The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1901-08-15
CHAPTER XIII.


Great was the excitement in Rice Cor
ner when il 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 ri, hest man i'm Boston," SO the
story ran, and, what was better yet,
many Of the neighbors were to be inyit-
ed. Almost every day, whether pleasant
or not, Jenny Lincoln came over to dis
cuss the matter, and to ask il it were not
time 10 send for William, who was to
be one Of the groomsmen, while she, to-
gether with Ida, were to Ofilciate as
bridesmaids. In this last capacity Ella
had been requested to act, but the tears
came quickly to her large mournful eyes,
and turning away, she wondered how
Mary could thus mock her grief!
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 10 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 a 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 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 mp, and the belief fondly cherished
mat he had always loved her thus, else
why in the last fearful struggle was she
alone remembered of all the dear ones in
Dis distant home? A
Ihe bridal day was bright, beautiful
ana balmy, as the first days Of Septem-
Der often are, and when the sun went
down the full silvery moon came softly
up as il 10 shower her blessings upon
lhe nuptials about to be celebrated. Many
and brilliant lights were flashing from
lhe windows Of Mrs. Mason's cottage
And now guest after guest fitted down
,ne narrow staircase and entered the par.
"f which, with the bedroom adjoining
was soon filled. Ere long Mr.. Seldom
VINO seemed TO be master Of ceremonies
appeared. Immediately the crowd fel
uack' leaving a vacant space in front OF
Tue mirror The busy hum of voices died
away and only a few suppressed whis'
pers Of. "There.-Look.- .-SeeLOh. MY
were heard. as the bridal party took their
places.
Among the first to congratulate Mrs
Noreland" was Sally Furbush. followed
Mrs Perkins. who whispered t6
reorse that 'she kinder had a notion
no" twould end when she first saw him
~ 'he school house; but I'm glad you've
sO' MN, turning to Mary, ''for it must
N easier livin' in the city than kcepin
SnooI. 1c, You'll have hired girl. s'pose! ?
"ntn supper was announced the widow
.laue herself very useful in waiting upor
,"9 liable and asking some of the Boston
,L1'eS II they'd be helped to anything ~
."em dishes, pointing to the fingel
a'1sses' which now for the first time ap
JARED in Rice Corner! The half-sup
m;S messed mirth of the ladies convinced thu
'lo" that she'd made q blunder, ant
ft,ecuy disgusted with ''new-fanglet
uh' hsuIohs' she retreated into the kitchen
sns ... she found things more to her taste
TLa. thanked her stars she could, II sh'
,bo. eat with her fingers, and wipt
Oh her pocket handkerchief"
nOCu after her engagement Mary hae
baA bl mat Sally should 90 with her +
,sy a. cty home. To this George willingi,
sbenI,ed' and it was decided that ~
remain with Mn. Mason until tn
,a .saaal party returned from the weoterz
M ney were intending to tAke Sail
nothing Of this arrangement md