Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-07-26
CELEBRATION.

There was good deal OF head-shak-
ing INDUCED in when Philip Bruce
and Mehitabel Hale were married.
Old Mrs. Pierce, who lived next to
the Bruce homestead Git was Philips
now-he was the last surviving Bruce,
stated the cause for disapproval with
much impressiveness to little Miss
Gardener, the dressmaker.
They're middling young, for one
thing-Hitty, she amt above nine
teen, and Phil amt more'n twenty
three or four-but that amt the most
ont. They won't git along peacea-
BILE. nor nothing like it-mark my
words. When you see red hair Ike
his'n and black eyes like hern you
can be pretty certain there's temper
behind EN-
"Shom said Miss Gardener, pacific
ally. "Phils as good natured a feller
as ever breathed, and | never seed n
pleasanter spoken gal than Hitty."
well" Mrs Pierce admitted, Il
don't know as | ever heerd anything
against EN-, but them signs amt apt
to fail. They'll be falling out before
their HONEYMOON over with, I'll war
rant
If Phil Bruce and his pretty young
wife could have heard the prophecy,
no doubt there would have been some
exhibition of the temper" whose eX-
istence she argued. Certainly there
would have been u great deal of right
eous indignation; for if ever there
was a couple who had married purely
from love, and between whom moth
ing could possibly come, and the har-
mony of whose devoted affection
nothing could III the remotest degree
disturb. Phil and Hitty Bruce were
convinced that they were that couple.
And certainly there was everything
in favor of the theory. They were
very much in love; each considered
the other the most perfect being, on
the whole, that the world contained
Quarrel? They would have smiled at
the mere idea of anything so obvious
ly impossible.
And if the next town had not con
ceived the idea, some three weeks
after their marriage, of celebrating
independence Day, Mrs. Pierce's pre-
diction would never have been full
filed.
We'll go, of course?" said Hitty.
She had run out 10 the barn where
Phil was husking corn, in her blue
gingham dish-apron and bare head,
with copy Of the country paper in
her hand.
Where" said Phil. smiling up at
her.
TO Upton, of course, " said Hitty,
eagerlv-''to the celebration to-mOr-
row. 1t tells all about it here. There's
going TO be speeches, and the militia :
going TO march, and a dinner at the
town hall. or course we'll go?~
She dropped her dark eyes persua-
sively upon him as he sat husking in
dustriously. with his hat pushed back
on his head. disclosing hair that was
rather warm in hue.
We'll" said Phil, slowly-he did
not like to disappoipt his pretty wife
u don't see how can, Hitty. There's :
a good deal that's waiting TO be done,
and nobody but me TO do it. | cant
put of gathering the apples in the
east orchard they'll rot Oh the trees;
and the potatoes hadn't ought 10 be
left in the ground any longer. |
guess I'll have To stay at Eome,
Hitty."
stay TO homer' screeched Hitty.
why, Phil Bruce. you don't know
what you're SAYING. There won't be
another chance like this nobody
knows when. The idea Of your want
ing 10 miss il! Why, Phil.
Il don't want 10 miss it, said Phil,
rather impatiently. I'D be glad
enough to take you, Hitty. But
what become of the apples aud po-
.tatoes if | dor'
They cam waitr' said Hitty with
some defiance.
They can't watt. Phil responded.
You've got to Use a little reason,
Hitty.'
He had always credited Hitty with
a good amount Of common sense, and
this seeming lack of it annoyed him.
Hitty's bright eyes widened indig
nantly.
Reason, indeed, it was he who was
unreasonable.