The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-11-27
SELECT STORY.
MISS MIDFERN's WEDDING.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

on the "Black Rock and Reensevoort
Line" The engineer had been killed
at his post, the telescoped train had
caught fire, one person was taken up
for dead, and all the rest was more or
less bruised, wounded and terrified F.;
and 10y way of sequel to the rest, Miss
Midftrn's barn was burned to the
ground, with all the newly. garnered
store of hay, and the new patent reap
er, which had cost such sum of mon
ey. The farm house itselfhad narrow
ly escaped the cattle being at pasture
were fortunately unhurt.
Miss Midfern never had been a ner-
vous woman, but she was a little pale
rs she stood on the front porch, look
ing at the wrecking train, whose hands
were hard at work
"How's the young man p said Mrs.
DulciMer, who lived on the nearest
farm
"He's BETTER" said Miss Midfern.
Mrs. Dulcimer sighed. Even in n
railway accident luck seemed to go on
the opposite side of the boundry fence,
which separated the two estates of Dul-
elmer and Midfern. Why, she asked
herself, could not the pleasant-ooking
young man with the diamond studs
have been flung into the arms of her
four unmarried daughters instead of
falling to the lot of Martha Mdfern ?
"Going to recover ?" said Mrs. Dul-
elmer.
CHATS what DR.. Paley hopes"
''1f you want any help in nursing
him" feebly began Mrs, Dulcimer.
Much obliged, I'm sure,' promptly
answered Miss Midtern; but / don't
require any assistance"
Mrs. Dulcimer made no reply, but
she glanced oblquely at Miss Midfern
aud thought there was no danger of
any mans losing his heart to that wry-
faced old maid.
"lf it had been my Caroline Angus
Ia, now. or Hannah !" thought Mrs.
Dulcimer, with a thrill Of maternal
pride.
But there is no accounting for the
freaks of Cupid. Harry Sewer was
young and grateful. Doctor Paley
told him truthfully, that Martha Mid
ferns careful nursing had saved his
life. And one autumn evening, in a
burst of gratitude, he laid that life at
the middle-aged woman's feet
"Do you really mean it ?" said Mar
tina, who had never had bona-fde Of
fer of marriage in her life.
And she blushed red and white like
a girl.
"Is it likely that l should jest on
such subject p said Harry, earnest
ly.
But am older than YOU"
'ln years, perhaps-yes, But what
| difference does that make p
So Miss Martha Midfern became en-
gagged to the handsome young Geor-
gian whom fate had drifted to her
| door.
81 suppose people will laugh at me"
she thought. ''But there-why should
| care? He loves me and | love him,
and that is enough. But guess we'd
better keep the secret to ourselves just
at present"
AS the beautiful October woods
blazed forth in their mellow autumn
tints Mr.. SEWER began to stroll out a
little way at a time to sit on messy
boulders and dream beside merry little
brooks. And one day Hannah Dulci-
mer came dancing home from search
after nuts in the woods.
"Ive seen hun, mother" said she
'rhe Captive Knight ! The old witch
has let him out of the tower for awhile.
And he's as handsome as a picture
And, oh. mother, he is so nice And
he is coming here this afternoon to see
the view from Apple Tree Knoll May
bake fresh angel cake, mother And
can Sarah Alice make some vanilla
| fritters 7"
"What will Martha Midfern say 2"
uttered Mrs. Dulcimer
"As if that signitied !" gayly retort,
ed Hannah, who was the youngest and
prettiest of all the Dulcimer girls. He
isn't hers, is he 2
And then she ran up stairs to brush
out her auburn curls, which were blown
into silky confusion by the wind, and
to put into water the cluster of blue
asters which Mr.. Sewer had given
her.
Nobody was to blamc-in these un-
Fortunate cases nobody everis to blame
But the mischief was all done before
poor Hannah Dulcimer found out that
Harry Sewer was the captive of Martha
Midfern's bow and spear. And Harry
himself awakened at last to a con
sciousness of his llfe's mistake.
He was a Georgian gentleman, how
ever, and honor was dearer to him even
than love, so he made no sign.
Hannah, however, was less reticent
and self-contained and when Martha
Midfern came over to consult Sarah
Alice Dulcimer, who was a miliiner by
trade, as to the wedding bonnet, Han.
nah came into the room with red eyes
and burning cheeks
"Oh, Martha Martha !" she sobbed,
~ know it isn't maidenly, but | cant
help it. love him, and he loves me-
Oh, Martha, be magnanimous and
leave him to me y
"lIannah, hold your tongue y cried
Sarah Alice, greatly scandalzed.
81 can't help it " walled Hannah,
wringing her hands and rocking to and
fro like one in mortal pain. 81 love
him, and he loves me, and he is engag-
ed to you, Martha Midfern Oh, what
is To be done p
Martha turned pale. More than
once some inkling of this unfortunate
complication had crossed her mind, but
she had dismissed it as too utterly I'M
probable,
"Ie has never asked for his free.
dom, she said hoarsely.
"Because he is too good too nobel!
hysterically cried Hannah. "lIe would
die sooner than forfeit his word. But
Iyou-you, Martha--you will not let
him sacrifice his life. Oh, Martha,
think how terrible it would be !"
"IIannah, I'm astonished at you y
said Sarah Alice. Mother, do get her
out of the roomh
| And poor Hannah was taken. sob