Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-31

4 "Then you consent. Uncle Nahum p
mol" roared the old bachelor
"Nothing of the sort" 3.
1 .'But, Uncle Nahum, I should be
4 wretched without Duke" softly pleaded
Faith. -
"Fiddlestrings! I" said the old man.
''And I'm sure he couldn't live with.
4 out men a
i s.Trash !" grunted Mr.. Nixon. :
4 s"And, If you please, uncle,n added
Faith. perhaps I'd better go to my
friend Violet Smiths to make up my
wedding things, since you disapprove
SO decidedly of my plans. She lives in
New York, you know, and it will be
convenient for shopping and"
"And rfOr all other tomfOoleries in
general" rudely interrupted the old
gentleman. "Yes, go to your Violet
Smiths, but don't expect to come back
here" 81
No, uncle?" said Faith, meekly.
"But you'll let me thank you for all
your kindness, and" ~
No, i won't :" said Uncle Nahum, so
fehort that Faith fled up stairs in dismay
and had quiet little cry, notwithstand-
ing she was very. very happy.
For Uncle Nahum, brusque and
Grabbed though he was. was all the
father she had ever known. But she
packed her trunk md went to Violet
Smiths in New York, which was all
the pleasaDter, in that Marmaduke
Bourne had also betaken himself to this
modern Gotham and gone to work stu
dying law as if he meant to take Coke
and Blackstone by storm And Miss
Violet Smith, who was sentimental
young lady, sympathized intensely,
and the young couple were as unrea-
sonably happy as many another couple
has been before and will be again.
But one day Duke Bourne came in
with face full of tidings.
Faith" said he, '.have you heard
the news?"
| "What news ?" asked Faith.
| "Your uncle will get the start of US
after ALL
"What do you mean, Duke?"
| why, he's going to be married"
| "Uncle Nahum?' cried Faith in
credulously.
Eyes, Uncle Nahum. That accounts
for his being so willing to get rid of us
-eh, little one ?"
"And who is the bride ?'' questioned
Faith.
"Why that's the mooted point yet.
Nobody seems to know. Some say one,
and some say another; but the general
impression seems to be that it is the
rich widow who owns the brown stone
block on the corner"
"1'm sure hope he will be happy"
said tremulous lips and eyes suffused
with tears, "but think he might have
said something to US about it,"
| people are not generally in hurry
to proclaim the fact that they are about
to make fools of themselves" said Duke
Bourne bitterly
why" cried Faith laughing through
her tears, THAT is precisely what be said
about us F"
But the next day letter from Uncle
Nahum himself settled the matter. He
| wrote:
"There is to be wedding at my
house On the seventeenth, and I want
you and Duke to be here without fail.'
IA wedding! At his housed" cried
Faith. II supposed that weddings
were celebrated at the brides residence -
$50 they are, DEAR" said Miss Smith
"but your uncle was always so eccen-
tric."
''What shall we do ?" asked Faith. :!
"Why go, of course" said Marina
duke Bourne; ito show that we bear
no malice at being disinherited if for
no other reason"
The seventeenth of March arrived, q
cold, clustering night, aud the old red
brick house was all glimmer of lights
as the young betrothed pair drove up 10
the door. Uncle Nahum met them on
the threshold in his old fashioned swal
low tailed coat. with huge white ca
melia in his button hole, and q pair of
surprisingly white kid gloves.
"Have you brought your white
frock ?" was his first question to his
niece.
mo, uncle, T."
"That won't do" said Uncle Nahum
mo one must come to my wedding
without marriage garment. It's lucky
1 provided one for you: Come up stairs
quick and put it on, for the parson is
waiting and the company are here"
"But, uncle, the bride ?"
"You shall see her by and BY" said
Uncle Nahum despotically. Come up
stairs now and change your dress.''
but. uncle, white silk ~ cried
Faith, looking in dismay at the glisten-
ing dress laid out for her use
| "What then? Isn't white silk the
thing for wedding? Put it on, quick,
and I'll send some one up to bring you
down in five minutes"
And SO, with a doubling heart, Faith
Nixon robed herself in the white dress,
with its trimmings of vapory blonde
and long trail
"Where's your veil ?" said Uncle Ma
hum, when he came himself few min
utes later to the door.
"Uncle, can't wear veil" pleaded
Faith.
"But I say you must ?n said Uncle
Nahum. Nobody comes to my we'd
ding without a VEIL" And he placed
the wreath lightly on her head.
But, Uncle Nahum, they will take
me for the BRIDE"
"Let'm,'' said the old gentleman.
''Take my arm. Now come down stairs
and I'll show you the bride. There she
is."
Lifting her bewildered eyes Faith
Nixon beheld her own figure reflected
in full length mirror at the stairway.
"Here's the BRIDE" chuckled Uncle
Nahum. leading her up to Duke Bourne,
''and here's the groom" touching
Bourne's shoulder. "And here's the
parson. all ready and waiting Now,
reverend sir" to the clergyman, "mar-
ry 'em rs fast as you can." And before
either of the young couple could re
monstrate, they We're made man and
wife,
"Duke," cried the bride, as soon as
the ceremony was over, ibid you know
of this ?"
mo, I didn't" said Mr.. Bourne,
with his arm very tight around his lit
tie wife's waist "But must say ap-
prove very highly of the whole pro-
ceeding."
Uncle Nahum stood by rubbing his
hands, with his whole face Wreathed in
one prOdigious smile.
$50 you supposed it was I who was