The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-02
CLUB.
ARonance Of West Virginia.
BY DAVID LOWRY.


sons wedding. The preparations were
On q scale never attempted in that part
Of the country. The invitations were so
numerous that the people wondered
where Hank Dawson would put them
all-where they would find room to
| dance.
Neither Mr.. Dawson nor his daughter
explained to the curious. As for Dan
Bash. he had nothing whatever to say
concerning the arrangements.
Il leave all that to the Dawsons," he
said when questioned
| But he had planned it all. 1t was the
| schoolmaster, not the blacksmith, who
ca culated the quantity of lumber it
| would be necessary to lay down for a
| dancing floor on the ground before Hank
| Daw:on's door.
1t was Dan Bash who suggested tho
purchase Of canned fruits and meats.
| He knew every thing-couid sum up the
cost-and it was his estimate that Hank
Dawson copied when he wrote out, with
| Clubs a ,sistance, the order for the
| things that were to be sent by express
from the great city.
When the wedding day arrived the
country side knew all about it. How
Hank Dawson had been to the expense
Of putting down dancing floor that a
hundred people could occupy at once, or
maybe more.
Stories of the quantities of provisions
Hank had brought from the town near
at hand and the distant city were circu-
lated the day before the wedding.
"Wasn't the names on the boxes
didn't everybody see the dead loads of
stuff?'
And to crown all, there was TO be real
"band music The band music referred
to was small but fairly balanced or
ganiZation employed on extraordinary
occasions in the town.
The guests were invited to be present
at / O'Clock in the afternoon. The mar
rage ceremony would take place at 6,
when supper would be served. Dancing
and al manner of diversions would pre-
cede and follow the marriage ceremony.
The guests were promptly on hand.
They came from al! quarters. Some
were there who lived seventy miles dis
tant. They came in wagons. in buggies,
on horseback and afOot. 1t was the
largest and merriest gathering ever wit
messed in the county.
Hank Dawson was in his glory
laughed and talked with everybody.
His hearty laugh rang over the farm as
he moved among his guests
Along about o'clock the preacher
came. The preacher was famous wag.
He was as welcome as any Story-teiler
that ever entertained an appreciative
crowd.
But one man was absent That was
Dan Bash, and he was due at ) o'clock.
when he would join the merrymakers.
Five o'clock came, but the bridegroom
did not appear.
A quarter past five Dan Bash was con-
sidered laggard in love by all the men
there.
At half-past five his groomsman agreed
with thu bridesmaid that it would be
serving him just right if Club read him
a lecture when he did get there.
The woman and girls began to specu-
late.
They somehow managed TO get into
little groups and talked in low tones.
Fifteen minutes to six, and no sign OF
Dan Bash.
And yet, as everybody knew, he was
only four miles away. A lover with any
fire In him could walk the distance in
three quarters of an hour.
At six the sports Jagged = nobody
seemed to be interested in them. There
was no bridegroom sign of q bride
groom.
Hank Dawson moved around cheerily
among the hundreds thrre-he was as
bright, seemingly, as ever
Al a quarter past six he stood at the
side of the platform the dancers We're
lounging on. and said in loud. clear, level
tones that all could hear:
My friends, there seems to tie some
mistake somewhere. l don know what
il is. Dan Bash ought to be hcra-he
amt and that's all | know. If he
comes, why, he can marry after supper
just "a well a. before, but | am not going
t, wait minute longer. Supper will be
served Immediately. We will sit down. :"
There were whispers and wonderingS,
many winks and wise glanceS, but the
guests promptly availed themselves of
Hank Dawson's cordial invitation to
! most of everything"
To the surprise of the women folks,
| Club Dawson fitted about, directing the
| assistants how TO serve the guests. She
was. to all seeming, as seifpossessed as
| was her wont
The supper was prolonged. The great
crowd ate and drank heartily. If the
| absence Of the bridegroom was unac-
! count Bile, unexpected, something that
| oyerwhe med everybody with surprise. it
| did not interfere with the guests appe-
! titeS
At the conclusion of the supper, Hank
! Dawson rose and asked his guests to
! give him their attention. Then he said,
! slowly and deliberately:
This is strange thing, friends. l
! promised YOU wedding. I've done my
| Tart The people here have done theirs
| The only one to blame is Dan Bash"
! Father, father" said Club softly, at
| his elbow But Hank Dawson's eyes
! indled, and his voice rang out bold and
clear:
81 may as well say it as think it. Dan
! Bash has failed TO come to time. Why
! be amt here-what keeps him.
| haven't any more idoe than anyone here
has. But I'll try to find out-to-m brow
| Now. then, you're a-goin' TO proceed just
the same as II it was all regular and
they were married. I'm not goin' 10
have fun spoiled or good time cut
ihort Just because something's happened
or gone wrong l amt noways RESPONSE
bic for. You'll go right on dancin till
l. o'clock-or as long as you've a mind
to
A few of the men clapped their hands.
| but the women whispered to each other.
Suddenly Clubs voice was heard:
Fathers right Enjoy yourselves,
but | want to say one thing 1t amt
Dan Basins fault. If he isn't here. its
because something's happened TO pre-
vent H. | won't say any more now-bu,
If he IS not here tomorrow. | will tel
YOU what think is the matter Now
do Is father says"
There was something in Clubs sim
pie speech and manner that impressed
| all there What did she mean"
But in the meantime they would dance
for the music had struck up: a lively all
caused the blood 20 circulate swifter il
the young peoples veins and soon the.
were mingling in may figures, while the
! voice OF the leader called them TO theil
proper places in ringing tones.
The merriment was at its height wher
a riderless horse came into view
The moment the horse galloped up L