Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-12-24

must have the tableau first, and she look
ed up, blushing more deeply than dam
ask rose in June into the face OF Mr.. Franz
Emmons, upon whose arm she happened
to be leaning.
"An right" responded the old man with
q sigh of relief, for the burden would sooE
be lifted from his soul. "Do you want me
to help your"
mo; but tell mother, please, ! want
herr And Miss Minerva darted away to
her own private room, while the old man
told the fddlers to adjour 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
a reatspatch-work bed quilt across, and
marshalled the company into something
like order. Then. after brief pause. in
which thef6 WAS mpnh+ hisperin3s yl6
improvised curtain was drawn aSfd0 aKd
disclosed Miss Minerva standing hand
in hand with Mr.. Frank Emmons, with Q
young lady and gentleman as supporters,
and the old minister before them.
Amazed, but silent, the Deacon looked
on. He did not comprehend the affair at
all, had no practical knowledge of cha
rades, but when certain words had been
spoken and ring passed, sudden light
broke in upon the darkness of his under
standing. aud he exclaimed with an earn
estness that startled all:
"Je-ru-sa- lem! 1t looks like q mar
riage!'
The hearty laugh that followed suficed
for full explanation and 1t 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 an
CRY. Then he saw the foolishness Of such
proceeding, especially as he had previ-
ously given his assent to the selection of
his daughter, and entered heartily into the
laugh against himself.
"That's what you call a-Jerusalem! I
can't speak the new tangled name-is itp
Yet it is hardly fair to fool tho old
man so, Minerva. did expect you would
find something in your stocking tonight,
child. but not great live sweetheart.
However it is all right (anything she could
have done would have been SOL and we'll
make the best of it, and your mother 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 were pressed upon his
own, silken face was laid upon his wrink-
led one, a 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
the hand of his darling, and said, Take
her and may God bless you both, my chill
dren. If have lost daughter have
found son and shall have another arm to
lean upon when my eyes grow dim and
steps unsteady and"
More he would have said but great
ringing of bells summoned them to supper
and such supper. 1t would have made
grim Famine commit suicide IN despair to
have looked upon the table, and Time
throw away his hour-glass and sit blythely
down and enjoy the feast. The good
mother had known the secret from the
FIRST, and with her pride stimulated had
distanced all former efforts, even to pro
duce a Christmas supper, and the only
complaint was of excessive fullness, when
again the violins summoned the party t.
the hall.