Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-13
HIS HASTY WOOING,
A GOssIP'S LOVE srORY.

A GOSSIPS LOVE Story.
Almost fifteen years ago my cousin
Christy was going to get married Sh'
might have had the pick of the county 1
she'd wanted to, but she had to go ano
take up with Aba Perry, who ran the town
store and postoface and was about az unat.
trac'i0e man as I ever set eyes on.
| Well, for some reason or other they got
70 putting off the wedding from month to
month and finally it got 70 be three years
| fore the d4y was set. Well, we all went
over to DOminie Mskepeace's together to
see the knot tied. Uncle Bijab, Aunt
Snphronia aud me. We decided to keep
| the affair quiet, and when the couple gor
back from their trip to give them a rousing
old time
Dominic Makepeace was in the parlor
when we got there, so was his wife, and SO
was man we none of US had ever sot eyes
on before.
The Dominic introduced us.
s'This," said he, sis my twin brother. /
don't know whether you'd take us for
each nthsesSnow, for he is sea captain,
browner and heartier than I am; but we
used to be exactly alike"
81 oftentook them for each other when
Matthew was courting me-" said Mrs.
Makepeace, laughing. "Bus there is a
change now in Arthur"
"Well, SO there was. To my mind the
captain was handsomer than the dominic,
who was just little pale and anxious. As
for Christy, she almost said it right out
She kept looking at him sort of soft and
bright, and smiling to herself. And she
had good chance to look at him; and he
at her, for that matter; for we waited and
waited, and Abe and Ben didn't come.
"We must have started too early" said
uncle.
'Certainly, he is NOT in any hurry" said
Christy.
Il must say, if nothing has happened, l
don't feel flattered. Tve good mind to
say mo when he does come"
'sIt would serve him right" ssid the
captain.
We all tried to laugh, but it was poor
joking. Abe ought to have been on hand
at and it was 8.
"He's so unucky," said aunty, after
awhile. 'poor Abe is. expect he's took
this time for to kill himself, or get hurt
somehow, anyway"
'Time he sent word then," said uncle.
Christy sat with her eyes blazing, and
the minister's wife got up and looked out
the window.
Somebody's coming" said she. "Only
one. though"
"Msy be Ben has got hurt, and Abe
stayed to help him." said uncle.
And We all sat looking at the door, when
it opened and in came Ben alone. He was
white as a ghost, and there was a big
bruise on his cheek. Aunt Sophronia
screamed.
"What's baprsned?" said she.
''Ive beaten the rascal to a jelly" said
he. 'I'd have killed him, only l didn't
want to DO hung for critter like that
G ,psin Cnristy, what sort of stuff are you
made oi? Are you going to break Your
heart for a rascal? For rascal Aba Perry
IS. I've got the key of his puttings off
nnw. He's married. His wife is alive
He didn't dnrst coma here, and be owned
up to ne.
az never liked girl SO veil as | liked
Christy.' he said, but Mrs. Perry the first
would put me into States prison, if ste got
chance Then I went for him. He's
black and blue, and looks snch sight
They're putting oils ali over him. Thsnk
the LORD you're done with him, Christy."
And Christy, with face like cast iron,
ross up, straight and tall and handsome,
| and says she:
81 do thank the Lord; aud if there's a
crtser ] desnise it's Abe Perry" said
Christy ali must tell the truth, l had
5o make it subject CT prayer befnie l
came hare this afternoon, and | felt TO be
ashamed of wanting to b ok ont when I'd
bean engaged three years bur now | see
What it all meaut. My good angel was
euggiug at me all the while Oa! OH OIL!
cried CAristy, clasping her hands, 'to
think l might have married. EoR, the
only thing l care for is the neighbUrs
knowing how am fooled coming here to
night"
f'He alone is to blame," said Dominic
Makepeace.
'And an sure nobody can think any
thing else," said Capt Makepsace; Sand
he is very unlucky fellow not to be able
to come here to-day with you waiting for
him. For my part, I've seen lots of pretty
women. but l never fell in love until to-
night" said the Captain.
| ChristY gave a start, and blushed.
II always have believed in love at first
sight" said the Captain. "AIiss Christy,
dou't frghten you, do l9 You see, sail
in three days. I've got to do my counting
soon if want my wife to go with me-
Ask my folks all about me. I'm we'll
thought of iu my profession, too. If love
you, aud you can love ne, why, marry me
tonight, and We'll do our courting after
ward. E,?"
81 haven't doubt should be happy il
did," said Christy. SHUT / don't know
what folks would think of me-"
''lt needn't so beyond our little circle
here" said the dominie's wife. 81 know
that, next to husband, brother-in-law is
the best man living. | know what kind OF
l IL L., cI~<~
I'd like to have you say Yes"
Well, the end of it was that Christy told
him that if he would let her go home alone,
and stay there until they sailed, she'd
marry him. And she did
| We didn't publish the news of the wed
ding until they were off. Then we enjoyed
the fan. Nobody could understand If, and
se d,dn't mean they should. And how
will you have your flnunces, straight oil
bias, Miss Rook? for time is flying, and
I've been talking too much.