The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24

dence."
$50 they are. my dear" said Mrs.
Smith, but your Uncle always was so
eccentric!"
"What shall we do 2" 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,
cold clustering night, and the old
brick house was all iii a. glimmer of
lights as the young betrothed pair
drove up to the door. Uncle Nahum
met them on the threshold in his old
fashioned swallow tailed coat, with a
huge white camelia in his button hole,
and pair of surpassingsly white kid
! sg,os;sss ~ ss,srs,,sa -. - -
Have you brought your white
frock ?" was the first question to his
niece.
mo. Uncle, L"
THAT won't do" said Uncle Ma
hum "no one must come to my we'd
ding without wedding garment.
"l's lucky l provide one for you.
Come up stairs, quick, and put it on
fou the parson is waiting and the COM
pany are here"
| "But. Uncle. the bri,Ia 0D
"You shall see her bye.and-bye," ,"
said Uncle Nahum despoticalIy.
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 then ? Isn't white silk the
thing for wedding? Put it on,
quick, and I'll send some one up to
bring you down in five minutes"
And so, with a doubling heart,
Faith Nixon robed herself in the
white dress, with its trimmings OF
vapor blonde and long train.
where's you veil ?" said Uncle
Nahum.
"Uncle. 1 can't wear a veil," plead
ed Faith.
"Nobody comes to my wedding
without veil," and he placed the
wreath on her head.
"But, Uncle Nahum, they will take
me for the BRIDE"
"Let'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, Faith
Nixon beheld her own figure reflected
in full length mirror at the stair
way.
Here's the BRIDE" chuckled I'm
Gle Nahum; leading her up to Duke
, Bourne, land here's the groom, -
touching Bourne's shoulder. "And
here's the parson, all ready and wait
ing. "Now, reverend sir" to the
clergyman, "marry 'em as fast as you
can" And before either of the young
couple could demonstrate, they were
made man wife.
Duke" cried the bride, as soon
as the ceremony was over, "did you
know of this ?"
"No, didn't" said Mr.. Bourne,
with his arm very tight around his
| little wife's waist. "But | must say
l approve very highly of the whole
proceeding"
Uncle Nahum stood by rubbing his
hands, with his whole face wreathed
in prodigious smiles.
$50 you supposed it was who was
to get married, eh 2" said he. "Not
bit of it--not bit of it. / am too
old bird to be caught with such chafl
as that. No. no, little Faith. Did
you think was going to turn my wee
bird out of her nest after all the
years she has been cherished there ?
No, l only wanted to assure myself
that your fancy was real fancy, and
that this young-young rascal here,''
shifting Bourne on the shoulder once
more, "loved you for yourself alone,
and not for the money he thought the
old man was going to leave you. And
you are to live here, both ofyou, and
We'll be happy eyer after. Strike up
your harps and tiddles. Let's have q
dance-let's. all be merry together
Uncle Nahum Nixon himself led
off the bridal quadrille, dancing in
the good old style of fifty years ago.
81 don't have a wedding every
day." said Uncle Nahum, breathless.
ly. as he cut one last pigeon wing,
"and l mean to make the most oft"
: "I saw you at the funeral the other
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