The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-10-22
4And who is the brides" questioned

"And who is the bridef'' questioned
Faith.
"Why, that's the mooted point, as yet.
Nobody seems to know. Some say one,
and some say another, but the general
impression seems to be that 1t is that rich
widow who ~ns the brown-stone block
on the corner!''
Vim sure I hope he will be happy"
said Faith, with trcmulous lip, and eyes
suffused with tears. But-but think he
might have said something to us about
itl''
"People are not generally in hurry
to proclaim the fact that they are about
to make fools of themselves" sasd Duke
Bourne bitterly.
"Why,' cried Faith, laughing through
her tears, "that is precisely what he said
about us!"
But the next day a letter from uncle
Nahum Nixon himself settled the matter.
He wrote:
Where's to be wedding at my house
on the 18th, and want you and Duke
to be there without fail"
"A wedding! At his house!' cried
Faith: ~ supposed weddings we're al
ways held at the BRIDES residence
$50 they are, DEAR" said Miss Smith;
"but your uncle was always 80 eccentric"
"What shall we do?' said Faith.
"Why, 60, of course" said Marlnaduke
Bourne. ITO show that we bear no MAJ
ice at being dislnherited, if for no other
reasono
The seventeenth of March arrived, a
cold, clustering, windy night, and the
old red brick house was all in a glimmer
of light as the young betrothed pair
drew up to the door.
Uncle Nahum met them on the thresh
| old in his old-fash1oned swallow-tailed
coat. with huge white camelia bud in
his button hole: and a pair of surpris-
1ngly white kid gloves.
"Have you brought your white frock?"
was his first question to his niece.
"No, uncle, L"
"That won't do,' said uncle Nahum.
"Nobody must come to nv wedding
without marriage garment. It's luckY
provided one for you. Come up stairs,
quick, and put it on, tor the parson is
waiting and the company are here.
"But, uncle, the bride?"
"You shall see her by-and -by," said
uncle Nahum, cespotically. "Come up
stairs uow, and change your dress.'
"But uncle-a white silk !" cried Faith.
looking in dismay at the glistening dress
laid out for her use.
"What then2 Isn't white silk the
thing for wedding9 Put it On Quick.
and Ill send some one to bring you down
in five minutes"
And so with doubtful heart Faith
Nixon robed herself in the white silk
dress, with Its trimmings ofvapory blonde
and its long trail.
"Wheres your veil!" said nncle Na-
hum, when he came himself, few min
utes later, to the door.
"Uncle, can't wear veil" pleaded
Faith.
"But you naust!" said uncle Nahum.
Nobody comes to my wedding without
veil!'
And he placed the wreath lightly on
her head.
"But uncle Nahum, they'll take me for
the BRIDE"
"Let 'em,' said the old gentleman.
''Take my arm. Now come down stairs.
and I'll show you the BRIDE Here she
is"
And lifting her bewildered eyes, Faith
Nixon beheld her own figure rejecting
In ulllength mirror at the stairway.
"Here's the BRIDE" chucklde uncle Ma
hum, leading her up to Duke Bourne.
"And here's the groom" touching Bourne
on the arm. {" And here's the parson, all
ready and waiting. Now, Reverend Sir"
to the clergyman, "marry them as fast as
you can"
And, before either Of the astonished
were made man and wife.
"Duke," cried the bride, as soon as the
ceremony was over, "did you know OF
this?'
mo, didn't" said Mr.. Bourne wlths
his arm very tight around his little Wife
waist. "But 1 must say that 1 approve
veryhighly OF the whole proceedings
Uncle Nahnm stood by, rubbing his
hands, his whole face wreathed in one
prodig,ous smile.
$50 you supposed it 1 was who was to
be married, eh?' he said" Not a bit oft,
not bit OF it! I'm too old bird 70 be
caught wltq such chaff as that! No, no,
little Faith! Did you think was going
to turn my wee birdie out of her nest,
after all the years she has been cherished
thcre2 No, no! only wanted to as
sure myself that your fancy was real
fancy, and that this young rascal here"
shifting Bourne on the shoulder once
more. "loved you for yourself alone and
not for the money he thought the old
man was gong to leave you. And you're
to live here, both of you, and we'll be
happy ever after. Strike up your harps
and fiddles! Let's have a dance-let's
all be merry logether!''
And Uncle Nahum Nixon himself led
off the bridal quad.ille, dancing in the
good old style of fifty years ago.
II don't have wedding every day.
said uncle Nahum, breathlessly, as he
cut one last pigion-wing; "and I mean
to make the most of it,"
MOdesty and Bashtulness.