The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-10

to come in and take dinner although it was
seconded by the cordial old Squire himself, who
happened to be riding down that way.
Naturally enough, as it was dinner time and as
Uncle George was going to the house, they had
his company thither. And, once arrived there,
Miss Patty disappeared like flash, apd Tom
saw her no more until they met at the table
However he took matters coolly, rejecting
that he was used to waiting by this time; and so
he entered fully into Uncle Georges converse
ton, causing the old gentleman to think that he
was sensible fellow, who could take an inter
est in politics even if there pretty girl OPP
posite him, and also TO give passing thought to
a regret that it wasn't Tom instead of Walker
who was his prospective son-inaw. Then sud
denly he remembered that Patty had told him
that 'all that nonsense" was over between her
and Walker And with the recollection he sent
keen glance across at his daughters face.
''She isn't sorry, either. bless her heart, he
thought. and then said aloud
mo doubt Of it, no doubt of it; we'll carry
the State by a rousing majority"
After dinner it was Patty's custom to play for
her father until he went to sleep in the big rock
ing chair with his silk handkerchief over his jol
~ face and bald head. She was inclined to omit
the usual soothing process to-day, but her father
reminded her of it.
She took her place at the piano; Uncle George
settled himself comfortably, and Tom went out
on the porch for an after dinner smoke.
When at last her father was asleep she quietly
put away her music, and closed the piano. Turn
ing to leave the room, intending to escape up
stairs, she found herself face to face with Cousin
Tom, and before she fairly knew how it had hap
pened pair of strong arms held her fast, and q
brown mustache brushed her cheek, while deep
voice, little unsteady in its guarded tone, whis
pered eagerly:
You naughty WITCH How could you treat
me SO, Pattyl Now make amends-there-and
there-and there!"
And Patty-well, all she said against it was,
'Oh, Tom'
IN give you just two weeks to make your
weddingdress Patty he said, as a ponderous
Stir In the big rocking chair warned them that
Uncle Georges nap was coming to an end. And
Patty said again. 'Oh, Tom! The very idea!'
Well" said Tom, you've had several years
to make it in, and it ought to be nearly done"
But the two weeks were stretched to four, in
spite of him, and then there double we'd
ding ION Mulberry" for Patty insisted that Hen
retta's marriage must be celebrated at the same
time, because 1--WE just like sisters and
always said we would have a double wedding"
The brides were dressed alike, and we girls of
this generation wonder how aunt Patty" looked
in her white silk dress, with the short round
skirt heavily braided and embroidered half it's
depth, the straight overskrt finished in mar
rover pattern to match, and the quaint little
bodice adorned in similar manner around the
neck and on the pulled sleeves. We wonder.
too, ii it be possible that Uncle Toms stout
dimensions were ever confined within the narrow
limits of that brocaded white satin wasteoat that
Aunt Fatty eXnlolts so proudly and lonely.
There was mighty gathering of the clans at
the wedding. From far and came the
numbering family coaches, with their relays
of kin folks" And it was many year before
the darkeys ceased to recount the glories of the
wedding feast. or to expatiate upon the hand
some appearance of the high-contracting parties.
But, dear me- Patty" said one of the lady
guests mot a kentuckian. be it remembered),
don't you think it's dreadful to marry your own
cousin? How can youP
''Rut vou know Miss Mniiv ovnla1pod po+fv
''Tom isn't my first cousin. This is the way of
it"-telling off on her fingers the links of the re-
lationship: "His-father's-frs wife-was Aunt
Ellen's-step-da Don't you sect"