Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-07-11

tho inn, had heard the nows and
formed dreams of tho coming event
Tho bride and bride cake boaux and
bolles had boon reviewed in tho
minds oyo Ovor and over again.
Whom young man, Mr.. Hopkins
arrived upon the spot where now
stands the village of -, with his
bundle upon his stick his solo for
tuno. Ho became what may DO term
cd squatter, 1t was then dreary
waste of girdlod trees and patches
covered with black stumps. But his
untiring perseverance, and system
attic industry were rewarded in time
by bohOlding from his cottage door
tho folds of waving corn and golden
wheat whore once lurked tho savage
and prOwled tho ravcnous beast.
In course of time tho place became
settled. Tho present village sprang
into existence. Mr.. Hopkins grow
with its growth and strengthened
with its strongth"-in short Mr..
Hopkins bcCamo n rich man and con-
seQuontly u man of consequence.
Mrs. Hopkins, poor good soul, died
orc she could enjoy tho wealth that
hcr patient labors had assisted her
husband in accommodating. Sho left
ono daughter, christoncd Dinah, and
two sons. Upon tho death of tho
"old man" tho sons moved to a
strange land-that is, about 100
milos from their native dale Miss
| Dinah, or, rather, Diana, as sho
chose to bc called, aftor tho immor-
tai Di Vernon, remained upon tho
"old place" to uphold, rs she proper
ly said, the dignity of tho Hopkinscs.
Thus years woro away. Miss Di
bccamo tho tyrant of fashion in hor
own village. Sho road Shakespeare,
dotted on Byron and was subducd by
Sir Walter Scott works She Ian
guishcd and quoted poetry for near
ly 40 years. In youth sho Scorned
the rustic bcauX that kncoled at her
shrine, and rs years sped on mono
bowed nor told thor talo of love"
until at longth Miss Di began So
riously to think of n visit to her
brothors whom the kind fatcs brought
Mr. Micalf to tho village and there
left him to tho mercy of Cupid.
Tho major, as no was Familiarity
called, was rather short of stature.
with an aldorman's corpulency, ia
nous for his good nature, intolerablo
Incidence and devotion to whisky
| tNi,nnh an1 fhn ,,n<-in,,u
asthmatic, he seldom had recourse
to any oXcrtion. A long walk would
cause him to puff and blow at least
for minute ero he could catch
breath to utter n word. Still Mr..
Micalf found breath enough to be.
come successful wooer, and Miss
Di persuaded her swain to elope
with her by moonlight, as she could
never survive tho stare of the pie
beians by tho light of "gaudy day. v
1t ever remained doubt in the
village what was tho exact age OF
the major. Many We're of the opinion
that 60 winters had frosted his brow
Others asserted that he did not mum
ber by score as many gears as his
bride. These latter, however, were
tho ladies.
Thursday arrived, and after g
weary watching from many beam
ing eye the sun at length disappear.
cd behind the distant mountains
and twilight gently threw over the
glowing sky its mantle of sombe1
| I i,rl> e
through the houses, and an unusua,
hustle hummed through the quiet
streets. The horses, disturbed after
a day of LABOR to be brought forth
and harnessed to whatever vehicle
their masters could boast of possess
ing, hung down their weary heads,
with slow and measured stops pa.
tiently submitting to the yoke OF
bondage.
The sudden glare of lights that
streamod through the easements OF
the white cottage over the gravel
walks announced that preparations
had ceased, and that visitors were
momentarily expected.
There vas the bride, her tall,
gaunt figure arrayed in white, fit.
ting from room to room, not know.
ing where to station herself to make
tho best impression and inwardly
chatting at the perfume of tobacco
that mot her olfactory nerves and
tho loss of her roticule, wherein
were the keys of sundry closets and
40 forth. when the door opened and
air. and Mrs. Potts and the four
Misses Potts, with Miss Clapper, be-
held the bride upon her knees and
hands looking under an old fashion
cd scttec for her lost treasure.
Mrs. Micalf looked up, sprang to
her feet, uttered faint scream and
for moment hid her face, then
yielded her cheek to tho salutation
of the six ladies and with much coy
ness permitted Mr.. Potts to touch
the tip of her ear.
well, declare, think you serv-
cd us pretty trick, Mrs. Micalf-a
lady of your years to mako moon
light fitting-oh, &c" cried Miss
Clappor in qucrulous voice.
"Oh, spare mo, dear friends! /
feel the full force of the imprudence
of the step. But be this my excuse
I've scanned the actions of his daily
life and nn:tcr myself that I have
secured happiness.
And Mrs. Micalf, to steal away
so-he who hates walking so. Why,
l Thought it would almost have