The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-07-27
among the heathcn of the Micronesian

| was struck dumb with amazement.
.'Nliss LYDIA I said at length, 'have
you duly considered this project?''
Her thin figure quivered and her white
face, that had yet delicate remem-
brance of youth in it, grew tender with
feeling.
Yes" she said, 81 think l have.
have always had u presentiment that [
should marry minister or u mission
ary." Admirable and pathetic 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. SO / demurred no longer, but
lent myself at once to discussion of
the wedding, which | plainly saw was
what Miss Lyddy desired of me.
''You will be married in church,
supposed"
"Oh, no." said Miss Lyddy, with gen.
tie decision. 81 am the last of the Lud-
kinses. All the Ludkinses have been
married at home. will 90 out from
under my own roof-tree. If l must
seem to forsakc the ancestors
paused to regulate Il little choking in
her throat-''I will at least not forsake
their traditions. l shall leave little
money with the parish clerk, that he
may see that the graves of my dead are
kept in proper order, as I always have
loved to keep them, and I hope they
will forgive my departure; but will at
least 90 as a Ludkins should. 1t is my
desire to be married in my grandmoth-
er's wedding-gown."
Miss Lyddy's voice trembled, and
there was a humidity in her eyes, at
which did not wonder, for twas much
like funeral, after all.
Il thought, perhaps" went on Miss
Lyddy, ''if l brought the venerated relic
to you, you would tell me if anything
were necessary to be done to fit it to
me. don't care for the fashions, you
know, and my grandmother, as 1 re-
member her, was about my height, but
still, you know : something - some
changes might be advisable"
Certainly" 1 said, ''do bring it to
me. l should so like to see it.''
''It is sprigged India (shc called 1t
Ingy) null. My grandfather, Captain
Simon Dudkins brought it home from
over the seas. I'll bring it,
Like some pale and gentle ghost she
| rose LIlCH anu WCIit 10 IL UuICau UIdNCI
and unrolled from folds of linen that
smelt of lavender, the fair, frail relic of
| Mrs Captain Simon Ludkins' wedding
| state. It was u fine embroidered null,
the undoubted product of Indian looms.
''It is lovely,'' said. land so well
| kept that it will be just the thing for
you. Will you try it on? We can tell
then Just what it needs.''
| Misc rSd ,,roooaIa6 fp 6icvOho bor-
self and put on the spider-net gown
As she did so, the changes in fashion s
mandates became only too evident. 1t
had no waist to speak of, and just a lit
tie lace-trimmed puff for sleeves. Miss
Lyddy was evidently surprised. She
had not thought of this. | knew well
what the troubled look upon her face
meant, and pitied her maiden sensibil-
tiles. Could it be possible that her
grandmother, Mrs. Captain 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 a study for an artist.
"Therc must be sleeves" she mur-
INJURED, after q few moments of silent
and embarrassed contemplation.
Eyes" 1 replied, cheerfully as my
constrained gravity would allow. "And
you might have iichu and a ilounce on
the bottom"
She looked down. She had not be-
fore realized that the skirt OF the ven
Grated relic lacked Il full quarter of q
yard of touching the floor.
"However could theyn' she calculated
in an undertone. But she quickly re-
covered herself and looked up to me
cheerfully over her spectacles.
"How Ingenious you are!' she said,
with an air of sweet relief. 81 knew
you would help me out"
We went out together and bought the
requisite null that day, but when we
came to put it beside the ''venerated
: relic" of Mrs Captain Ludkins it was
evident that time had so enriched the
color of the latter that the two were most
unfortunately unlike.
1--WE can lay it out on the grass"
said; "these June dews are just the
thing for it, and rs it will be- evening
nobody will in the least notice"
Again Miss Lyddy smiled gratefully
and declared that my suggestion shoult
be carried out in the most faithful man
ner.
The Rev. Nehemiah Applebloom-
"a lovely name, don't you think SOP
said Lyddv, and she blushed and smiled
like schoolgirl in her teens-had bu
a short frrlough, and the marriage wa
to transpire the next week, so the reli
was put out to bleach forthwith. 1t ha'
already been on the grass three day
and nights and had been religiousl,
watered by Miss Lyddy at morn am
noon and dewy eve, and the next day
was to be taken up early and put int
: the dressmaker's hands for the neces
sarv alterations, when the dreadful
event occurred with which this narrativ
opens.
GLORY" l said, ''do you keep waite
for Miss Lyddy when she returns. Sa
nothing about what has happened III
less she misses the gown from the gras:
, In that case tell her that l thought
, was bleached enough and took it up t
4 dry, and you don't know where l hav
u put it. l am going out now, but If sll
asks where, tell her you don't know"
5 Glory was faithful, and had beside
u the natural craft of her race, and
I knew that she could be trusted. As fC
me, swiftly donned my bonnet and 81
out to find Major Hawthorne. 1t W:
I q bright June evening, and my wal
$ through the meadow and the grove th'
: skirted Hawthorndeau would have bee
a delightful one if l had borne min
o more at ease: The Major was gentl
man by birth, but he had lived out h
fifty bachelor years in u gay and car
o less way that had seemed to set Il
Z: gentler part of creation at defiance.
u the lifetime of his parents Hawthorndet
% had been beautiful estate. II still T
e tained many small marks of wealth
q and cultivated ownership, but it w
u sadly run down, as the home of hac
IS elor is apt to be. The grove, which h;
n once been the pride Of the place, W
B. grown up to brush now, and the Sc
: leaves of many summers growth rustl
Sc under my feet as 1 walked through
IS IS At one point, coming suddenly aroul
n n a thick clump of underground, 1 hea
10 a chorus of tiny snorts and the scam
III cring of numberless hoofs, and kno
<s thatI had invaded haunt ofthe Majol
last agricultural freak, the very bro
+ of Berkshire pigs that were the sour
iee of all my borrowed woes. Away tn
~ scanpered, their snouts well raised