The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-11-01

a simple ceremony, yet ~ was as happy
a day to me as ever mortal ex-
perienccd since the creation of earth
Mrs. Lawton did everything she could
to make the occasion pleasant. She re-
GREETED parting from me, and since the
day when she learned I was to be mar
ried she had sorrowed truly. After the
ceremony, and when we were preparing
to depart for our wedding journey, she
said:
'Agnes, to lose you is like losing q
daughter, for | have learned to love
you almost as mother loves her own
child. Your stay with me has made q
wonderful change in my life, and have
been so much happier since you came.
You do not know what you have been to
me, and how you have broken up and
dispelled the cloud of grief which had
so long hung over me. ! am sorry,
Agnes, to see you 60, yet am glad you
are married to man so good and
noble as Mr.. Cornell. God bless you,
my child, and may you always be Us
happy as you are to-day"
1t was quite awhile before I could
utter a word in reply, my feelings were
so wrought up by Mrs. Lawton's af-
fecting speech, and the remembrance
of her many kindnesses to strange,
friendless, homeless girl, all Of which
rushed into my mind like great food.
"Mrs. Lawton," I said at last, mo
matter where ] go or what befalls me,
you viii always retain a place in my
gratitude and love. You gave me a
home and love when was alone, and
shall never forget you"
That was very small part Of what
i felt and wished to say, but my heart
was so full that could not say more.
She understood what I felt, however,
and was satisfied.
Then there was Mira Cornell, her
kind old face fairly respondent with
Joy, beaming smiles on everyone about
her. How she Rugged and kissed me
md spoke Of me as her daughter! How
her eyes sparkled with pride and
happiness when she saw Charles and
me standing together, and came and
put her hands on our arms and said:
''God bless you, my dear children"
All, was there ever such day as that?
Was there ever such happiness? Surely
not.
There was Mr.. Cornell. too, his gen.
erous heart fairly bursting with joy. l
shall never forget how he came forward
after the ceremony, and, taking us both
by the hand, shook US with such hearty
good will that really feared for the
safety of my arm. Nor shall forget
the earnestness with which he addressed
us, each in turn, speaking from his very
soul:
"Charleth," he said, may Heaven
bleth you, my thon. You have done
well, and have made nth very happy.
God bleth you, God bleth you. Agneth
any daughter, bleth you. May Charlett
be TO you what you detherve, true
faithful and loving huthband, which
believe he will. God bleth you both
my children"
II was all SO full of sympathy, gentle
ness and love that felt sure another
such occasion was never known or
earth. So much kindly interest greatly
affected me, and I felt so little deserv
ing of it that 1t seemed had no righ
to accept it.
But why dwell on the happiness o
that day? 1t was but the beginning o
a long happy life which has EXTENDED
through many years. believe ther,
was never a wife who knew more of tn,
enjoyment Of perfect domestic bis
than |, and am sure no woman eve
had truer, kinder AID more lovin,
husband. Throughout all the years o
our married life, Charles Cornell ha
been the same true. faithful lover tina
he was the day we were united
When our wedding journey was owe
and we had settled down in our owl
home on a farm adjoining Mr.. Cornells
we received a letter from Win Hanle
and also one from Mary. The forme
wrote but little, and though he congra,
nlated US and wished us the fulles
measure of happiness, 1t was apparen
that the old sorrow still rankled in hi
breast and that his soul was not in hi
words. lpitied him sincerely, and whe
Charles told me that it was letter fror
Will Hanley that informed him of mylov
and brought him back to me as lover
j freely forgave him everything. Mary
letter was short and acrimonious. Sh
was sorry, she said. that anyone s
closely related to her should find it nee