The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-07-27

frequented by women.
Good evening, Miss Grace. I am
happy to sec you. I'm what can have
the honor to serve you?"
He had read my face and knew that
/ had come on a mission.
"Major Hawthorne" l said, paying
no attention to his offer of u chair,
II have come on very painful er-
rand"
''S'it down, madam" said the Major
politely. 81 cannot possibly permit
lady to stand on my piazza. [ ought,
perhaps, ask you to walk in, but it is
rather stuffy indoors this evening""
No" l said, Il will sit here, if you
please" To tell the truth, indoors, as
seen seer through the window, had not the
most inviting look, and was glad to
compromise.
"You have, no doubt, heard'-plung-
ing in nedjas res-''that Miss Lydia
Lndkins is about to be marriedP'
"Married! Miss Lydia! No! Hadn't
heard word of it," said the Major in
genuine amazement. ''Who is the fortu-
nate man, pray?'
The Rev. Nehemiah Applebloom, a
missionary to the Micronesian Islands,
who has como home to recruit his health
and find wife"
Il know him." said the Major. "Saw
him down at the station-a long, lean,
lank individual fit for his vocation;
no temptation whatever to cannibals!
But what the deuce is he going to do
with Miss Lydia? What will Balaam's
Corners do without her?''
"Balaam's Corners must do the best
it can," said-I fear little sharply
for my mind was still in most aggres-
sive state toward the Major.
"They are to be married next week.
and''-
"What will become of the ancestor sP"
interpolated the Major, in whom sur
prise seemed to have gotten the better
of habitual politeness.
ooh, she has made arrangements with
Mr.. Crow about that"
"Just like her! Dear, faithful girl"
The Major had all his life loved all
the sex-not one-and / was not to be
beguiled by this show of feeling.
''She had set her heart upon being
married in her grandmother's wedding
gown"
"Old Mrs. Captain SimonP l remem-
Der her we'll. A mighty fine woman.
She would never have gone to the ends
of the earth with missionary. It's the
craziest scheme l ever heard of"
began TO fear that I should never
get to my errand.
at was put out on the grass to bleach,
being little yellow with age. 1t was
a lovely embroidered India muslin that
the old Captain brought home from In
dia himself"
s'How well l remember him in my
boyhood! A Jolly soul! A and-daughter
Of his going off to the Cannibal Islands
to be eaten up by savages! won't have
itr'
''Her heart is set upon going" 1 con-
tinued "The wedding-gown was put
out to bleach, and this very afternoon
those little Berkshire pigs of yours
they are nuisance to the whole neigh
borhood, Maior-trampled and rooted
it to pieces, so that it is utterly ruined" :"
Little black rascalsr' said the Ma
ior. with q chuckle behind his neck
cloth.
knowledge, to tell you of it, because I
was sure that, under the circumstances,
a gentleman of your breeding would feel
Ill nOIOE DOltHOl W llIttIAO SOlIlC Icpdl
ton to Miss Lydia"
The Major mused and looked at his
boot for moment i'll silence.
.'Miss Grace" he said at length, 81
| thank you for the service you have rem
| dered me in this matter. Will you have
the goodness to say to Miss Ludkins,
with my compliments, that ! shall do
| myself the honor to wait upon her to-
| morrow morning at ten O'Clock, to adj
| Just the unfortunate matter? beg in the
| meantime that she will give herself as
| little sOlicitude Us possible, for though
| cannot restore the ancient and venera-
ted dry goods, will do the best that is
| possible under the circumstances to
make the loss good
| He bowed over my hand and the au-
dience was evidently concluded. Was
I satisfied? No, indeed! What woman
would not have felt wronged to be left
at the end of Il mission of disinterested
benevolence in such q state of doubt and
uncertainty as this? But was obliged tt
90 home nevertheless, and wait as pa
tiently as l could for the stroke of tel
next morning.
Glory had been In hearing when th'
message had been delivered to Mis-
Lyddy and she too was on the watch
At last she scudded in from the hedge
her worries all a-glisten, and her eye
wide open and full of o rather incom
prehensible mirth.
He's a-comin'' she said; land sue
q sightr'
At that minute the gate clicked an
up the walk strobe indeed a most aston
ishing figure. The Major had gotte
himself up in continental suit, whic
he must have fshed out of the unknow
depths of the ancient attics at Hawthorn
deau; black velvet coat with lace ru1
flies at the wrist, knee breeches, whit
satin waistcoat, slippers with sho
buckles, powdered wig and cocket ha
He was six feet tall, portly and we
formed, and he looked every inch Il SigI
er of the Declaration at the very leas
He was followed by his colored mar
who carried large brown paper pa
eel
Hes come a-courtin', missus," sal
Glory, eve can see it in his face.
had not the instinct of Glory, an
doubted; but what his errand was wt
dying to know.
But he disappeared into Miss Lydia
parlor, and l was left outside to tempe
: nv impatience rs best could. Pre-
emily Glory entered on tip-toe.
''Missus, missus," she whispered. Il
dos swung open jess de leas' crack, al
its jess opposite de big murror, an if J
5 come out here in de hall, ye can see
all in de murror as plain as day, an ii
> hcep better'n a play"
1t was a temptation, but believe m
1 dear reader, l resisted it. Only as Clio
= ran back to her peeping, l followed
Y pull her away and send her out of doc
s that was simply my duty-and the
: he was full on his knees before her, al
4 she with that rapt seraphic look up'
s her face which no woman ever wea
e except on the most vitality interestil
d occasions. But Glory disposed of,
i. went back to my sewing and waited
d best could the conclusion of the III
d mentous interview. The Major car
> out at length, as smiling as May mon
v ing, leaving the brown paper parcel
$ hind him.
d 1t was very still in Miss Lydia's roc
c for quarter of an hour, and then 81
y too, emerged from her retreat Spre
II over her hands was Il gown of crea