The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-25

4
her trunk and went to Violet Smiths in
New York, which was all the pleasant
err, in that Marmadukc Bourne had also
betaken himself to this modern Gotham
and gone TO work studying law rs if he
meant to take Coke and Blackstone bv
storm. And Miss Violet Smith. who
was Il sentimental young lady. sympa-
thized intensely, AMI the young couple
were us unrrasonably happy rs many
another couple has been before and will
again.
But one day Duke Bourn. came in
with face full of iidincs.
Faith" said he. ..hav, heard
the news?"
What news?" asked Fai,
"iour uncle will get the >, us,
after all"
| "What do you mean. Duke.
| "Why, he's going TO be married."
| "Uncle Nahum?' cried Fai,h, iBcrcd
uously. 81
eyes. Uncle Nahum Thas accounts
for his being so willing to 81 rid OF us
-eh, little One?'
"And who is the bride?'' questioned
Faith.
..Why, that's the mooted point yet.
Nobody seems to know. Sopie say one,
and some SAY another; but the general
impression seems to be that it is the
rich widow who owns the .H-own stone
block on the corner"
"Fm sure l hope he will be happy"
said Faith, with tremulous lips and eyes
sutfused with tears. "But-but / think
he might have said something to us
about it."
"People are not generally in n hurry
to proclaim the fact that they are about
to make fools of themselves" said Duke
Bourne bitterly.
"Why," cried Faith, laughing through
her tears, THAT is precisely what he
said of u.s."
But the next day letter from Uncle
Nahum himself settled the matter. He
| wrOte:-
There is to be wedding at my
| house on the seventeenth, and want
you and Duke to be there without fail"
"A wedding! At his houser' cried
Faith. IL supposed weddings were eel
brated Mt the brides residence"
$50 they are, dear" said Miss Smith;
"but your uncle was always so eccen-
tric."
What shall we do?" asked Faith.
"Why, go. of course" said Marina
duke Bourne. 'To show that we bear
no malice at being disinherited, if for
no other reason"
The seventeenth of March arrived, a
cold. clustering night, and the old red
brick house was all in q glimmer OF
IL 10 hot ,~a.r Il
up to the door. Uncle Nahum met
them on the threshold, in his old-fash-
| toned swallow-tailed coat, with a huge
white camelia in his button-hole and a
pair of surprisingly white kid gloves.
"HaveyOu brought your white frockP"
was his first question TO his niece.
mo, uncle, /"
THAT won't do" said Uncle Nahum.
"No one must come to my wedding
without marriage garment. It's lucky
/ provided one for you. omeup-stairs,
quick, and put it on. for the parson is
waiting and the company are here"
but. uncle. the bridc"
"YOu shall see her BY .ans-by," said
Uncle Nahum, despoticaly. Come
upstairs now and change your dress. }"
but, uncle, white silk!' cried
Faith. looking in dismay at the glisten-
| ing dress laid out for her use.
"What then? Isn't white silk the
thing for a wedding? Put it on quick,
and III send some one up to bring you
down i'm five minutes"
And so, with doubling heart. Faith
Nixon ROBBED herself in the white dress,
with its trimmings of vapory blonde
and long trail.
where's your veil?'' said Uncle Ma
hum, when he came himself, few
minutes later, to the door.
Uncle, can't wear VEIL" pleaded
Faith.
..But you mustr' said Uncle Nahum.
NOBODY comes to my wedding without
a veil" And he placed the wreath
lightly on her head.
But, Uncle Nahum, they will take
me for the bride"
LET EN-" said the old gentleman.
"Take my arm. Now come down stairs,
and I'll show you the bride. Here she
| is"
| Lifting her bewildered eyes, Faitt
Nixon beheld her own figure rellcctec
i'm full length mirror at the stairway
| Here's the BRIDE" chuckled Uncle
Nahum, leading her up to Duke Bourne
land here's the groom" touching
Bourne's shoulder. "And here's the
.parson, all ready and waiting. Now,
reverend SIR" to the clergyman, ''mar
ry 'em rs fast rs ever you can" And
before either of the astonished young
people could demonstrate, they were
made man and wife.
Duke" cried the bride, us soon as
the ceremony was over, did you know
of this?"
mo, l didn't" said Mr.. Bourne, with
his arm very tight around his little
wife's waist. s.But | must say | ap-
prove very highly of the whole proceed
ing" -. :.
Uncle Nahum stood by, rubbing his
hands, with his whole face wreathed in
one prodigiOus smile.
$50 YOU supposed it was l who was
to be married, eh?' said he. mot u
bit of it-not bit of it. I'm too old
bird to be caught with such chaif as
that. No, no, little Faith. Did you
think was going to turn my wee blrdie
out of her nest, after oil the years she
has been cherished there? No, no, 1
only wanted to assure myself that your
fancy was real fancy. and that this
young rascal. here" shifting Bourne on
the shoulder once more, ''lovcd you for
Yourself alon. and not for the money
he thought tho old man was going to
leave you. And you're to live here,
both of you. and we'll be happy ever
after. Strike up your harps and iiddles.
Let's have a dance-lets all be merry
together" ,
| Uncle Nahum Nixon himself led OIL
the bridal quadrille, dancing inthe good
old style of fifty years ago. =,
IL can't have wedding every day.
said Uncle Nahum. breathlessly, rs he
, cut one last pigeon wing, land mean
to make the most of il"