Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-09-14
Her Wedding
~ Journey
By RICHARD BARKER SHELTON

1T WAS half-past four. The Septem-
her sun beat down on the crowds
which thronged the fair grounds. The
final heat of the last horse race had been
trotted, and the perspiring spectators,
who had been packed four deep about
the track. turned their steps towards the
center of the grounds, where the silken
mesh of a big balloon was filling out
symmetrically over a hickory fire
which cracked in a hastily-dug pit.
The event Of the day was scheduled
for Ave O'Clock, and the patrons OF the
fair were evidently of no mind to miss
any part of it. Blue ribbon Holsteins,
high-bred Jerseys, focks Of woolly
Southdowns and pens of grunting York
shire hogs of enormous girth, were
alike forgotten. The tent containing the
benches of prize vegetables was a de-
serted shrine. Even the fakirs, ranged
along the high board fence; the African
dodgers. the gentlemen who ran wheels
or fortune" and the nimble-fngered
custodians Of the countless games OF
chance, experienced fat falling on OF
business and were left temporarily to
their own devices; to rest their over
worked vocal chords and count up large
wads Of greenbacks.
The crowd to the last tired urchin,
swarmed about the filling balloon and
eagerly watched every detail Of the prep
aration. Necks were craned and neigh
bors were jostled in the universal anx-
Iety to miss no bit OF 1t.
From a fat, shapeless mass that lay
inert on the ground there gradually rose
a glistening dome of shimmering silk,
enmeshed in a spider-like web OF ropes.
The dome grew and rounded steadily
1t became a huge ball; its silken bag
was stretched smooth and taut with
much rustling and many smothered ex-
CARNATIONS from the onlookers. 1t
trembled and strained like thing alive,
and at last it foated upwards and pulled
and tugged at its moorings while the
wicker car was adjusted beneath 1t.
Meanwhile. in stufty little room
back of the managers ONCE, near the en-
trance gate, a heavy-built young man
stalked nervously up and down, mopped
his red face, and now and again pulled
out an ancient silver watch and anxious
ly marked the approach OF five. His
white tie, his patent leather shoes, his
long. black cutaway coat with the white
chrysanthemum in the buttonhole and
his tan gloves Of an obvious newness,
all proclaimed the approach Of an epoch
In his life.
Near the one little window in the room
sat plump, pleasant-faced young WON
an. In one hand she held An ample boz
quet of white pinks; the other hand
restlessly smoothed the folds OF her
white muslin gown. Now and then, as
she glanced up and caught the young
mans eye she gave him quick smile
Of perfect confidence.
The young man paused before her
and took one of her white-gloved hands
in his own.
"You don't feel scairt, do you, Nellie?"
he asked, IN grave concern.
mot a mite" she replied, cheerfully.
He leaned over her and looked out the
little window. He saw the balloon
swaying in the breeze and the sea Of up
turned faces watching it.
81 sorter wish we warn't goin' to do 1t
ON your account, Nellie, he said.
Look a-here, JIM" she said, gayly,
''you needn't feel uneasy on my account.
I'd rather marry you hangin' head down
from a trapeze than to go on the way
was. workin' there at the Jones. We
couldn't get married for years If this
chance hadn't come along, an call it
flynn in the face Of Providence to talk
about not wantin' to go now, every
things all fixed"
There's an awful crowd out there
said he
pooh! Who's afraid Of a crowds"
she shifted. IT amt"
He looked at her with admiration
plainly stamped on his face. His big
hand pressed hers tenderly.
"Well, 'twon't take long," he said, as
If bolstering up waning courage. It'll
all be over In jiffy."
She picked q thread of his coat and
absently wound it about her finger.
81 should sorter like to gone up to
Cousin Sereny's after twas all over"
she said, little wistfully. "She bein'
about the only livin' relation got, I'd
liked to gone up there and told her all
about It,"
"P'raps we can go, Nellie" he began,
but she cut him short.
mo, we can't Jim. 1t would cost
lot for two of us to go up there, an we'll
need all the 5000 we git out of this to
start in with in the spring. Besides, l
don't know just where It's that Cousin