The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-08-06

gion no more.
Nav, ye won't never see him ag'in,
Idly" said Aunt Judith, in the inter,
walls OF her pipe whiffs. "He's one oil
them good.for.nothin' cityfed skee
sizks-no more feelin' than stone.
tell We, lass, ye'd better b'lieyed mel
Didn't ketch i'm a-wearin' paper
collar and shirt buttoned up the
back? l tell ye, looked over the
washin' while he was here, an know.
Talk about SIGH Teller a-keepin' his
word to woman! PAIL it ain't in
'eml"
Zone evening, while sympathy Tor
Aida ran highest two OF her former
admirers called at the Downs house.
Their story was brief, out .heir con-
versation as they walked homeward
up the mountain road is worth re-
cording.
ELI" said one "the gals crazy"
NAV, she amt, nuther, Jonas" re-
| piled the other. "She Jest b'lieyes in
that Philadelphy Teller, an she won't
be satisfied that he's scamp"
| "Wall, every body else blieves it."
KANT say do; least not yet"
"Oh, We don't, hey? Wall, I
thought was dead gone. You've got
it worse'n me. Git mittened yerself,
an then stick up for the Teller what
run we out! He! he! he
"Look a-here, Jonas, returned Eli,
with some asperity; "the gals nothin'
| to us now; but don't like to hev the
thing made light OF. What l say is
that the man SIGH gal as Iidy
Downs promises ter marry must hev
come good in him, even if'taint you
or me. hate to hear all this sneerin'
an laughin, an I've faith in the chap
jest on her account. I'll bet my yoke
O. young steers again yourn that he
comes here and marries her on the Sd
OF April"
aye will? Done: Here comes Alva
Clench; say that ter him."
The bet was duly stated and record
ed. 1t was not Immediately made
public, but it had some influence on,
the proposed marriage, as We shall
learn. EN
The winter wore on. A letter from
Philadelphia made glad the heart OF
the anxious maiden. Nash was alive
and well. He had been engaged on
Government work in the far West;
his letters had probably miscarried;
he had just returned home, and would
surely claim his bride on the Sd OF
April.
There were telegraphs and railroads
at that time, OF course, but not in
the vicinity OF Bald Mountain. In
fact, there was not even q stage route
amid these hills and hollows; the COM
monapproach by horseback or wagon
frS l.
point could be found telegraph Of
flee, and il 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. 1t
was dated at Philadelphia the day be-
fore and was from Curtis. 1t repeat.
ed the assurance that he would ar
rive on the Sd. Ida gave the mes
senger 81 OF her scanty earnings and
put the message in her bosom.
Then preparations for the wedding
began in earnest. The whole neighbor.
hood was invited and at least 200
guests were expected, Aunt Judith re-
marking that ''them as couldn't get
inter the house could stay around in
the yard" Roasts of mountain
sheep, pies, cake and such general
profusion of food as Bald Mountain
had never known before, probably,
were prepared in honor OF the occa-
sion. Then there were the bridal
dresses and suitable paraphernalia,
gotten up with a labor and expense
that made the humble folk OF the
vicinity cape with astonishment.
"An' now s'pose he shouldn' Gomez"
croaked Aunt Judith.
~ have no fear OF that" answered
Aida, confidently.
ooh, no, l s'pose not; but when We
git as old as l be mebbe We won't |
swallow mans promises so easily"
About noon of the LIST OF April the |
fall. 1t rained 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 trouble.
The Downs house was situated on |
the high ground overlooking Turkey |
Creek. A wooden bridge continued |
the road across the creek, which at |
most seasons was fordable. But on |
the morning OF the I'd, the rain still
falling, it was immensely swollen; the |
water half covered the wooden piers |
and rose rapidly. All that day the
rain descended, and during the greater
part of the night.
The morning OF the Sd broke clear
and pleasant; but Turkey Creek had
become a raging torrent 10 feet deep,
and not only covered the piers OF the
bridge, but washed over the foot
way.
At 10 o'clock q multitude OF guests |
had arrived at Mrs. Downs house,
many women riding the same horse,
their costumes suggesting queer
admixture OF home made finery and |
heirloom silks. Those who crossed
the creek reported the passage danger
Gus. The ridge was swaying, and
the water had only to rise a little
higher to sweep it away.
This news filed Aida with alarm. |
BY that way only could the bride