The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-01-20
moment IT came in sight over the brow Of Car


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 a
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 prepare
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
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 slight noise
overhead she climbed hastily into the kettle
and slowed herself carefully in its brassy
depths. ,.,, ,...-.
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.
s'What's up this mornin' that breakfast is
under way so airly! 'Ta'n't washin'-day nor
bakin'- day ez fur's ken katiate," 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 hull
haouse is upsot by weddin'. Didn't you
know, Seth Thompson, that to-morrow's Del
phiny's weddin' day!
"Wall, Wis, 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 gone to her ten elders fer
ter board for day or SO, l don't wonder she's
sot up bakin' eff was sunday.
II did think, Seth," whispered Barbary,
door, II did think tibet Delphiny wouldn't
give in to her ma, baout marryin' the Elder.
Did you know how awful sot sSe was agin it |!
Pears tew me the gal acts kinder queer naow
tew resigned like all of a sudden. l shouldn't
wonder eff sometimes was a goin' to happen
tibet ha'n't looked fur" bighting red apple
with significant tightness.
''Sho!' exclaimed Seth, dropping his ca
pacious pan, and opening his pale blue eyes to
their widest extent. 81 want to knaow!''
..Barbary, l wish you'd run upstairs m
call Delphiny, she'd orter know enough to git
up without bein' called this mornin,' but l
ha'n't heard nothin' of her yit, !" said the sharp
voice of the mistress of the house in the open
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
the 'front.' %ay up she
room, as 'twasn't put ter rights last night. !"
''Delphiny,'' called Mrs. Long Justify, "Del-
phiny. where be youa warn't you to git
But there was no response, and after re-
peated searching and calling, the lady finally
cd fhofh or 6a,r hor r,pv,
tew 'Caroline's tew git the snow-drop table
cover" which she promised to lend for the i'm
portant 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
for 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
Hverr'
''sho! what marster ham fur katilatin' you
be, Barbarar'
but you jist keep dark. Let Mis- Sam find
eout herself, she g baound tew afore long, but
hope t won't be till the pore girl gifts well
eout the way. 1dOn' know eZ / 'se ever 'spressed
my 'pinion freely afore, but ha'n't no doubt
hut tibet there elder, piousity m ALL is areglar
old crockerdile. Miss Sam she's so masterful
she runs on an idee, It Delphiny wouldn't dare
rid of marryin' him. He NAV be kivered over
with tine gospel shell, but lor, there ha'n't no
more gospel inside or him then there ez inside
the skin or a puff ball."
20 Lordy," exclaimed Seth, aghast at such
bold heresy.
ssWell, there ha'n't no time to STAN here a
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 boz
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
Still it was evident that the baking was pro-
crossing, for the oven door creaked incessant-
". 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 harvesfers we're
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 lofty and ancient wagon drawn
by a solemn and angular horse Elder Taylor,
the expected bridegroom, wore q bran-new
stove-pipe hat which outshone the sun, q SOL
EMMY 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-feld 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 1t 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 with
compOsure.
''How does the Elder take itr' inquired
Se b of Barbary when they met in Delphine's
neighborhoOd, an hour or so afterward.
'sHe's mad as a hornit. heerd him q sayin'
suthin under his breath, tibet sounded pretty
much like profanity, m them gray eyes o. his
flashed jest like q pane or glass with candle
sot behind it. l alters knOwed that be he'd q
dretful temper. The other Elder up, n SEE, ez
eff he war; in prayer-meetin', This ez q very
sclumn occashun,' n tibet seemed to rile the
bridegroom more and more He says as how
he's goin' to seek out that poor misguided
giurl," initiating his tone to perfection, en-
If she has been 'ticed away by tibet ungodly n
II De- ~k<,v,