The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-31
A PAIR OF WEDDINGS.
GHarper's Bazaar.
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.

[Harper's Bazar.l
"You don't say sop'
Grandma Pine looked sharply over her
spectacles at pretty Nanny Campbell, who
sat at her feet on an old-fashioned cricket"
the blaze of the open fire playing on her
bright, blushing face, and lending richer
shade of gold to the crown of fluffy hair that
hid her white forehead.
Nanny had come up to Traverse to spend
Thanksgiving. with her grandparents. She
came the day before, but her father and
mother could not leave till the next morn
ing. DR.. Campbell was too busy man to
spare more than day from his practice I;
and Nanny was glad to come Alone for she
had a great piece Of news to tell grandma.
Yes, with deeper glow than the freight on
her dropping face, she impaired the wonder
full intelligence that she was engaged to Jack
Norton, and was going to be married on
Christmas. Now grandma was not much
surprised, for Jack Norton was the son of
DIR. Campbelps Oldest and best friend, and
the children had known each other always.
Grandma. with the forecasting wisdom CT
old ladies, had prophesied to herself this re-
suit years ago, yet she thought she was sur
prised to find her prophecy fulfilled.
Perhaps it never would have been had
Nanny and Jack lived next door to each 9TH
or always; but when they were yet children
Mr.. Norton had left Ridgefeld and gone to
Boston to live. And Jack, moreover, had
been sent to Germany for his preparatory
studies, and to England for his collegiate ed
ucation. SO he was as good as stranger
when he came home to share his fathers
business; and when he saw pretty Nanny,
whe had blossomed from plain angular lit
tie girl into lovely young woman. he fell in
love with her after the good old fashion. and
she returned his passion with all the faith
and fervor of girls first seriousI affection.
They had been engaged several months, but
Nanny had not announced the fact to any
but her father and mother. She was both
shy and cautious, so she waited to tell grand
ma until the wedding day was set
Grandma was ready with congratulations !;
yet, as she drew the fair young head down
to her knee, and stroked the bright hair with
tremulous fingers, she sighed, for she had
lived too long not to dread life for the child
she loved so we'll
grandpa. in that grand committee of two,"
which married people hold ON matters that
interest them or their neighbors, land I'm
kinder distressed, too. don't like his bein'
lawyer; t never seemed as though twas
reliable business, nor one tibet real honest,
straightforward man could foller"
WELL" said grandpa, thoughtfully, you
have got to take things by and large, Elviry
by and large. There's some lynn in all
business. You don't sell all the big p'tatoes
nor all the sound apples in the same barrel
ef you're farmer, nor you don't tell man
how old your critters are-to day. Do you
s'pose Tatum sells his dry goods an groce-
ries on the square always? Don't we get
poor drugs for high prices down to Deans?
An come to fine it down, Parson Pitcher
don't write sermon every week, now tell
We. There's .suthin' bad to everything;
faint a heaven ON earth down to Bosting, no
more'n it's here to Traverse"
swell, dom know as 'tis," replied grand
ma, with sigh; ''but anyhow / wish she
wasn't goin' to be married in December"
And while Nanny was busting round in
the kitchen the next morning, stirring cold
milk into the Indian pudding that to-day had
the great oven to itself, basting the huge
turkey in the rooster, garnishing the tongues,
keeping an eye on the chicken pie that stood
on tripod in the chimney-corner to keep it
hot after it had been drawn from the afore-
said oven, and doing for grandma all the lit
tie odds and ends that are SO much work for
old people and so little for young ones,
grandma was revolving in her mind certain
good counsels for the girl, which might or
might not be acted upon; for grandma had
old-fashioned ideas. She spoke at last, her
fingers meanwhile busy pairing potatoes for
the pot that stood bubbling to receive
them
$50 you're goin' to be married Christmas
day, be you, Nanny"
mo, dear Christmas eve"
Seems pretty cold time for a weddin',"
said grandma, taking up another potato
"Well, yes. Jack would not wait till June
when wanted to have it; he said he never
believed in long engagements. And mother
thinks just SO; that is, where people have
known each other as long as Jack and I
have"
"Goin' to be married In church, s'pose %
'0h yes and then a reception. Now you
and grandpa must come down; want you
to promise"
Were Almost too old and too rheumat-
icky. Nanny, to 60 junketin' round in mid
winter"
mo. you're not-not bit. The cars are
warm, and mother'll have a fire in your
room; and it's going to be such pretty
weddingl Six bridesmaids, granny; all of
them pretty girls, too, in low dresses of lace
and pink satin, with roses and short wells of
tulle. They'll look just lovely. And DIR.
Adams-you remember Everett Adams, who
studied with father?-he's to be best man.
"Landw calculated grandma. 81 shonld
think Jack would be the best man amongst
en-"
We'll" laughed Nanny. with blush that
would have been the precise tint for her
bridemaids' dresses. 81 think he is; but that
isn't what they call him."
''And what is low dresses?' oueried
grandma.
"Oh, low-necked. and with no sleeves
Just strap across the shoulder, you know,
"Good graciousz" exclaimed the old lady.
looking over her spectacles with glare Of
horror. 81 should think that was Towl'
Dreadful low, too. They'd ought to be
'shamed of theirselves"
"Why, gran, it's the fashion"
81 don't care nothin' about that, child; il
amt decent, nor it amt pretty. Who wants
to see them girls bones ?-and girls In these
days haven't got much more'n skin and
bones. Mebbe that young doctor may like
studyin' of 'em, and SEEM how the jints
work; but should ruther be dead skele.
ton than live one, if / was a-goin' to be
studied by young DOCTOR"
Grandma, / do think you're dreadful
Why, Alice Brooks has got neck and arms
like baby; and Rosina Leavitt's are lovely,
too, IL she is little dark"
We'll, anyway, l call 1t cruelty to animals
70 hev them girls go out In that condition OF
cold winters night into a big draughty
church. BE you goin' low too?"
"oh, mol IT'S not the fashion for brides
I'm going Ito have white satin, high to the
throat and down to the wrists, with beauti
F,xI Iaoa all about 4.