The Portland daily press., 1880-01-12
Browns Wedding Day.
A Texas Tale Founded on Facts.
1Courier-.JOurnal.1

lCour1er-Joufnall
One beautiful spring msrning of a certain
year, between daylight and sunrise, Mr.. Sam
uel Brown, bachelor, we'll mounted and well
dressed, left his ranch in certain portion Of
Western Texas to ride journey OF forty miles.
The road was firm and the scenery beautiful,
with its hazy outlines of distant hills and
mountains, and vast stretches of table land,
covered with bright, green grass land decked
here and there by the live oak, with its darker
green. Mr.. Brown was blessed with health
and clear conscience. The pure air Of the
early day and the springy tread of his excel
lent horse stirred his blood like old wine.
The breath of the May morning touched his
bronzed cheek lightly and sweetly as a
maiden's Kisses and with admirable i'm
partiality proceeded to bestow its dainty
caresses on the tender foliage and luxuriant
grass. The little birds tried to burst their
throats in their mad joy, and the air was
filled with the gladness of the young year.
Mr.. Brown, though only pioneer and devoid
of aesthetic culture, was always susceptible to
the beauties of nature: but on this particular
morning there might have been seen re
pressed gladness in his eyes-a bottled up hi
ldrlJy ABOUT his I1dlHer Selordily WuiCl CouIu
not have proceeded from the Influence. OF his
surroundings. The fact is this was Mr.. Browns
wedding day, and at the end of forty miles his
imagination pictured lovely bride, a beauti-
full supper and the cordial congratulations OF
many friends. He gave vent to his Joy in
snatches of song, and with that peculiar per.
verseness of man, indulging in melancholy bal
lads when he feels good and glad, he sang
scraps of sad love song.
''Let Us sing of the days that are go-o-ne,
IT, ruith
a lugubrious prolongation of the word ''gone'
and spurred his horse into gallop. For many
miles the echoes sent back gloomy observations
concerning Maggie" and "Nettie Moore" and
the hard roads rang beneath the feet OF Mr.
Browns mettlesome steed. He neared his
journeys end-only three or four miles inter-
vened between him and anticipated ecstacy-
when something unexpected something which
ought to have been narrow and shallow and
musically ripping, suddenly arose before him,
wide, deep and seemingly impossible. 1t was
the Llano river, swollen by tremendous rains
on its head waters. Samuel Brown reined III
his horse, rode slowly up to the waters edge
and stopped. In the eager pursuit OF happiness
it is hard for us to realize some sudden and
stupendous difficulty that arises in our way.
Mr.. Brown pinched himsef-perhaps he was
dreaming, for had he not often slept on his
horse? 1t was all of no avail-he could not
cheat himself another moment into believing
that it was phantasm. There it was, rush
er; there was born unto his mind firm faith
in the reality of great obstacle between him
and happiness. He rested one leg on his horses
neck and viewed the situation. Softly and
meditatively he whistled bar or two of Net
tie Moore, )" and, to his everlasting honor be it
said, only made this one reprehensble remark;
"Well, if this amt hill"
Brown was man of action, and did not heSi-
tate long. He dismounted and, in few mo-
ments, was on his horse again, with his hat
rIAI ,Jrr ~ hoo nr.1 htC nfh ri
clothes neatly bundled and tied on the horn OF
his saddle. He rushed his unwilling horse into
the stream, but the horse would not swim with
his weight. He slipped off behind, and, hold
ing the horses tail with one hand, steered for
the opposite shore by splashing water in the
back. Blinded, stampeded, foiled i'll his
efforts to turn back, the animal swan with a
mad velocity for tho other bank. This is
bully" quoth Mr.. Brown, "if he will only
had no idea of doing this. AS soon as he at
tainded the shallow water of the other side he
commenced pitching in a manner that threat
ened Mr.. Brown a loss Of hold, and when he
had gained terra .frmd began kicking and
pitching with such violence that the desperate
and determined Brown could retain his grip
no longer He was compelled to release his
hold, though death seemed pleasant alter
native. The horse was off like shot, and
despair was about to claim the miserable man
as 1tS own, Vnen ray Ol nope tOiu uiiu thde
life was worth struggle yet. The mad
plunges of the horse had displaced the red
Mexican saddle-blanket and it fell to the
ground after he had run short distance.
Browns eye lighted with joy as he gathered it
up, and attiring himself after the manner of
the noble red man, hesrushed majestically up
the hill aud was rewarded with glimpse of
his horse as he flashed around point Of tim
ber several hundred yards distant. lie took
the horses tracks at brisk walk and started
at every sound, fearing an attack of the pale
face man or maiden. On through the open
woods for miles, with no sight of grazing
horse to reward his strained vision. The last
rays of the setting sun tipped the tree tops, and
Brown thought of drama to be enacted at
early candle light, in which he was cast for a
leading and an indispensable part. He ground
his teeth in impotent rage, drew his mantle
closer about his stalwart form and quickened
his pace. Hist! Sounds of voices and laugh
ter from men and women on a road hard by.
Brown dropped behind some friendly rocks
and recognized acquaintances on their way to
attend his nuptials. He called to friend in
the crowd who came TO him; all was explained,
his horse was followed and caught, and in the
happiness that ensued, Brown was proof
against the jokes that were leveled at him.