hear to it, sister mine, and so
you must abide the consequences" she
said, when interrogated by her sister-iR-
law in regard to the general manage
ment Of the reception.
al am making capital for my hus-
band, and yours, too, for that matter,
else I shouldn't work like this to give
anybody a reception" was the cherry
answer. "But never do you mind"
she continued, "Gus and will get along
without your assistance. But do wish
we were not obliged to endure the Off
eious presence Of old dame Marblehead.
If she had the least possible sense Of
delicacy she'd go back to Chehalem
farm and stay there"
''If she had possessed any delicaey
she never would have been a member Of
my fathers family, nor compelled me
to become a member of hers. You
needn't expect her to begin Feforma-
ton at this late hour Of her life. After
some people have lived beyond a certain
age they have outgrown all prospect Of
Improvement in this stage of existence.
My only hope for her is that high
heaven will soon break her shell and
let her die, so her spirit may have room
to expand in the next life."
so, Martha How wicked you are!I'
-asI fhs 1f-tor -f.,.- ofc,rfr.- - hi
her, and smiling in spite OF herself.
The truth was that she was more than
half ready to echo Martha's wish, only
she did not hardly dare.
81 must have time, to-day, to renew
my broken acquaintance with my little
ones" said Martha. "You forget that
have not seen them for nearly eigh-
teen months till now. And what do
care for display in this mood ?r
'No, I don't forget, nor DO lose hope
that shall have just such group OF
children Of my own, some day." replied
the little woman, blushing and laugh
ing, as she ran away to complete her
preparation for the great event.
martha vents a quiet wedding"
she soliloquized, "but she ought not to
think Of such termination to her ca
reer Of bitterness"
With this she sought her husband,
who felt a pardonable concern for the
brilliant success of this, the first reeep-
ton in which he and his little wife
were to be host and hostess.
'Bless her heart" said Martha Mar
blehead, looking after the twain as they
hurried away. "Why a couple situated
as they are cannot have a house full of
children, when those who are situated
as Tom Jones and were are literally
cursed with them, is an anomaly can't
explain"
Neither can your humble servant,
reader kind. But all Of US can see paraI-
lei cases in the homes on thousand
corners. Don't be impatient, though.
l have not forgotten that was going to
tell you about the wedding.
1t was to be, aud really was, a grand
affair. Neither time nor money was
spared to make il the event of the
season.
And when the hour came that was to
seal the contract heaven had made long
years before, and Rev. Mr.. Brown, ac-
companied by the radiant bridegroom,
alighted from carriage and stepped
fondly up the Illuminated lawn, and
Martha, clad in becoming array, and
looking sweetly, gloriously beautiful,
gathered her children at the window to
watch their coming, the real present
faded away, and she was carried back
to the little church in Galestown, where
she seemed to see herself as a child
again.
"Henry Kingston Greensborough,
may the angels grant that our union,
long delayed, but at last so near fulfill
meut, may be to US the joy and blessing
that it never could have been but for
the trials Of the days gone by" she
prayed, at last, unmindful that the eyes
Of her children, the children of Thoma:
Jones, were upon her, and caring fol
naught save the happiness of the pres.
ent hour.
Mr.. and Mrs. Major MarbIehead re.
ceived the company with their son anC
daughter. Good Mr.. Brown performed
the ceremony, aud, to the surprise o
everybody, the whole was crowned b,