The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-20

capped the ears of the absorbed couple. for &
well-known figure was driving at break-neck
speed p the lane, and her release was at hand:
In two minutes more Tom was standing be-
fore this start ed pair, indignantly demanding
of them what they had done with Delphine:
20 Lordy. ha'n't Delphiny with you, after
allP' screamed Barbary, rushing in from the
been consolin' myself all the while q thinkin'
she WIZ with you" And, for the first in her
life almost, che burst into tears.
"Here l am, Barbary! here am, Tom,
spoke Delphine, cheerfully from the depths Of
the brass kettle. 'And now If you only help
me down think all will be right"
20 yeou wicked, wicked girl, to scare yeour
mother almost to death fur nOthin'" ex-
claimed Mrs. Long, but her reproaches did not
continue, for Delphine had tainted. q little
white heap in Toms arms. Divining the
whole story at once, he had sprung to her as
sistance, while the others stood tran-ixed with
amaZement.
$50 my brave little girl mana ed to wait for
me after all, he said. when the color crept
into her cheek again and she opened her eyes.
II was away from home when your letter
reached Stanford, Delphine, but ! have trav-
eled every moment with horrible fear that 1
might be too late, making my blood curdle all
the way. You are certainly not married to the
Elder!" With an awful glance at his would-be-
rival.
She shook her head
81 told you that would never marry any
one but you, Tom"
Then Delphine went up stairs to her own
little room for little rest, and Tom had a pri-
vate interview with Delphines mother, which
must have been a successful one, for she ap-
peared from it with a sOftened and smiling
manner, and Immediately went up to her
daughter with the wedding dress on her arm,
and babe her, at Toms request, to array her
self in it as speedily as possible.
And Tom sought the Elder with extended
hand, and wished him joy after most cordial
and friendly fashion.
At early lamplighting, as the hour was
named announced among the relatives, there
was a wedding in the Widow Longs parlor, q
double wedding, which filled every one with
surprise, and in spite OF the lugubrious man
ner Of the officiating Elder who pronounced
the marriage ceremony, in the same warning
tone with which he was wont to declare that
the ark OF safety was a sailin' by in prayer
meetings, it was q merry one.
The older bride, who was alksmiles and tears
like young girl, declared that she was never
80 frustrated In her hf--the fndin' Delphiny,
the Elders proposal m the weddin' and all
was dretful suddin. Tn. Elder swallowed all
resentment and wore noble smile upon his
severe countenance, while the joy of the
younger couple could not be suppressed. 1t
sparkled In every look and tone, and excited
the sympathy of all the guests. And in spite
OF past trials and hardskps and the imprison-
ment Of the brass kettle, there never was .
prettier, roster or fresher bride, though as
doubtful Barbary declared, "she had taken all
the weddin' look out Of her dress by sticken
every one of the red roses of her mothers
monthly bush inter her belt m under her
chin"
"WeI, shell find eout the meanin' OF that
windin' sheet In the candle, m tibet fires bein'
so SOL on burnin on one side, sooner or later, !"
sighed Aunt Loisy, as she climbed into the
lofty wagon after the ceremony was over;
"'n' whatever folks say ct don't seem to me q
purity or proper thing for a young woman to
twas tew keep herself from gettin' merried
to the wrong one"
"Wouldn't yaou died before you'd a mer-
ried the Elder, II you'd been in Eunus' place 90
said Aunt Polly, meditatingly. -Ballou's
Magazine