The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-15

the near future at the Lodge" which
would be ksrt ~ summer house. III
desired tbst everything be done de
Gently and in order. At his request
promised to introduce into the wed
ding ceremony one or two features
which he very much desired. He called
several times afterward to be sure that
! understood him. He wanted a sorf
OF invocation after the usual questions
had been asked and the replies made
This brief prayer. invoking grace and
strength from on High TO rest upon the
two, was to be Concluded by Amen
and then the two were to be declared
married, by the use Of the common
formula. A prayer with benedictior
were to conclude tie service.
The marriage day arrived. Maris
made arrangements to have the bes,
reception ever given III the fashion.
able town, the sceEe of 80 many tri.
umphs. She did not spare expense
saying that az she expected 20 be mar
ried but once In her life, aDc the doc
tor might draw comparisons between
this and his other weddings, she
wished to out-do anything ne had ex.
periencei In this line.
The house on the wedding day was
splendidly decorated. All of the peo.
pie In society-esp,cialiy the doctors
patients-were present Maria was al
ways little pecui'.. in her tastes and
independent In her actions, ami refused
to be governed by ordinary rules.
The doctors face was even cleaner
than usual, his hair smoother; his new
black suit was perfect, and having
added to his costume a white cravat,
a pair Of white gloves and patent
leather shoes, he looked handsomer
and statelier than ever.
One thing Maria insisted on as her
particular choice in the ceremony. She
must kiss her husband first, and after
this he could kiss her.
AS the two stood in corner Of the
large drawing room under the arbor
of roses and smilnx, they looked as
well as any whose knot l had been
permitted to tie Maria, in spite of
her determination to appear quiet
was, to my practised eye, somewhat
nervous, and her manner Indicated
that her mind was trihe confused, a.
she was once or twice on the point Of
saying something.
She was quieted by the doctor, who
had, as stated. enough experience in
the wedding line to make him act as
u veteran in the service.
Maria he whispered, compose
yourself at this critical time"
The rich heiress--the most independ.
ent woman in all the country, who de-
spised weakness in her sex-was
brought to deep sense of her feeble.
ness during the ceremony, when the
responsibility Of her new relation to
the doctor began to dawn upon her.
The part which ''old Doc" had insert.
ed and which was his pride, became
n great rock of shame and confusion
TO him from which he did did not re-
cover for years. No sooner had end.
ed the invocation of which mention
has been made. and said amen, when
Maria, in her added confusion at the
doctors reprimand, thought the ser.
vice was over and put her old resolve
into execution. Throwing her arms
round the doctors neck she was not
content to give him one kiss, but in.
sisted. in spite Of his mild protesta.
tiOns, in bestOwing on him a dozen
embraces.
The guests could not suppress their
laughter. l WIS utterly unable to pro.
ceed seriously. Shutting my eyes ]
pronounced them husband and wife,
and then, with all my suppressed
laughter asserting itself in voice and
manner, ! congratulated the bride and
groom. telling them that this was the
happiest occasion Of my life.
The radiant smiles Of the guests
adorned their faces all through the
collation.. Maria was happily uncOn.
scious then of her error, while the doc.
tor, though too polite to show anger,
and too much under self-control to
manifest chagrin, was nevertheless
painfully polite, and more than ever
employed the biggest words and used
the longest sentences. He drew me
aside and said:
MY dear pastor, trust that our
married life may not be presaged by
the event Of today, and Interruptions
Of an inappropriate nature be inserted
into the rule Of our lives. Though la.
menting that our plans, so carefully
made. miscarried at the very apex OF
my happiness. l have such confidence
in dear Maria's love and good sense,
shown on ordinary occasions, that !
confidently look into the future, be
lieving that in our household we shall
ever have harmonious relations, since
the agitation incident to wedding
service is exceptional, and not an In.
tegral part Of lifcs usual duties"
Having unbosomed himself In this
way, the doctor entered into the Joys
Of the day as best he could, and Ma.
ria and he lived happily together af.
terward, with much music and little
discord in their lives.