Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-02-12
ON HER WEDDING Day.

1t was q quiet Wedding-nO show no
fuss, no furry, but just transformations
and decorous, as best beseems the cere-
mony. No carriage even. Only a step
separated Ben Varley's cottage from
the church, and old Ben, with his daugh.
ter, the bride, and her cousin, Kate
Fletcher had walked the distance. Dick
Ford and his best man." Reuben
Graeme, IN likewise reached the ancient,
ichened edifce The little building was
wellnigh full of interested fisherfolk, Il
state of repletion which the rector's most
learned sermons failed to bring about on
Sunday. Various calculations uttered
in Would-be underStones--DoeSn' her
LUX BONNER She's pa!er nor l like to
see." Gray suits her, it do''-from the
women. with sundry sniggerings and rib
diggings on the part of the men, marked
the passage of the happy pair as, leav-
ing the church, they trod the leaf-StreWn
path of the churchyard.
Eth, but he's fort'nit to get sich n win
some young woman" said Miss Mitchell,
an elderly spinster.
she moan knows what she's venturin'
on replied Mrs. Hogan, whose husband
was reckoned the most henpecked man in
Port st. Bede. 1.-The troubles, the wor>
rits O men folks enow to drive a body
crazy. Oh l know it, Miss Mitchell,
A1ObOdS bNbtSA3 Stunning LII AASoA NOAN
fully.
''Guid luck so wi ye, Mrs. Ford"
chorused the women, and May We liver
be blithe, Dick" shouted the men.
Dick smiled and raised his hat awk-
wardly-it being the first time he had
home in it-while Esther chung more
tightly to his arm as the good wishes
tbronged in on every side. Bride and
bridegroom came first, of course; Rube
Graeme linked next with Kate; then
followed, in struggling order. old Ben and
Dicks father-hlS mother, like EStherS,
had long been at rest beneath the shade
of the church tower-BOb 1ardes. Ralph
ThWaites with Mrs. ThWaites, Simeon
HoWker and wife, and other friends who
had been invited to celebrate the event.
And so the little train wendell down to
the TraWIers' inn, in the big upstairs
room OF which the wedding breakfast
was spread.
The weather since early morn had
been none of the best; tempest lowered
in the air The elms in the churchyard
creaked and bent their tops, although
no wind was astir; the hush that pres
aged the coming storm was painful in
it's brooding stiffness. The lOng-draWn
roar of the ocean smOte the ears of the
wedding party as they left the church;
from the hill the waves could be seen
breaking far out to sea, Overlapping ana
licking the Fort Rocks like angry
tongues of flame round a martyr at the
stake. The wind, too, had come, at
first in short fitful gusts. gradually pro-
longed. until, before the inn was reached,
the full force of its strength was put
forth Heavy drops of rain fell Spat-
tering on the uneven cobbles of the street
and on the gray shales of the roofs.
I'VE shall haze it nOo," muttered Reu-
ben to Kate, glancing with puckered
11o 70,
yentur' out tOneet, I'm thinkin."
Nay, an | hope not" was the reply.
Kate was too engrossed just then to
give more than Il laconic answer-too
engrossed in the study of her cousins
gray dress, in considering what improve
ments in style, fit and texture were
susceptible Of anent the time when she
herself should take the foremost place
in such another procession. Besides,
she resented the transference of Rube's
attentions from her own pretty self to
the black, wrathful elements. What
place have storms and discord in the
music of marriage bells? Verify, none.
They might reserve themselves-at least
so Kate thought-fOr later period.
But her pique soon wore off when the
company was seated round the loaded ia
BILE at the Trawlers' inn. Here the sui
len moan of the wind, the thunder of
the sea, the patter of the rain, were for
gotten in a flow of boisterOus humor
more appropriate to the occasion. Gent
atty and high spirits blOtted them from
the memory as effectually as if they were
season of joy, despite all drawbacks,
and right joyially was it inaugurated.
Mine host had catered to taste.
There were speeches, of course
speeches little disjOinted, perhaps, but
full of pleasant banter, and of that spe-
cies of wit denominated broad. The
homely sentiments were received with
vast applause, and the lively sallies
evoked grins and laughter that showed
thorough appreciation of their point.
Dick rose to reply. On entering the
inn he should remove his gloves or not
his knowledge of the uSageS of society
not extending to certainty on the matter.
In fear lest he should violate some I'M
known canon of etiquette, and probably
remembering the trouble he had had in
getting them on. he finally decided to
retain the lavender-cOlOred "hand-shoeS'
as long rs he could endure the inf1iction.
When he now stood up, he tWitched
nervously at them, thereby unwittingly
drawing attention to the rents between
the fingers. Friends ALL he began.
''For Esther an mysen [ thank you
every one for what you've said about
wishin' us both good FORUM. We mean
to pull together all through life, as t.
parson said, till death do us part'-an
l hope that'I be goodish while yet
AS for them other things you've Almost
all spoken aboot-well, well, you've had
a go at me today, an welcome; an I
hope / shall have chance one o. these
days o havin' go at some O YOU"
Here hear!' broke in Simeon How
ker.
A loud burst of merriment greeted the
interruption. Simeon's exclamation had
been simply thrown in to fill up the
hiatus caused by Dicks momentary hes
itation. A vile misconstruction had been
put upon his sympathetic encouragement,
and it only needed his wife's angry
glance to drive away for that day all
poor Simeon's enthusiasm and appetite
'Wen,' continued Dick, as soon as the
mirth had subsidized. 81 trust you'll all
luik back o. this day wi as mich pleasure
as | allays shall-an' | can't wish you
better nor that. Let me thank you again
for Esther an myself. An now you
mum a haze bit O bride cake
The sugared pyramid in the center of
the table had been specially ordered and
baked at Jennings of Morperland Adj
miring eyes made it their cynosure; it
was unanimously voted a real chef
0'OquVrp of fhp cOnfectiOnQr'S art Hard