Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-22
A WEDDING GOWN.
BY CAROLINE f. CORN.


hold with u praised hands and eyeballs
that seemed starting from their sockets.
Her pause was one of preparation, for
with the innate consideration OF her
race, she sought to break the news gen
ly to me, but the burden of it was too
great for her, and with the next breath
she exclaimed.
"Dem pigs done chawed up M iss
Liddy's weddin' gown"
"Glory," exclaimed (she had been
piously christened Gloriana.) GLORY,
how did it happen?"
"Dunno" said Glory. "Pears to me
dem pigs has got Satan in 'em. Guess
dey's seconded from de ole lot what run
down a steep place inter the sea. IN
go an fetch we piece"
She sped out and instantly returned
with tattercd shred Of India null
that had once been white, and still bore
some resemblance to gown. Poor
Miss Liddy; this was all that remained
of her dream of wedding splendor. 1t
was too pitifu! / felt Mt once that the
bonds of good neighborhood had been
irretrievabIy broken, and taat Major
Hawthorne must be made aware of
this last and worse depreciation of nis
unseemly pigs.
But who would break the news to
Miss Liddyl
Glory" said /, "where is she2'
"Gone over to de buryin' place to
tend To de ancestors" answered Glory.
Poor faithful soul; even in those last
days of her maidenhood, with the
vague terrors Of matrimony and the
still more appalling responsibilities OF
unsavcd heather souls hanging over
her, she did not fo-get the ancestors.
Long lines of Ludkinses lay buried in
little sunken hillocks in the family
burying-place, which lay just in sight
Of her sittlng-rOOm window. She her
self was the last of the race, and until
within three weeks it had seemed that
the only fate which awaited her was
to live out her little space under the
ancestral roof-tree, and then take her
place in the silent ranks of those who
had gone before. But change had
come. 1t came in the person of u re-
turned missionary from the Microne-
sian islands, who had buried the first
and second partners of his joys and
sorrows somewhere under the palm
trees of those tropical lands, and had
come back to- the scenes of his youth
to recruit his health, serve the cause
and look up partner No. g. He met
Miss Liddy at woman's missionary
meeting. He called the next after
noon and was invited to stay to tea.
He accepted the invitation and next
morning Miss Liddy came into my
room-fGr |, too, domiciled under the
Ludkins' roortree, for II consideration
and with much hesitation and many
faint and delicate bushes, informed
me that she had promised TO share the
future lot of the Rev Nehemiah APP
plebl0om, to take care of his six chill
dren, and to support him in his ardu-
GUS labOrS among the heather OF the
Micronesian islands.
was struck dumb with amazement.
"Nliss Liddy," | said Mt length, "have
you duly considered the subject"
Her thin figure quivered, and her
white face. that had yet n delicate re-
membranco of youth in it, grew tender
with feeling.
"Yes," she said. al think | have. |
have always had IL presentiment that l
should marry Il minister or a mission
ary." Admirable and prophetic faith.
"And Mr.. Applebloom says he knew
the moment he set eyes upon me that
| was ordained TO be his wife; so you
see it is not the surprise to either of us
that it is likely to be to our friends"
| knew then that her mind Was fully
made up. | demurred no longer, but
lent myself at once to the discussion of
the wedding, which plainly saw was
what Miss Liddy desired of me.
You will be married in church |
suppose ?"
ooh, no." said Miss Liddy, with gen
tie decision. 81 am the last of the
Ludkinses. All the I.udkinses have
been married at home. will go out
from under my own roof tree. If l
must seem to forsake the ancestors
she paused to regulate little choking
i'll her throat-'l will ut least not for
sake their traditions. | shall leave
little money with the parish clerk, that
he may see that the graves of my dead
are kept Ill proper order, M | have al
ways loved to keep them, and | hope
they will forgive my departure: but l
will go as a Ludkius should. 1t is my
desire To I've married i'll my grand
mothers wedding gown.
Miss Liddy's voice tremhled, and
there was humidity in her eyes, at
which did not wonder, fo- it was much
like II funeral after all.
al thought, perhaps" went on Miss
Liddy, "ii brought the veuerated relic
to you. you won Il tell me il anything
were necessary to be done to fit it to
me. | don't care for the fashions you
know, and my grandmother rs re-
member her, was about my height, hut
still, You know, somethIug-some
changes might be advisable"
Certainly | said, do bring it to
me. should like to see it."
at is sprigged India (she called it
Ingy J null My grandfather, Captain
Simon Ludkins, brought 1t home from
over the seas. I'll bring it"
Like some pale and gentle ghost she
rose then and went to n bureau drawer
and unrolted from folds of linen that
smelt of lavender, the relic Of Mrs. Cap,
tain Simon Ludklns' wedding state. 1t
was fine embroidered null, the un-
doubted product of Indian looms.
at is lovely" said. 'aud so well
kept that it will be just the thing for
you. VIII you try 1t onS We can tell
then Just what it needs"
Miss Liddy proceeded TO disrobe her,
self and pat on the spider net gown. As
she did so, the changes in fashions
mandates became only too evident. 1t
had no waist to speak of, and just lit
tie lace-trimmed puff for sleeves. Miss
Liddy was evidently surprised. She
had not thought of this. knew well
what the troubled look on her face
meant, and pitied her maiden sensi-
bilities. Could it be possible that her
grandmother, Mrs. Capt. Simon Lud-
kins, had ever worn such gown as
this? She said not word that could
indicate the depth of her modification
but her face was study for an artist.
"There must be sleeves" she muir
INJURED, after a few moments silent and
embarrassed contemplation.
EYES," l replied, cheerfully as my
constrained gravity would allow. "And
you might have fichu, and a ounce
on the bottom"
She looked down. She had not be-
fore realized that the skirt of the