Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-12-07
The Sturp Teller.
THE WEDDING HOUSE.


The owner of this house lives in Europe, it
is said, and will never return to America.
Within the closed doors the rooms are all set
in order and filed with pretty furniture fresh
and new. And in the handsome best bed
rOom Of tine house stands Saratoga trunk
full of ladies' clothing, while across a chair
back hangs beautiful BRIDES travelling dress
of gray silk, and near it on the table, hat,
gloves, and vail to match. And old woman
goes into the house once week, sweeps,
dusts, and re-arrangeS it exactly in the same
manner. Then closes and re-fastens the doors
and windows. .-...
The townspeople have grown used to the
house and it's mystery, but strangers who
make inquiries concerning it are sure to ind
some who can tell them the story. My in
formant was the old woman who swept the
house.
"There's fund left, I'm told, to pay for
the cleaning,' she said. Anyway it is paid
for, and real good too. Squire Lawton got
me the Wedding House to do; it had to be a
trustworthy person-and was that he know
ed-to do the Wedding House.
IA curious name ? Well, yes, it is. But
of the big wedding party there was there the
day it was opened. 1t was built by gentle
man that was going to be married. And the
party But there! Pm beginning all wrong,
tellin' last first and you want to know jest
what the story is. That's nat'ral. 1 alters
like to know facts. Eff you know facts you
can contradict them that goes on talkin' with
out getting the right of things. Why, there's
some here will up and tell you the Wedding
House is haunted. Why, pshawl ia as lieve
come here at twelve O'Clock at night as not.
/ ha'n't never done it, but I'D as lieve, seems
to me. Dunno as everybody would. AS for
talk, why, some will tell you there's been
murder here. That's all folly, too. But
must tell you from the first. Did you ever
hear of the Pelhams? Well, they were good
old family; but heart disease don't spare high
nor low, as I know of. There were the four
brothers, that had the property between them.
Three of them died sudden like, one on horse
back, one in church, one at table. Isaac Pei
ham, he lived and married. He was hearty
and handsome, and never knew days ILL
ness, and was drowned at last, or he might
have lived to be eighty. But four of his five
children dropped dead, as their uncleS had,
and only Miss Pattie took after him. She
grew up tall and slim, and pretty, and lots OF
young men fell in love with her.
''It was twenty years ago, and just before
the war broke out, that she engaged herself to
Young Captain Deane, from West Point. 1t
was love affair, if ever there was one. And
those were jest made for each other. L used
to kind O. get romantic myself when saw 'em
together More match, somehow, than ct
they'd been alike he so dark and kind O.
gloomy she, soft and smiling, and sort O.
dimpled.
s'But something alters happens to true lov-
ers. I've noticed that. The war broke out,
and the captain he went away with the others,
and she went about looking so kinder hopeless
1 used to feel like cryin' when saw her.
And one day there was battle-1've forgot
which, and there, in the list of killed and
wounded, was Captain Eben Deane's name.
Twas an awful thing. l was there when she
got the news, doing chores for Pattie's ma,
and she was enough to frighten you.
sShe went down on her knees, and claSped
her hands, and looked up at the sky, and she
said:
s'Oh, Heavenly Father, if ever forget my
lost love-if l ever give my heart or my hand
to any one else, may die that very day -
'sIIer mother was standin' there-a splendid
woman Mrs. Pelham was.
ssShe screamed out with fright
''Hush, hush that is horrible Don't say
such things"
"sMother. I mean it = Miss Pattie says,
strange and solemn, and white as I'd never
seen her before-I mean it. If ever marry,
if ever I let any one be to me what Eben was,
NAV God strike me dead with my hand in my
lovers Here on my knees, swear to be his
wife for eternity - and she began poor soul,
to wander in her mind, and say the marriage
ceremony through, and promise all the promi-
ses there are in that, as if she was talkin' to
ghosts.
:sShe was sick for great while after that,
given up by the doctors, and it was a year be-
fore she was well; but time comes and time
goes, and folks get over things faster than
young folks know. And when Captain Deane
had been dead five years, u Mr.. Medway began
to pay attention to Miss Pattie.
''There was nothing he could do he didn't
do, and after awhile, as was nat'ral, poor gal,
she cot to liking him. One day 1 was over
there rubin winders. always rub 'em.
There amt no need to 60 dashin pals of wa
ter over the glass to make winders shine and
was hard at the library ones when Mrs. Pei
ham, Pattie's ma, came in.
"'Jane Gowly,' says she, you're plain
God-fearin' woman, and a member. You
heard Pattie take that oath about always be-
ing true to poor Captain Deane. Now, Think
it is a thing better forgotten. l don't think
she was to be held accountable then and she
likes Mr.. Medway, and he adoreS her, and l
should be so glad to see my only child well set
tied. 1t can't be God would not forgive
thing like that She was deliriOus four hours
"sWhy not ask the dominic p l said
"Only you and l heard: only you and l
shall know she said. 'Pattie thinks herself
bound by the OATH
ssI put down my rubber and I sat down on
the window sill, and looked inward. After
awhile says s'Mrs. Pelham, it seems to me
that eff she was wandering in her mind, she
was not accountable for her words. Mebbe
I'm wrong but should think so, but was
she, Mrs. Pelham ~
s'I believe so,'' says she, ~ believe so but
Pattie says she would commit a SIN IN Dreak-
ing that oath.'
& Miss Pattie ought to know said.
"sOh, Jane, l expected you'd be a comfort
to me- said Mrs. Pelham, and began to cry.
"After that I suppose they teased and
worried her until she gave up; for one day
went into the mi'iner's for ribbon for my
hat, and she was making the prettiest little
bonnet, all white lace and orange blossoms
ssWho's this for, do you think 20 said she.
"'You'll have to tell me- said I.
's'Miss Pattie Pelham says she. She's
going to marry Mr. Medway.'
II held my breath and kinder gasped. |
hadn't said anything, and didn't mean to !;
but it seemed awful to me. l tried to think
oath but you can't think what you please-at
least. l can't-and when l was helpin' 'em get
ready I couldn't laugh and joke like the rest /;
but the wedding day was bright, and the bride
looked pretty, and the new house was built
and furnished like picture, and they were
going there directly after the wedding to stay
a few days before they went on trip to Mag
ara, which was the place for brides in those
days, and, Pm told, jest full of lovin' couples
every summer, settin on the grass kissin' each
other, and lookin' at the falls.