Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-08-15
cuAprER XIII


Great was the excitement In Rice Cor
ner when II was known that on the even
Ing OF the i0th OF September a grand
wedding would take place In the house
OF Mrs. Mason. Mary was To be married
TO the ithest man In Boston" 30 the
story ran, aud, what was better yet,
many of the neighbors were 10 bc inSit-
ed. Almost every day. whether pleasant
or not. Jenny Lincoln came over 70 dis.
cuss the matter, and TO ask II II were not
time to send for William, who was to
be one OF the groomsmen, while she. to-
gether with Ida, were TO otticlate as
bridesmaids. In this last capacity Ella
had been requested to act, but the tears
came quickly TO her large mournful eyes,
aud turning away, she wondered how
Mary could thus mock her grief!
From one fashionable watering place
10 another Mrs. Campbell had taken her,
and finding that nothing there had power
20 rouse her dropping energies, she had,
toward the close of the summer, brought
her back TO Chlcopee, hoping that old
scenes aud familiar faces would effect
what novelty and excitement had failed
20 do. All unworthy as Henry Lincoln
had been, his sad death had cast a dark
shadow across Ella's pathway Hour
after hour would she sit. gazing upon
the lecks OF shining hair. which over land
and sea had come to her la letter from
her father, who told her of the closing
scene, when Henry called for her TO cool
the heat OF his feyered brow. Every
word and look Of tenderness was treas
urod up and the belief fondly cherished
TINT he had always loved her thus, else
why In the last fearful struggle was she
alone remembered OF all the dear ones In
his distant homer
The bridal day was bright beautiful
and balmy, as the first days OF Septem-
ber often are, and when the sun went
down the full slvery moon came softly
up, as II to shower her blessings upon
the nuptials about to be celebrated, Many
and brilliant lights were flashing from
the windows Of Mrs. Mason's cottage.
And now guest after guest fitted down
the narrow staircase and entered the par
lor, which, with the bedroom adjoining.
was soon filed. Ere long Mr.. Seldom
who seemed to be master Of ceremonies.
appeared. Immediately the crowd fell
back, leaving vacant space In front of
the mirror. The busy hum of voices died
away, and only a few suppressed whis-
pers OF, "There!-Look !-See.--Oh myr'
were heard, as the bridal party took their
places.
Among the first to congratulate Mrs.
Moreland'' was Sally Furbush, followed
by Mrs. Perkins. who whispered to
George that "she kinder had notion
how 'twould end when she first saw him
in the school house; but I'm glad you've
got him" turning to Mary, "for it must
he easier llvin' in the city than keepin
school. You'll have hired girl, s'poseT
When supper was announced the widow
made herself very useful in waiting upon
the table and asking some of the Boston
ladies "if they'd be helped to anything in
them Dishes" pointing to the finger
glasses which now for the first time ap'
peared In Rice Cornprl The half-sup.
pressed mirth of the ladies convinced the
widow that she'd made a blunder, ant
perfectly disgusted with "new-fangleC
fashions she retreated into the kitchen
where she found things iAore to her taste
aud thanked her stars she could, IL she
liked, eat with her fingers, and wip'
them on her pocket handkerchief
Soon after her engagement Mary haC
asked that Sally should go with her t
her city home. TO this George wlllingl!
assented, and 1t was decided that sh'
should remain with Mrs. Mason until thu
1 bridal party returned from the westerl
tour they were intending to take. SAIL
knew nothing Of this arrangement unit