The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-25

the animals VIII want plenty 10 eat.
Blessings or the bright eyes of her,
and its ivrything on the old farm III kill
if she wants it, the darlin'."
eyes, I believe you That girl seems
to have faculty Of twisting every one
around her finger, and"
''Diyil won more thin her buld fayth-
er, said Mike as he 'proceeded to obey
the orders he had received, ian muther
lashins of poultry" well knowing that
his share of the feast would be no stinted
one.
To late hour the making ready was
continued, and all went to bed tired but
happy. And the next day was a continual
hustle. Extra help was summoned, and
the kitchen fires roared, and the i'm
mense Dutch oven glowed and plenty
ruled triumphant, while the old deacon
was in his glory bringing supplies from
town and making himself useful as well
sas most proyokingly officious
SO the day passed and the night came
with everything ready for the grand
time.
Early the house began to be filled with
merry company, and were welcomed by
father, mother and daughter, the latter
resplerdant in robes of fleecy white,
abundantly trimmed with soft, floating
laces and Topped with artificial flowers,
while natural roses, fringed with myrtle
and smilax, were half hidden amid her
| golden hair and pulsated upon her Joy
Dusty throbbing bosom.
For an hour there appeared to be
ceaseless Ginning of sleigh-bells, and
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door Indeed, so many were the teams
that Mike was frantic to know what to
! do with them But the Deacon believed
in ''the more the merrier' principle, and
kept every one busy and contented. Yet
for all the gaily dancing and singing
company, shade of perplexity now and
then crossed his face. He had not solved
the mystery of the tableau. and it hung
upon him as troublesome nightmare.
| For hours the house rang and trembled
| upon its strong foundation. 1t was a
veritable beehive of fun and frolic, and
many soft cheek took on deeper roses
from stolen kisses; many nm innocent
heart bounded more swiftly from the en-
circling arm and many pair of ears
tingled from the slappiIg of white hands
in payment for saucy jest or pilfered
caress.
But good, buxom dame Hannah had
almost as. much pride i'll her cooking rs
in her one dear lamb, and when the
ancient clock made its huge, heavy,
coffin-like case throb with the ringing of
ten, she whispered to her husband, good,
prudent soul that she was, that "the
children must be getting hungry, and
she WAS going to see about the tables y
! In response to her suggestion, he
sought their daughter and told her they
were going to have supper, and that the
young folks had better stop romping and
cool off, or some Of them would be GER
tain to take their DEATH
eyes, father" she answered; "but we
must have the tabieau first" and she
looked up. blushing more deeply than
damask rose in June into the face of Mr..
Fra K Emmons, upon whose arm she
LA %, ned to be leaning.
An right responded the old man
with sigh of relief, for the burden would
soon be lifted from his soul. 'Do you
want me to help you?'
mo; but tell mother please, I want
her." And Miss Minerva darted away
to her own private room. while the old
man told the fddlers to adjourn to the
kitchen and make themselves comfortable
until wanted again
Evidently some OF the girls understood
what was going on, if the Deacon did not,
for they cleared one end of the hall.
hung great patch work bed-quilt across
and marshalied the company into some
thing like order Then, after brief
pause, in which there was much whis-
pering the improvised curtain was drawn
aside and disclosed Miss Minerva stand
ho,J 50 T.
mons, with young lady and gentleman
as supporters, and the old minister be-
fore them.
Amazed, but silent the Deacon looked
on. He did not comprehend the affair
at all, had no practical knowledge of
charades, but when certain words had
been spoken and ring passed, a sud-
den light broke in upon the darkness of
his understanding, and he exclaimed
with ali earnestne IS that startled all
''Je-ru- salem 1t looks like mar
riage!'
The hearty laugh that followed suf1iced
for full explanation and it needed not
the assurance Of the minister to convince
|. him that his daughter was honestly and
legally married to the man of her choice.
And yet at first he was disposed to be au-
CRY. Then he saw the foolishness Of
such proceeding, especially as he had
previously given his assent to the Sc
lection of his daughter, and entered
heartily into the laugh against him
| self
That's what you call a-Jerusalem!
| can't speak the new tangled name-is
it? Yet it wasn't hardly fair to fool the
! old man SO, Minerva I did expect you
would find something in your stocking,
tonight, child, but not great, live man.
However it is all right (anything she
could have done would have been so) and
we'll make the best Of it, and your moth
er and l will have plenty to do in getting
things ready to fill the little stockings
/ that"
A soft white hand stopped his words,
red and ripe lips We're pressed upon his
own, a silken face was laid upon his
wriEkled one, few tears of happiness
were rained down upon his broad breast,
and with faltering tongue the old man
called the young husband to his side,
gave him tae hand of his darling, and
said. "Take her and may God bless you
both, my children. If have lost a
daughter l have found q son and shall
have another arm to lean upon when my
| ewes orow dim and stems unsteady