The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-01-21
moment it came in sight over the brow of Car

Jcr b NIL.
There was no one about Her mother was
safely seated at her sewing In the sitting
ana Barbary, the hired girl was in the
meadow picking cranberres. Dephine
climbed upon high bench which was placed
along the wall, and from thence, b. dint of
considerable scambling, succeeded in making
trial of the brass kettle as a shelter.
1t was stage night that evening, and with a
| fcverish anxiety Delphine watched the APP
Proach OF the numbering old vehicle as it APP
peared over the brow of the hill. But Tom
| had not come. A lumberman in red shirt
| going on to the bend. and an old lady, who,
when the stage stopped at the post-offiee OPP
| posite didn't know where she was bound, were
| the only passengers it contained.
| She retired early that night, but not to
Sleep The household would be astir at an
unusually early hour in the morning, for
| rigorous baking was to usher In the day which
was to bring the bridegroom. She counted
the slow hours until the old kitchen clock
struck three, then arose and made prepara-
| lions for her sojourn in the brass kettle She
attired herself in the garments which had been
| prepared for her wedding Journey, bonnet and
| all. That the family might suppose that she
had sought much more remote hiding-place
she purloined moderate supply of provisions
| from the pantry and slowed them away under
the caves, which were within reaching distance
| from her perch, then hearing a slight noise
overhead, she climbed hastily into the kettle
A~NASNAA
depths.
Seth came down with his lighted lantern,
and passed through the room on his way to
the barn. Then she heard Barbary's newly
kindled fire crackle in the kitchen, and her
mothers brisk voice in its usual high-pitched
baking-day key. Delphine's heart beat rather
loudly when Barbary came to peel her pota-
toes at the bench, over which she and the
brass kettle were suspended.
whats up this mornin' that breakfast is
SO afrl silva Fol - I.xy
bakin'-day ez fur's | ken katilate," said Seth,
appearing again with his lantern,
"We're goin' tew bake though, eff 'ta'n't
Wednesday nor Saturday. Sich things dew
happen sometimes, specially when a hull
haouse is upset by weddin'. Didn't YOU
know, Seth Thompson, that to-morrow's Del
phiny's weddin' dayi
"Wall, yis, but shouldn't ha' s'pOsed that
even that would ha' thrown Mis- sam off the
track, specially in her haouse- keepin' rules,
for eff Mis- Sam ha'n't sot, she ha'n't nothin'.
The elder does eat uncommon lively, though
preachin' ez wonderful in givin' fellera ap-
petite, m eff she a gone to her ten elders fer
ter board for day or so, don't wonder she's
sot up bakin' eff It was Sunday.
81 did think, Seth," whispered Barbary,
with an uneasy glance toward the kitchen
door, 81 did think tibet Delphiny wouldn't
give i'll to her ma, baout marryin' the Elder.
Did you know how awful sot she was agin it?
Pears tew me the gal acts kinder queer naow;
tew resigned like all of a sudden. | shouldn't
wonder ef sometimes was a goin' to happen
tibet ha'n't looked fur" bighting red apple
with significant tightness.
"Sho ~ exclaimed Seth, dropping his ca
paci0us pan, and opening his pale blue eyes to
their widest extent. II want to knaowp'
"Barbary, l wish you'd run upstairs m
call Delphiny, she'd orter know enough to git
UP without bein' called this mornin,' but |
ha'n't heard nothin' of her yit," said the sharp
nf ho rY1ief Of ha L., h.,
doorway.
Barbary made an awful sign, which meant
keep silent to Seth, and disappeared on her err
rand.
''she's up already" she reported, returning
In few moments. Perhaps she came down
the front way, m ez clearin' up the settin'-
room, as 'twasn't put ter rights last night
'Delphiny," called Mrs. Long Justify "Del-
phiny, where be you! | warnt you to git
breakfast"
But there was no response, and after re-
peated searching and calling the lady finally
decided that her daughter must have run over
tew "Caroline's tew git the snow-drop table
cover" which she promised to lend for the i'm
portsnt occasion so near at hand.
Mrs. Long whisked into the kitchen, slam
ming the door after her. Barbary turned TO-
ward Seth, who was listlessly preparing food
Tor sick COW, and slowly, carefully opened her
mouth.
''Ruther queer It Delphiny should put on
her travlin dress m her best bunnet tew go
over T. Aunt Caroline's to borrer table
kiver!"
''Sho! what a marster ham fur katilatin' YOU
be, Barbara!''
But you jist keep dark. Let Mis- Sam find
eout herself, she IS baound tew afore long, but
hope It won't be till the pore girl gifts well
eout the way. 1don' know ez Sc ever oppressed
my 'pinion freely afore, but ha'n't no doubt
but tibet there elder piousitv m all, is a reglar
old prOpEprdila Mics haIS .f..l
she runs on an idee, It Delphiny wouldn't dare
go agin her commands m run away tew git
rid of marryin' him. He may be kivered over
with the gospel SHE'LL but lor, there ha'n't no
more gospel inside or him then there ez inside
the skin or puff ball"
SO Lordy," exclaimed Seth aghast at such
bold heresy.
well, there ha'n't no time to STAN here
talkin'. But there's fun ahead when the Elder
gifts along, you'd better believe" And the two
went their separate ways, leaving the room, to
Delphine's relief, quite empty.
An hour or so passed by, and she was still
alone in the back room. Seth had harnessed
old Dolly, and driven rapidly down the road
toward the Corner. Aunt Caroline's small boy
had rushed in breathlessly, bearing the snow
drop table-cloth, and Delphine knew by the
sounds that reached her ear that her absence
was occasioning great alarm, and that her
mother was somewhat excited, to say the least.
W
crossing, for the oven door creaked incessant-
ly, and there was persistent whisking of eggs
and grating of nutmegs. But finally these
sounds ceased. Seth drove hurriedly home
again, and was anXiously Intercepted at the
door. Then Barbary's pink sunbonnet ca
reered wildly up the lane the harvesters were
called in, and there was great rushing to and
fro.
But the door which opened into the kitchen
If left ajar, was Immediately closed by the wind
so little or nothing of the conversation reached
her ears
At noon she saw the two Elders approaching
the house in a lofty and ancient wagon drawn |
by solemn and angular horse. Elder Taylor. |
the expected bridegroom, wore bran-new |
stove-pipe hat which outshone the sun, a sol |
emily elegant black broadcloth suit, which |
hung upon his long, lean figure like the gar
ments of the most serene scare-crow that in |
habited the grain-tield below, and speckless |
white cravat tied in bow, whose like for size |
and precision was never seen In this region, |
His appearance seemed to astonish even the |
clear and placid atmosphere, for it Immediately
thickened and became filled with sultry mist.
His friend, Elder Knight whose features and |
figure were both after the same pattern, though
less severe, but even more angular, looked |
like his shabby and relenting ghost. Del
phine concluded it was time to take a little re-
freshment, and reaching for cookie ate it with
"How does the Elder take itlr INQUIRED
Set OF Barbary when they met in Delphine's
neighborhOod, an hour or so afterward.
ln1c rnuh 4