Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-07-04
A Strange Wedding.

tion and built their four houses on ad'
joining corners. So, as two brothers
were married, we formed little set
tlement by ourselves. This was well
as our nearest neighbor lived II miles
away. | was then merry romping
lass of Is, all the wilder for being
just from city life.
The first year very destructive
cyclone visited that part of the coun-
try. Lying as it does between the
Missouri and James rivers, it was
feared that such visitations might be
frequent, so father and the boys dug
cave midway between the houses.
Twice we sought refuge there and
heard the demon of destruction at
work among the fruits of our indus
try. We escaped without injury, but
father, who was returning from the
town, twenty miles away, where we
got our mail and supplies, was badly
bruised by the overturning of his
wagon. AS soon as he recovered he
and the boys dug cave about mid.
way on the route to town. The loca-
tion was marked by four tall upright
posts, which could be seen for a long
distance.
Years passed with no occasion for
its use, but father was always dread
ing such a time, and kept it in repair.
Four happy years passed, and then
a party of visitors from the East came.
Among them was Frank Healy. We
had been great friends in the past,
and became something more during
that long summer.
We agreed to get married in the
spring, and he would stay until that
time. But early in January he re-
ceived summons home to Chicago,
and insisted that 60 along.
So preparations were made for our
marriage. We sent to Bunker for a
minister, but our messenger brought
word that he could not get away.
"Could we not come to him ?" We
must start for Chicago at once, so de-
cided to adopt that plan. Upon the
18th, after a fearful goodbye to all
but father and Joe, who would ac-
company us, we started for Bunker.
Before we were two miles away the
snow began to fall in great, feathery
flakes.
For some time the snow fell slowly
and heavily, then the wind rose and
the cold began to increase.
The wind howled like host of de-
mons bent on destruction. The snow
became infnitesimally fine, and, driv-
en- by the blast, stung ones flesh,
when exposed, like needle points.
We could not see the horses heads,
and, as the one track was long since
covered up, we no longer knew which
way we were going, and could only
trust to the horses.
Suddenly Joe put out his hand and
clutched at some object close to the
side of the sleigh.
"Hurrah !" his CHEEKY voice rang
out. "Whoa !"
The tired horses stopped Instantly,
only too glad Of the chance. Joe
sprang out into the yielding snow. In
a moment he shouted again:
"Hello. Here's another sleigh.
Father Frank Pile out here with
your shovels! ~
They did as he ordered, and moth
er and | reused to see what it all
meant. But we could see nothing
and only family hear their voices
above the rushing wind.
We soon found out, however. for
father and Frank soon returned and
lifted mother and | out of the sleigh
and carried us-where Into fathers
cyclone cave.
We stood about in stupid amaze
ment, for Joe had brought lantern
along, and he had lighted and hung
it up. A moment later we were join
ed by the minister from Bunker, who,
finding it possible to get away. had
started.
The men blanketed the poor horses,
huddled them close to the mouth of
the cave, turned the sleigh box up be-
side them as Il partial shelter, then
bringing my trunk, lunch basket and
the robes, joined us.
The temperature of the cave was
comfortable compared with the upper
air. Vigorous and continuous exer-
tion soon restored our benumbed
limbs to their normal condition, and
we settled down to quiet discussion
of the situation and the probabilities
in our favor.
After time the talk languished,
and Frank made in whisper the
queerest proposition gave decid
ed negative, but at last yielded to his
entreaty, and almost before the others
knew what was going on we stood be-
fore the minister with clasped hands,