The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-10-19
A WEDDING GOWN.
From, Our Continent.

Iappt1lcUs "
Blank horror and dismay were depict
ed upon the face of my small African, az
she stood upon my threshold with up
raised hands and eyeballs that seemed
starting from their sockets. Her pause
was not Of preparation, for with the in
nate consideration Of her race she sought
to break the news gently to me but the
burden of it was too great for her, and
with the next breath she exclaimed:
Dem pigs done chawed up Miss Lyd-
dy's wedding gown" sg->. 49,
"Glory,"1 exclaimed She had been
christencd Gloyiana,) ''G!ory, how did
it happen?"
"Dunno?' said Glory. "'Pears to me
dem pigs has got Satan in 'em. Guess
dey's Seconded from dc ole lot what run
down a steep place inter the sea- I'll go
and fetch We piece"
She sped out and instantly returned
with : tattcred shred Of India null that
had once been white. and still bore some
RESEMBLANCE to gown. Poor Miss Lyd-
Fly! This was all that remained Of her
dream of wedding splendors. 1t was too
pitifnl! L felt at once that tho bonds OF
good ncighborl,ood had been irretriey.
ably broken, and that Major Hawthorne
must bemade aware of this 1ast'and worst
acpscdation of his unscemly pigs.
But who would break the news to
Miss Lyddy?"
''Glory," said I, "where is she?'
GONE over to do burryin' place to
tend 10 de ancestors" answered GLORY.
Poor, tsith'ul soul; even in those last
days IF her maidcnlood, with tire Vague
ee'rors Of matrimony and the still more
appalling responsibilities of unsayed
hcathen souls hanging over her, she did
not forget the ancestors. Long lines Of
a-u'kinses lay buried in little sunken
;''locks IN the family burying place.
'Shic'. lay just in sight OF her sittin"
secm window. She herself was the Inst
OF her race, and until within three weeks
It had seemed that the on]y fate which
awaited her was 10 live out her little
space under the ancestral roof tree. :m,t
then take her STAGE in the silent ranks
0! those who had gone before. BIT a
change had come. 1t came in the her
snn OF a returned missionary from the
i;iNroncsian Islands, WHO had buried
:'lc tlrst ana second partners OF his lows
ana sorrows somewhere under the palm
trees OF those tropical lands, and had
Come back to the scenes Of his youth to
Sccrnlt his health, serve the cause. and
s"oS up partner No. 5. lie mct Miss
sNduy at woman missionary meeting.
nc called the next afternoon and was
invited to stay to tea. &c accepted The
invitation, and ncxtnlorniny Miss Ly,l.lv
came INTO my room-tor l, too, lomiciled
S1dcratloR--and, with much hesitation
s,nd n4sny faint and delicate bushes. in
aor's'ed me that she had promised to
snare the future lot with the Rev. Nehc-
m'Ah Applcblooln. to take care of his six
children, and to support him in his ard
.ross labors among the heather of the
hic:onesian Islands.
WAS struck dumb with amazcment
Miss lyddy." said at length. have
son duly considered this project?"
yer 1hln figure Quivered, and her
white lace that had yet delicate remem-
4!1:lncc CT youth in it, grew tender with
feeling. ''''
YES" size said; ~ think have. I
nave always had u presenti.ncnt that [
sl',ll marry minister or missionary. ;"
admirable and prophetic faith! "And
Mr.. ArplcbIoom says he knew the mo-
moment IL; set eyes on me that was
ofuaincd 70 be his wife; So you sec it is
hkety to be to our friends:
J. knew that her mind was fully made
up. | delnurred no longer, but lent nv.
self to the discussion of the wedding,
when plainly saw was what Miss Lvd-
dy desired Of me.
you will be married in church, I
"Oh, no." said Miss Liddy, with gentle
decision. II am the last Of the Ludkin-
sces:, All the Ludkinses have been mar
ricd at home. will 90 out from under
my own roof tree. If I must seem to
tors,ke the ancestors paused -
regulate little choking in her throat
II will at least not forsake their tradi.
lions. I shall leave little money with
the parish clerk, that he may see that
the graves Of my dead are kept in prop
or order, as | always have loved to keen
them, and | hope they will forgive nv
departures; but will ut least 90 as a
Eudkins should. 1t is my desire to be
married in my grandmother's wedding
gown"
Miss Lyddy's voice trembled, and
there was a humidity in her eyes, at
which did not wonder, for it was like a
funeral, after all.
y thought perhaps" went on Miss
a.yddy, Elf I brought the venerated relic:
to you, You would tell me if anythin.
were necessary to be done to fit it to me.
don't care for the fashions, YOU know.
nnd my grandmother, as remember
,er, WAS about my height, but still, you
';now -s:o!ne changes might be advisable. -
Ccrtainly." | said, edo bring it to
me ! should so like to sec it,
1T 's,SSpriSscd India (she called it In
gy) null; My grandfather, Captain ST.
mon i'udkins, brought it home from
over the seas. III bring it,"
Like some pale and gentle ghost she
rose then and went to bureau drawer
and unrolcd, from folds of linen that
sne|t of lavender, the frail relic of Mrs.
Captain Simon Ludkins' wedding state.
1t was fine embroidered null, the un-
doubted product Of Indian looms.
"lt is lovely" I said, "and SO we'll
Kept that it will be just the thing for
you. Will you try it on? We can tell
then just what it needs.'
Miss l1yddy proceeded to disrobo her.
self and put OH the spider net gown. AS
she did so, the changes in fashions
mandates became only too evident It
lace trimmed puff for sleeves. Miss
!.yddy was evidently surprised. She
aad no thought of this. 1 knew we'll
what the troubled look upon her face
meant, and pitied her maiden sensi-
bi'i:ies. Could it be possible that her
grandmother Mrs. Captain Simon Ind
kins, had ever worn such gown rs this?
hhc said not word that could Indicate
the depth of her modification, but her
tace was study for an artist
There must be sleeves" she muir
INJURED, after a few moments of silent
and embarrassed contemplation.
Yes" ! replied, cheerfully as my
constrained gravity would allow. "And
So' might have fichu and a founce on
the bottom"
She looked down. She had not before
realized that the skirt Of the venerated
relic lacked a full quarter of a yard of
touching the floor
However could tlcy!' she calculated