Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-25

with you, never know that 1 am a
woman and you are man. only
know that we are both things that
think. Other men, when 1 ah with
them, whether love them or not, they
are mere bodies to me, but you are
spirit. l like you. Look" she said
quickly, sinking back into her corner,
what pretty pinkness there is on all
the hilltops! The sun will rise in
moment"
Waldo lifted his eyes to look round
over the circle Of golden hills, and the
horses, as the first sunbeams touched
them, shook their heads and champed
their bright bits till the brass settings
in their harness glittered again.
: 1t was 8 o'clock when they neared
the farmhouse, red brick building,
with kraals to the right and a small
orchard to the left. Already there were
signs of unusual life and hustle. One
cart, wagon and a couple of saddles
against the wall betokened the arrival
OF a few early guests, whose numbers
would soon be largely increased. To
Dutch country wedding guests start
up IN numbers astonishing to one who
has merely ridden through the plains
Of sparsely inhabited "karroo."
As the morning advances riders on
many shades of steeds appear from
all directions and add their saddles to
the long rows against the walls. shake
hands, drink coffee and stand about
outside in groups to watch the arriv-
Ing carts and OK wagons as they are
unburdened Of their heavy freight Of
massive Tantes and comedy daughters,
followed by swarms of children Of all
sizes, dressed in all manner of print
and moleskin. who are taken care of
by Hottentot, Kaffir and half caste
nurses. whose many shaded complex
ions. ranging from light yellow up to
ebony black, add variety to the AMI
mated scene. Everywhere are excite
ment and hustle, which gradually in
crease as the time for the return Of
the wedding party approaches. Prep
arations for the feast are actively adj
vancing In the kitchen; coffee is liber-
ally handed round, and amid pro-
found sensation and the firing Of guns
the horse wagon draws up. and the
wedding party alight. Bride and bride
groom. with their attendants, march
solemnly to the marriage chamber,
where bed and box are decked out in
white with ends Of ribbon and artiti-
cial flowers and where on row Of
chairs the party solemnly seat them
selves. After a time bridesmaid and
best man rise and conduct in. with
ceremony each individual guest to wish
success and to kiss bride and bride
groom. Then the feast is set on the
table, and it is almost sunset before
s the dishes are cleared away and the
pleasure of the day begins.
Everything is removed from the
great front room, and the mud floor,
well rubbed with bullocks blood. glis-
tens like polished mahogany The fe-
male portion of the assembly flock
into the side rooms to attire them
selves for the evening and reissue clad
in white muslin and gay with bright
ribbons and brass jewelry. The dane
Ills OCSihS lLC hlsl tullOW CluuleS
are stuck up about the walls the music
coming from couple of fiddlers in
corner of the room. Bride and bride
groom open the ball, and the floor is
soon covered with whirling couples.
and every ones spirits rise. The bridal
pair mingle freely in the throng. and
here and there musical man sings Wig
orously us he drags his partner through
the BLUE Water" or John Speri-
wig" boys shout and applaud. and the.
enjoyment and confusion are intense
till II o'clock comes. BY this time the
children who swarm in the side rooms
are not to be kept quiet longer, even
by lunches Of bread and cake. There is
a general howl and wall that rises yet
higher than the scraping Of fiddles, and
mothersMr rush from their partners to
knock small heads together and cuff
little nursemaids ana force the walters
down into unoccupied corners of beds.
under tables and behind boxes. In
half an hour every variety of childish
snore is heard on all sides, and 1t has
become perilous to raise or set down a
foot IN any Of the side rooms lest u
small head or hand should be crushed.
Now, too. the busy feet have broken
the solid coating Of the floor. and
cloud Of fine dust arises that makes a
yellow halo round the candles and sets
asthmatic people coughing and grows
denser till to recognize any one on the
opposite side Of the room becomes inn
possible, and Il partners face is seen
through yellow mist.
At IL O'Clock the bride Is led to the
marriage chamber and undressed. The
lights are blown out. and the BRIDE
groom is brought to the door by the
best man, who gives him the key.
Then the door is shut and locked. and
the revels rise higher than ever. There
is no thought of sleep till morning and
no unoccupied spot where sleep may
be found.
1t was at this stage of the proceed
ings on the night Of Tant' Sannie's
wedding that Lyndall sat near the
doorway In one of the side rooms to
watch the dancers rs they appeared