Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-20
CHAPTER XIII

Great was the excitement in Rice Cor
ner when it was known that on the even
ing of the 10th of September a grand
wedding would take place in the house
of Mrs. Mason. Mary was to be married
to the richest man in Boston" SO the
story ran, and, what was better yet,
many OF the neighbors were to be invit
ed. Almost every day, whether pleasant
or not, Jenny Lincoln came over to dis
cuss the matter, and to ask if it were not
time to send for William, who was to
be one of the groomsmen. while she, to-
gether with Ida, were to off1eiate as
bridesmaids. In this last capacity Ella
came quickly to her large mournful eyes,
and turning away, she wondered how
Mary could thus mock her griefi
From one fashionable watering place
to another Mrs. Campbell had taken her,
and finding that nothing there had power
to rouse her dropping energies, she had,
toward the close of the summer, brought
her back to Chicopee, hoping that old
scenes and familiar faces would effect
what novelty and excitement had failed
to do. All unworthy as Henry Lincoln
had been, his sad death had cast dark
shadow across Elias pathway. Hour
after hour would she sit, gazing upon
the locks of shining hair, which over land
and sea had come to her in a letter from
her father, who told her of the closing
scene, when Henry called for her to cool
the heat of his fevered brow. Every
word and look of tenderness was treas
ured up, and the belief fondly cherished
that 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 home?
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 silvery moon came softly
up, as if 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 ad Joining,
was soon filed. Ere long Mr.. Seldom
who seemed to be master of ceremonies,
appeared Immediately the crowd fell
back. leaving a vacant space in front of
the mirror. The busy hum of voices died
away, and only few suppressed whis-
pers of, .'There!!Look !-See-Oh, myv'
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 a 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
be easier livin' in the city than keepin'
school You'll have hired girl, s'pose ~
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 Corner! The half-sup-
pressed mirth of the ladies convinced the
widow that she'd made blunder, and
perfectly disgusted with s.new-fangled
fashions" she retreated into the kitchen
where she found things more to her taste
and thanked her stars she could, if she
liked, eat with her fingers, and wipe
them on her pocket handkerchief
Soon after her engagement Mary had
asked that Sally should go with her to
her city home. To this George willingly
assented, and it was decided that she
should remain with Mrs. Mason until the
bridal party returned from the western
tour they were intending to take. Sally
knew nothing of this arrangement unit