The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-11-17
CARRIES. FREAK,

The lights flashed, music lent it's vol
uptuous swell, graceful feet tripped in
Joyous cadence, and flushed cheeks and
"eatlng hearts made still more attractive
a scene of festive happiness. A brill
lant assemblage had found itself under
the hospit@ble roof Of the wealthiest
banker OF the city, end beauty shone
amt wit sparklcd at the gayest reunion
or the season. In one of the intervals
OF the dance proposition was made to
vary the entertainment, and was warm
y received, and the question was asked.
What shall it be ?"
A score of proposals were made. but
all contemptuously rejected as too child
lsh OF too tame, when the clear voice of
Carrie Barton rang out in joyous tones
LET us have q wedding"
She was the reigning belle of the CITY
and the acknowledged beauty of the sur
rounding country, and richly did she
deserve these high positions, from her
radiant loveliness of person, her high
culture and her sweetness of disposition.
Everybody loved her for her many
virtues and pardoned the unceasjng
dow Of animal spirits that would occa.
5i0nally assume the form of positive
ccentricity. Her father had died, leav
tN& her an heiress she was the idol of
her mother and the patron genius of
half the unobtrusive charities of vhe
town. Her presence was everywhere
welcomed, and q score of gentlemen
resent would have gone wild with ioy
Just Tor one look of preference from her
eyes that upon the subject of love alone
were tr1endless and unpitying.
Let us have q wedIlng," she ex-
claimed. A general outburst of approv-
al followed these words, and many a pro-
posal, half in earnest and half IN lest
was made and laughingly declined or
evaded, until pause ensued which
deepened INTO profound silence.
Carrie" exclaimed several of her
friends, "you proposed this diversion
lnd you'll have to set us the example,"
Well, returned the wayward beau
ty, 81 will not disappoint you, though
yOur cowardlce does not deserve such a
reward, and L consent to sacrifice myself
ior the public good"
"Who shall he be?" was the general
inquiry.
In an instant twenty gentlemen sprang
forward, each anxious to share the i'm
notation, but were arrested by the laugh
ing command and uplifted finger OF the
merry girl:
Hold on, gentlemen cannot mar
ry you all, and 1 hope that none of you
will be offended at the result of my
choice, whatever that may be, for shall
avail myself OF my leap-year privilege.
Gentlemen Of the forlorn hope, stand
upl"
In an instant every man was on his
feet.
"Now," said the Joyous beauty, with
mock gravity, "I'll present yon to my
lord and master. Step forward, Mr..
Henry Iverson, and submit to your fate.
Nay, nay, hold on, sir, and don't be i'm
patient; for, Mr.. Harry, if you for one
mo- lent think that this thing will justi-
fy yOu in the faintest hope of this posi-
ton in the future you can resume your
place. [ have selected you from this
gallant crowd because you are COM
parative stranger and from distant
State, to which hear that you soon
propose to return, and [ desire you to
tell our friends in Georgia that Missouri
holds one madcap that commits nothing
but follies, utters nothing bat nonsense,
and has added one more to her mad
extravogances. Now, my liege lord, are
You ready?"
Almost beside himself with joy, even
at this unfatterin8 notice, the young
man took the proflered hand.
NOW, who will marry us2" contin-
ded the audaciOus girl, her whole face
glowing with the animation of her i'm
perial beauty.
Judge Bucl1ner is in the next room,"
suggested one of the company.
':Call him in, then," said the fuCure
bride; "but before he arrives I will
appoint my bridesmaids and form them
in procession. Do you Alice, and Mar
garet, and Louise select the groomsmen,
and precede the happy pair in the or
der of your nomination. There, thatll
do. That's all right. Now move on"
The Judge was standing at the end of
the room and seemed to enter into the
sport as keenly as any Of the gay crowd
around him, and after slight delay pro-
ceeded with the marriage service. The
usual questions were asked and answered
amid peals of laughter, which prevented
the solemn tones of judicial authority
from being noticed. The ceremony was
over and the dance resumed. No one
lett the house that night in higher spirits
than the bride of the reveI.
Henry Iverson was the son of n
wealthy Georgia planter, of high social
position. and of official standing In that