Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-01-23


place again. That worthy person
backed slowly and cautiously down,
and when certain of standing firmly
once more on level ground, looked
around eagerly for the luckless bride,
who still lay in helpless condition
in the corner, an object to excite the
pity if not exactly the admiration of
a bridegroom.
II hope you amt no ways hurt,
Maria. Chirk up, and don't be cast
down at sich time," said the dea-
con, lifting her and leaning her
against the fence while he wiped the
perspiration from his purple face.
Then, placing his fat arm about the
slender form of the agitated Maria,
by slow degrees he dragged her to
where the chaise and the white mare
were standing in the moonlight await
ing the love-lorn pair, and after
many persuasive arguments induced
her to exert herself enough to mount
the chariot, with assistant boosting
from him.
Finally they were off, Maria lean
ing helplessly against his bosom, and
declaring vaguely that she would
''rather died." referring, no doubt,
to her lovers having seen her CATERS
and possibly her false teeth. But the
moonlight was soft and mellow, the
air sweet and balmy, the deacon ten
der and affectionate, and by the time
the old mare had turned her head
round the corner of the lane on which
stood her private residence, the gray
stable in the rear of the deacon's
house, Maria had yielded to the soft
ening influences about her and had
cheered up a bit, and looked quite
hopeful and bride like.
When the happy pair entered the
little shop, Hymen seemed to smile
on them, and the small sitting room
seen just beyond, ablaze with the
beams of lamp, looked like a sight
of paradise to Maria. The hour
had come for which she had prayed
and longed for years. She was to be
bride. Henceforth she would be
the envy of at least a dozen spinsters
of the village and neighboring coun-
try. Her cup seemed full of happi-
ness.
The reverend gentleman whom the
deacon had imported for the occasion
from ''Kaintuck in a skiff the previ
Gus afternoon, was reused from
sound sleep into which he had fallen
in a wooden rocking-chair by the
open window, and the presence of the
small boy who had been left in charge
of the shop-and who had conse-
quently spent the evening in remote
part of the town with one Jakey
Sniggs (who was at that moment Sc
creted in the deacon's kitchen, await
ing share of the pumpkin pie that
would be served anon) the brief GER
emony was performed which convert
ed Miss Maria Parrat into Mrs. Dea-
con Skeels.
Let us pass over the scenes that
followed, when the small boy and ia
key Sniggs spread the report of the
elopement and the subsequent pump
kin pie, through the village of L
the next morning. Excitement ran
high, and it was not until the funeral
of the oldest inhabitant, several weeks
after, somewhat diverted the public
mind, that the startled citizens recoy-
cred from the 'tturn" it gave them.
Mrs. Skeels greatly enjoyed the
sensation she had occasioned, and
took frequent walks past the corner
grocery, where she was regarded by
the assembled boys and clerks some
what in the light of circus. When
Betsey became aware of the true state
of affairs, on the morning after the
night of the elopement, she broke the
walls of her wrath and poured out the
contents, so to speak, and then dres-
sing herself in her best clothes, she
stalked like an avenging demon into
the village, and appearing before the
frightened Maria in the little sitting
room behind the shop-then and
there forgave her, and took her and
the deacon and the small boy home
to tea, when metaphorical calf in
the form of a fatted chicken was
hunted down, and served up, a sa-
worry peace-offering, on ''the big blue
meat dish in honor of the returning
bride. Betsey said she ''never could
abide them as went round cherishing
spite an things. After thing was
done, folks must make the best of it,
and not go to hankerin' after venge-
ance, which didn't belong to them
AS for Tiger, he was SO overg-
to see Maria back in the.ased the
forgot his weight ofhe old mare,
round the Yfought the whole par
gestaeffh Che village in the memorable
sitting like glowing
rnre head between the bride ana
room. and the small boy hanging on
ehind-being treated to an extra
MINER of oats, became reconciled to
he match. and began to think that
fter all. the deacon's second venture
hough a little hard on a mare wen
long in years, was not SO bad al'er
Ill.
Toward the conclusion of diplo-