Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-06-03

girl, much less speak to maiden; but
for all that l fell desperately in love
with asweet, beautiful neighbor girl. I
was gawky, awkward country lout
about nineteen years old. She was All
intelligent, refined and fairly well edu-
Gated girl in country and at time
when the girls had superior advantages,
and were therefore superior in culture to
the boys. fixed the day as far as
could have putt of. 1 lay awake in
cold Precipitation as the time drew near,
and shiveled with agony a. thought OF
the terrible ordeal. Tho dreadful day
came. went through with the pro.
gramme somehow in dszed, confused
mechanical sort of way, like an autom-
aton BOBBY through supper whore
could eat nothing, and through such
games as "possnm pie" "slster Phoebe"
and all tllut sort Of thing. Tho guests
one by one departed and my hair began
to stand on end. Beyond the av full cur.
tain of Isis lay the terrible unknown.
My blood grew cold and boiled by turns
I was in fever, then in aRue, pale and
flushed by turns. felt like fleeing to
the woods, spending the night in the
barn, leaving for the west never to re-.
turn. 1 was deeply devoted to Sallie.. I
loved her harder than mule can kick: !:
but that dreadful ordeal-I could not, /
dared not stand it. Finally the last
guest was gone. the bride retired, the
family gone to bed, and was left alone,
horror of horrors, alone with the old
man. "John," said he, "you can take
that candle; you will find your room Just
over this. Good night, John. and may
the lord have mercy on vour SOUL" and
with u mischievous twinkle Of his fine
grey eye the old man left the room. l
mentally said "Amen," to his "Heaven
help you" and, when heard him close a
distant door, staggered to my feet and
seized the farthing dip with nervous
grasp. 1 stood for some minutes con.
templating my terrible fate, and the in.
vitable and speedy doom about to over.
whelm me. | stood 30 long that three
love-lettels had grown on the wick OF the
tallow dip and n winding.sheet was de.
corating the side of the brass candle
stick. A heavy thought struck me.
hastily climbed the stair, marked the
position OF the landing and the door OF
the bridal chamber. would have dice
before 1 would have disrobed in thai
holy chamber, where awaited me
trembling and beautiful girl, blushine
maiden, "clothed upon" with her owr
beauty and modesty. and her snow,
robe de mutt. l would make tht
usual preparations without, blow out the
light, open the door and friendly nigh
would shield my shrinking modesty anc
bnshfulness and grateful darkness al
least mitigate the horror of the situation
1t was soon done. Preparations for re
firing We're few and simple in their char
acter in Hickman, altogether consisting
of disrobing, and owing to scarcity o
cloth in those days man was somewher,
near the Adamic state when he was pre-
pared to WOO sweet sleep. Tue dre2iifu
hour had come; was ready. 1 BILE,
ont the light. grasped the door kno
With a deathly gripc and a nervou
clutch; ono moment and it would b
over by II sight I leaped within
and there around glowing hickory fir,
with candles brightly burning on til
mantle and bureau, was the blushin
bride surrounded by the six lovel
bridesmaids.