Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-10
w u Y

Aunt Martha was very strict), he would be SC
affected at the parting that it real relief to
me to see him the next evening looking as If he
didn't enjoy any poorer health than usual.
! | couldn't do a thing that useful in the
daytime but keep my white frock washed and
ironed to be fresh enough to wear every evening
and set the parlor to rights so that everything
would be in order for the ceremony, for there
were two or three neighbors in the street who
expected to come over when the knot was tied
But / couldn't sew stitch, nor do any house
work, nor read any of the novels I got from the
library-rea elegant ones and just what I'd al
ways liked before. ! did want to go to Coney
Island once or twice. to get out of sight of the
parlor and the leather bag and my wedding
clothes, but Henry was too awful fearful of boats
to have me go on one, and we might miss the
minister I got so that / sat in my room good
deal and cried, life seemed so sort of solemn and
real with Henry.
Those evenings! oh, those evenings! The neigh
bors began to sncker when Henry passed down
the street, and Aunt Martha furious, and
didn't have any more appetite than Henry, and
got so nervous and shaking | thought I'd go wild.
Aunt Martha said that Dr. Macfarren had for
gotten all about u.s. and she made Henry go and
leave word again. We found then that he had
been away on vacation but he promised to
come around the first chance he got.
Two or three nights afterwards Mrs Leggett S
little boy came to get some of Aunt Martha S
cough syrup for the baby, who was sick While
Aunt Martha was making it up, told him I'd
90 around to his house with it, for he had an
other errand, and was so wild felt as if l must
go out for a minute.
Henry looked at me sort Of queer, but he didn't
make any objection He offered to come with
me, but told him it was too damp for him, and
wouldn't be moment
| was gone little longer than intended, for
who should | meet on the way but Joshua Glib
son. | hadn't seen him hardly any since / was
engaged. and he seemed real glad to stop and
talk little, though he watched me kind of Gu
rious | thought When / ran in the house, Aunt
Martha was rocking backward and forward in
her chair, and crying.
Henry looked agitated, and he opened his arms
and folded me in them in a solemn embrace.
ooh. stop that" says Aunt Martha "The
minister's been here, and you out, Annie Louise!
/ never see no such doings not in all my born
days Wen be the laughing stock of the whole
"Why didn't you keep him?" I said turning
hot and cold You knew | was coming back
Henry shook his head sadly. "He was on his
way to visit the SICK and had only few minutes
to spare for us. This is cruel cruel blow, my
own hearts treasured"
He staggered, but I didn't take any notice of
him. and Just went and hung up my hat on a
nail
1--WE needn't sit up any longer that's one good
thing" / said Good night, Henry Gamble"
/ didn't sleep much that night for / couldn't
get it out of my head that Henry had known all
the time that DIR. Macfarren was coming, and
felt sick Did he want to marry me, or did he
not?
The next evening however, Henry seemed more
wrapped up in me than ever. He brought the
weddingrug in his pocket and made me try it on
and, though it was pretty big, it was real nice.
Aunt Martha wanted to up and tell him there
was to be no more shillyshaIying, but | would
MT let her.
Thursday night / felt just as if something was
going to happen The moon was big and golden,
and the air was soft and warm
did up my hair top Of my head, with a
lot of cute little eurls my forehead, and put
on that everlasting white dress again with the
white satin belt and it seemed for once as il
there might something come oi it at last But
after supper had note from Henry, saying that
his mother was sick and had sent for him, and
he wouldn't be able to see me until the next