News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-04-13

IOI u6FeT Cdu i've III the san
house with the naughty beauty who h
stolen John Marden's love away fro
me" she thought, with cruel pang
her heart.
So the lovely September days wei
by, and the colored leaves began to fal
and the nuts to drop softly in the woot
at night; and when October reigned
royalty over hill and mountain, tt
weddlng-day drew near.
Tillie Kerr had been to visit the farm
house. A hard, hard day it was fc
jamie when she came with her blac
silk dress, with its fan-shaped train an
plumed Rubens hat, and white blond
scarf, wrapped like fringe of sea-foa1
around her neck, to criticise and fin
fault, and stare in a curious, istless wa
at the rooms which had been jamie
pride and care so long.
"This hall is so ridiculously narrow,
said the bride-elect; "and the idea O
such funny little winding stairs Why
they make me think of corkscrew |"
John Marden looked at the staircase
down which he had been carried baby
It had never struck him as incongruouI
before.
"And, of course" ratified on Miss
Kerr, ''you will have the partition be-
tween these two rooms taken down, anG
an archway put up?"
"Of course" echoed Squire Marden.
But he didn't know why he said it.
jamie was looking on, and there was q
panied look in her face. She was think
ing Of how poor Mary's corpse, crowned
with white flowers, had lain there so
short a time ago-how the dear old
mother, whose memory John still SO
tenderly revered, died in the sunny
back-room, just when the March snow
drops were bursting through the frozen
ground.
Though I don't know" added the
bride, playing with the ivory top of her
carved parasol, "but that it would be
really cheaper in the end to pull the
whole thing down and build something
to suit ones self exactly"
"The house is over hundred years
DID," said Squire Marden, gravely.
''There is no other house in the country
SO DID,"
"Oh, borrid !" cried Matilda, recoil-
ing with little theatrical cry. "The
idea of living in house that is-a hun
dred years old !"
And she laughed and rustled away,
with her jet chains sparkling, her pres
ence leaving a faint perfume behind her
Of patchouly; and jamie had secretly
ielt that, if she saw much more of Miss
Kerr, she should learn to hate her cor
iially.
The wedding evening came, and all
he country people, high and low, were
invited to participate in the festivities.
Irs. Waller, from whose house the
ridaI was to be celebrated, had done |
er best to give her friend what she (
l1led ''a tiptop wedding" The village
and was engaged; the walls were
ecked with autumn-leaves, scarlet ber |
les and evergreens the bridal-cake
yas q mountain of snowy perfection
nd the old clergyman, in his robes,
TODD waiting at the door, when Mrs.
Waller came hurriedly in, with a pale,
rightened face, to where the bride
room stood, stalwart and handsome,
With his ssbest man" at his side.
"There's no use trying to hide mat
ers any longer" said she, Historically.
sTillie has gonel Gone with Captain
'wedenborg! She went riding with him
his afternoon, and made sure she'd
ome back. But she hasn't; and here's
he telegram from New York. Read it,
ONE one. haven't the face to do it. "
Judge Toucey, who stood next to
Ter, put on his spectacles and leisurely
,erused the telegram.
"Good. by, everybodyl" it said, sauci-
y. ST am married to Captain Sweden
,org, and sail for Europe at loon to-
morrow. Every woman has right to
hange her mind, and have changed
nine. TLLIE SwEDENBoRa.
There was brief silence of second
r two, and then Squire Marden spoke
ut.
"Changed her mind, has she?" he
aid, in clear, ringing voice. 'Well,
haven't changed mine. I came here
o be married, and married intend to
ei If it is not to one bride, it shall be
o another. Little Janie"-to the pale |
irl in the dove-colored silk dress, who |
TODD at his side-"will you take the
lace, in my love and my home, which
bis heartless woman has left vacant?
Will you be my wife p
To the day of her death, jamie Lee
ever knew exactly what she answered.
he only knew that she was gently led
0 the brides place that Squire Johns
trong hand held hers that his clear
oice spoke the responses; that she
nurmured her share, feeling, all the
7hile,s as if she were in a dream.
But when the ceremony was over, and
he guests crowded around to offer their
the mists all cleared |
way from her heart and brain, the |
ranquil light came back to her eye.
John Marden's wife ! What higher
Iappiness had life to offer her?
And when they were driving home, in
he soft autumnal moonlight, she
ooked wistfully into his face.
"John," said she, "are you sure that |
on do not regret this sudden step of
ours?" |
"Regret it, sweetheart :" he said,
enderly pressing her hand. "Regret
hat i have discovered, ere it is too late,
hat false, fair woman's crafty nature ?
Regret that 1 have found my sweet
guardian angel at last ?"
And SO the nine days wonder of
squire Marden's marriage died away.
Mrs. Captain Swendenborg never re-