The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-03-17

so short that poor Faith fled up stairs
in dismay and had quiet little cry,
Notwithstanding she was very, very
happy.
For Uncle Nahum, brusque and crab
bed, was all the father she had ever
known. But she packed her trunk and
went to Violet Smiths in New York,
which was all the plcasanter, in that
Marmadrkc Bourne had also taken
himself to this modern Gotham and
gone to work studying law as if he
meant TO take Coke and Blackstone by
storm. And Miss Violet Smith, who
was a sentimental young lady, sympa-
thized intensely, and the young couple
were reasonably happy as many another
has been before and will be again.
But one day Duke Bourne came in
with face full of tidings.
"Faith," said he, shave you heard
the news?"
"What newsl" said Faith.
"Your Uncle will get the start Of is
after ALL"
"What do you mean, Duke"
"Why, he's going to get married"
"Unclc Nahum?" cried Faith, incred-
ulously
ayes, Uncle Nahum. That accounts
for his being so unwilling to get rid Of
us-ch, little one?"
"And who is the bride?" questioned
Faith.
"Why, that's mooted point yet.
| Nobody seems to know. Some say
one and some say another, but the
general impression seems to be that il
is the rich widow who owns the brown
stone block on the corner"
al am sure hope he will be happy"
said Faith, with tremulous lips, and
eyes suffuscd with tears, "but think
he might have said something to us
about it,"
"People are not generally in hurry
to proclaim that they are about to make
fools of themselves" said Duke Bourne
bitterly.
"What," she cried, laughing through
her tears, CHATS precisely what he
said about us.
But the next day letter from Uncle
Nahum himself settled the matter. He
wrote:
"rhere is to be a big wedding at my
house on the seventeenth, and / want
you and Duke to be here without fail."
"A wedding At his house - cried
Faith. al supposed that weddings were
celebrated at the brides residence.
$50 they are, my DEAR" said Mrs.
Smith, but your Uncle always was so
eccentric !"
"What shall we MOP" 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, 4
cold clustering night, and the old brick
house was all in glimmer Of lights as
the young betrothed pair drove up to
the door. Uncle Nahum met them on
the threshold in his old-fashioned swal.
low tailed coat, with huge white
camelia in his button hole, and pair
Of surprisingly white kid gloves.
"Have you brought your white frock?"
was the first question to his niece.
"No, Uncle, /"
"That won't do" said Uncle Ma
hum; "no one must come to my wed.
ding without a wedding garment
"I,'s lucky provided one for you.
Come up stairs, quick, and put it on.
for the parson is waiting and the COM
pany are here"
"But, Uncle, the bride?"
"You shall see her bye and-bye, "
said Uncle Nahum despotical!y. "Come
up stairs now and change your dress. "
"But, Uncle, white silk !" cried
Faith looking in dismay at the gilt
tering dress laid out for her use.
"What thcnl Isn't white silk the
thing for a weddingl Put it on. quick,
and I'll send some one up to bring you
down in FIVE minutes"
And so, with doubling heart, Faith
Nixon robed herself in the white dress,
with its trimmings Of vapor blonde and
long train.
"where's you veil1" said Uncle Ma
hum.
"Uncle, can, wear veil," plead
ed Faith.
"Nobody comes to my wedding with
out veil," and he placed the wreath
on her head.
"But, Uncle Nahum, they will take
me for the BRIDE"
w.et'm," said the old gentleman
"Take my arm. Now come down Stairs
and I'll show you the bride. There
she is.
Lifting her bewildering eyes, Faitl
Nixon beheld her own figure reflected
in full length mirror at the stairway
"Here's the BRIDE" chuckled Uncle
Nahum, leading her up to Duke Bourne
"and here's the groom" touching
. Bourne's shoulder. "And here's th'
parson. all ready and waiting. Snow
. reverend sir, ITO the clergyman, "marr!
'em as fast as you can." And before
eirher Of the young couple could re
, monstrate, they were made man and wife
"Duke," cried the bride. as soon a
the ceremony was over, "did you know
Of this1"
: "No, I didn't" said Mr.. Bourne
with his arm very tight around his littl
, wife's waist. 'sBut l must say ] ap
4 prove very highly Of the whole proceed
|, me ~