The morning call., 1892-06-27


light Of. What [ say is that the man sich q
gal as Lidy Downs promises ter marry
must hev some good III him, even II 'taint
You or me. ! hate 10 hear all this sneeTla'
an laughin', an I've faith in the chap jest
on her account III bet my yoke O young
steers again y0urn that he comes here ana
marries her on the 3 / OF April"
"Ye will? Done! Here comes Alya
Cench; say that ter him."
The bet was duly stated and recorded. 1t
was not Immediately made public, but II
bad some Influence on the proposed mar
rage, as we shall learn.
The winter wore on. a letter from Phil
adelphia made glad the heart of the anxious
maiden. Nash was alive ard we'll He had
been engaged on Government work In the
far West; lis letters had probably miScar-
red; lie had just returned home. and would
surely claim his bride on The 81 of April.
There we're teleGTaph5 and railroads at
that time, of course, but not in the vicinity
OF Bald Mountain In fact, there was not
even stage route amid these hills and hol-
lows; the common approach by horseback
or wagon from Cuyley :, 80 miles east. AZ
that point could be found a telegraph Of
fee, and if the wind was favorable you
might sometimes hear the shrek Of a steam
whistle coming down through a long glen
that skirted these mountains.
The letter was received in the latter part
of March. Upon the very last day Of the
month telegram came from Cuyler'S by
special messenger. Ii was dated al Phila-
delphia the day before and was from Curtis.
1t repeated the assurance that he would
arrive on the 81. Ida gave the messenger
81 Of her sctnty earnings and put the mes
sage in her bosom.
Then preparations for the wedding began
in earnest The whole uelghborhOod was
invited and at least 200 guests were ex-
pected, Aunt Judith TenlaTking that them
as couldn't get inter the house could stay
around in the yard" Roasts of mountain
sheep, pies, cake and such a general pro-
fusion Of food as Bald Mountain had never
known before. probably, were prepared in
hOnur Of the occasion. Then there were the
bridal dresses and suitable parapheTnalia,
gotten up with a labor and expense that
made the humble folk Of the vicinity cape
with astOnishment.
An now s'pCse he shouldn't come P'
cTOaked Aunt Judith.
Il have 10 fear OF that" answered Aida
confidently.
"Oh. no, s'pose not; but when ye git as
old as / be mebbe ye won't swallow mans
promises so easily"
About noon of the 1st Of April the sky
was overcast, and rain began TO fall. II
TaiDed steadily during the afternoon and
night; the temperature rose, and the older
men predicted that the waters would come
down from the mountains and make trOu-
bic.
The Downs house was situated on the
high ground overlooking Turkey Greek. A
wooden bridge continued the road across
the creek, " hich at most seasons was ford
able. But on the morning Of the %, the
rain still falling, il was immensely swollen
the water half covered the wooden piers and
rose rapidly. All that day the rain de-
seended. and during the greater part Of the
night.
The morning Of the Sd broke clear and
pleasant; but Turkey Greek had become a
raging torrent 10 feet deep, and not only
covered the piers Of tie bridge, but washed
over the fOUtTay,
A 10 O'clock a multitude of guests had
arrived at Mrs. Downs house. many men
and women riding the same horse, their
costumes suggesting queer admixture Of
| homemade fnery and heirloom silks. Those
who crossed the creek reported the passage
dangerous. The bridge was swaying, and
the water had only to rise little higher TO
sweep it away.
This news filed Aida with alarm. By
that way only could the bridegroom come
So she insisted on going down TO the bridge
and waiting there TO warn him. She threw
her wraps over her wedding dress and, ac-
cOmpauied by her mother and Aunt Judith
and closely followed by a number OF the
guests, she went on her eTTand,
1
planking If the bridge. The supports were
tOtterng. Two hOrsemen appeared at the
opposite end. Aida quickly recognized her
beIOthed and the minister
Don't cross, Curtsw she cried. "The
bridge will fall"
The minister drew rein. Curtis Nash
/ heard the cry, saw his waiting bride on the
other side, and without thought or heed of
danger spurred his horse upon the bridge.
1t sank under him; tie animal struggled
and leaped amid the crashing planks and
timbers. A chasm OF 10 feet Yas between
him and safety, Where tie bridge had parted
from the further bank; whip and spur
urged him to a leap, and in a trice horse
and rider stood on the solid ground. while
the bridge, with final gTOan, fell and was
WhiTled in fragments down the stream.
Embraces and congratulations followed,
and then she awkwaTdness of the situation
was perceived. The bride and bridegroom
expectant, with their party, we're upon one
side Of an impossible stream, the minister
upon the other.
rs there q parson or Justice Of the Peace
this side of the creek?" Curtis demanded.
mot near'n Outwater's," replied our
friend Jonas, with a chuckle That's p
miles over the wust road y'eVer seed /;
couldn't 90 an come fore tomorrow"
Curtis looked yeXed; Aida felt like cry
ing. but tried to appear composed. Then
| Ely Shorter came TO the rescue and said
much TO the discontinue Of Jonas:
Beg pardng, Mr. Nash, an yours, Ida
There's them that said you two wouldn't be
hitched to-day; an that was long before
Turkey Creek riz. l said We would. an l
backed my opinion with about S25 wuth.
| Now, Lida-skuse me, but the old name
comes nandy-don't 90 back on yer old
lover for standing up for yel Get married
! now, spite Of high waterl"
Maybe you'll wade across and bring the
minister over on your shoulders" Nash
smiiagly suggested
What's the use Of any minister on this
| side? Can't be marry yer right across the
| water2"
by Jove, you've hit tt" Nash exclaimed.
" Its the only way. He can't be got over in
! this food"
But it aIn't ScripturalW Aunt Judith
! screamed. The ideel Nobody ever heerd
SIGH outlandish talk l don't believe that
it's lawful. either"
Shall |, mother?" Ida asked.
The widow looked from her daughter TO
the guests, and across the raging torrent to
the minister. Then she thought of the
feast prepared at home.
81 guess you'd better not wait, Ida, "
she faltered.
That decided the question, and In three
| minutes they were man and wife. The
voices Of tho bridegroom and the minister
could be distinctly heard above the roar of
the waters, and the bride bowed her re-