St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-07-12


southeast to Layton, some ten miles
further. Edward was still determined,
but it must be confessed his ardor was
somewhat dampened by this last defeat.
In the meantime the appointed hour
for the ceremony, three o'clock, was
drawing near. The invited guests, con-
sisting only of Uncle Johns family and
the Marsh girls, Gas the house was 80
small, were assembled. Della and
Ellen looked very pretty in their new
dresses, while Alice in the bridal outfit
that Auntie had insisted upon making
for her appeared as charming, at least
to Mr.. Goodwin, as any city belle
The house, too, had wonderfully fresh
and cheerful look with its clean white
curtains, with leaves and grasses Hastily
arranged as cornices, while Delia's
house plants and homemade aquarium
gave to their humble apartments an
air of refinement.
''Why don't they Gomez" said Alice,
somewhat nervously, after anxiously
watching the road for an hour or more.
"It's four o'clock now.
By FIVE o'clock the anxiety and sus-
pense Of the Graham's was almost un-,
endursble; and indeed the entire party
showed signs of WEAKNESS. Every
possible device for passing away the
time seemed exhausted; all topics OF
conversation worn as threadbare as
the path to the gate, and the presents
from Auntie and Mr.. GOodWin's
friends and others had been handled
until they almost looked sOiled. Still
Edward and the minister did not APP
pear.
For the fortieth time Della had looked
after the table dainties in the safe, when
Mr.. Goodwin returned from his fortieth
trip to the road and said in as calm
voice as he could commands: "WelL
Edward is coming, but he is alone. F"
The long suppressed anxiety of the
now panic-stricken party found vent In
historical ''O-o-h!''
perhaps he has only galloped OF.
ahead to tell us to be ready. said Della,
suddenly collecting herself and starting
to meet Edward and tell him she had
taken his clothes and basin of water,
towel and some soap, to the barn, that
he might prepare his toilet for the we'd
ding there, as there was no place in the
house.
But Edward was at the door and both
he and his noble steed looked decidedly
tired and worn by their long and fruit
less journey.
"Well. Alice, I've done my best fol
you, but there isn't minister within q
radius of fifty miles that could get for
love or money!
''Have to have new deal. as the boys
say" observed Uncle John. ''No, 9
bad hand all around this time. :"
ooh. we can't put it off, my cake is all
cut and would spoil, and the floating
islands are most spoiled now, and oh
dear! everything will be out of shape. "
so said Della, quite forgetting her usual
self-control in this truly most vexatious
state of affairs.
EAT any rate let US dispose of some OF
that cake and tixings now, for I'm near
ly famished.
''You are the best brother that even
lived and shall have the best the house
affords said Della.
And the table which had been set out
of doors to make more room was then
brought back and quickly spread with
the many Injuries the girls had pre-
pared, and we know a jollier, hungrier
party never partook of a wedding feast
than gathered around that table just as
the sun went down.
Only the amusing side of the unfortu.
nate series of events seemed to impress
the party now, and jokes and laughter
were freely mingled with their coffee
and ofhnr GOOD thinUS
Had | realized the dearth of minis
tiers in new country, | would have
brought one with me, = said Mr.. Good
win, merrily, land don't see but ]
shall have to take Alice back with me
and be married in Geneva, after all. "
''Well, isn't it ridiculous, any way!"
said Ellen. "What WiI the neighbors
say! And wouldn't your friends laugh
should you return unmarried, and she
| nearly went into Mysteries.
.'Cracky! if an idee amt just struck
met and Uncle John rose 50 suddenly
he nearly upset his coffee on the bride $
dress
Say, Hank, is yer dad ter hump" he
called to a boy passing on horseback.
oval, l reckon, leastways ef he's got
home from town
..Well, you hurry home, and tell him
to get on his billed shirt and store clothes
Tell him I've got a job for him, q first,
class one, and I'll be over for him in 9
few minutes. -
Before the above conversation was
concluded, the party had recognized the
lad as Justice Noosebick's son, and o.
course had guessed Uncle Johns ''idee. :
'.Oh, the idea of having to be married
by Justice of the Peace, and he is such
a queer, comicaI old fogy! Ishall feel a
though | had run away, or done some
thing wrong" said Alice, quite dis
gusted.
But under the circumstances it was
their only resource, and Uncle John