The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-02-27
A Stagecoach
Wedding
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

WIS SlduulLE III II IOolu NAuNAcu
nth men and womea in evening dress
when heard chee:y feminine voice
near me excIaim:
Why. Tom
What luckt' responded young
man, With blond hair. parted In the
middle. and his chin held up by very
/ high collar.
Il don't know a person here" said
the girl. who had spoken first.
Nor |. would rather have met you
than own a gold mine"
Isn't IL nice TO meet some one you
don't expect, but whom you wish to
meet?"
! Happy smiles Illuminated the faces
OF these two youngsters, whom Ii made
me happy TO look at Indeed, there
was one especial reason for my enjoy
ment of this pleasant surprise. for 1t
reminded ME of one that had occurred
in my own family years before.
! In the SiXtieS-l refer 10 the last CEN
tury-my father, then Il young man,
went out TO Denver to grow up
with new town. Albert Reeder had
gone there few years before with his
family for the purpose of building a
stamp mill on Clear creek, up in the
mountains and had become interested
II the extraction of gold from ore. My
father. who was as poor as church
mouse. found work in the service OF
Mr. Reeder and was sent up to one OF
his stamp mills, where he soon became
superintendent.
Mr. Reeder thought my father one
of the brightest young men in the
world and was ready to do anything
for him till he discovered that his en-
plOyee had love affair with his daugh-
ter. Agnes. Then he suddenly turned
against him. The trouble was that
Reeder had prospect of soon becom-
ing very rich and had begun to cherish
expectations of Agnes marrying either
duke or Ii prince or something OF that
order.
The young couple were in a peck OF
trouble in consequence of the old mans
refusal to consent to their union. or
course the matter rested with Agnes
My father couldn't do anything with
out her concurrence, and she was in
disposed to break with her father.
But her father must have been uncer-
tain of her. for he ordered her to get
ready to go back east to stay awhile
with an aunt. Agnes seemed disposed
to yield to his commands. She wrote
my father that he might come down
from the mill and say goodby to her.
He did so and there was very affect
ing scene between the lovers.
Inasmuch as Agnes was making her
preparations to go east and 1t was
supposed that she was bidding her
lover last farewell. no opposition was
made to the two youngsters seeing as
much of each other as they liked.
They spent a whole evening together.
during which Agnes told my father
that if she married him her father
would diSinherit her and that she
would lose very large fortune. Her
mother was bitterly opposed to her
marriage with my father, for 1t was
she who was determined to exchange
the wealth she would inherit for one
of those rundown titled foreigners who
are in the market for American heir
eSses
My father was the more cast down
because. while Agnes talked about her
mothers wishes In this matter, he was
not quite sure that Agnes herself was
not inclined to the plan of marrying
title and was accustomed to do pret-
ty much as she pleased.
However, there was nothing for my
Father to do but submit, and he said
goodby to Agnes lugubriously. On0
thing he knew-if she was disposed to
obedience he could not move her, and
If she was not disposed to obedience
her parents could not hold her.
My father, notwithstanding his en-
ployers opposition to his marriage,
was continued in his position and the
morning after his farewell left for the
mill He always rode ON the outside
or the coach and climbed on ton.
where he resigned himself to brooding
over the severest blow one can receive.
young or old-separation from
a mate.
From Denver the road westward ex-
CenOS 1Or hIteeH miles TO the base or
the mountains, then rises abruptly.
The morning was bright to every one
on the coach except my father, and
those inside seemed to be having
hilarious time. My father thought
nothing Of this, for stagecoach travel
ers always become aequailted. and ha
they were enjoying each 9TH
ar's compapionship.
They We're approaching the base OF
he mountains when a voice from be-
ow called out that Jim Harkaway-
hat was my father-was wanted In
'ide. Nothing was further from his
Inclination, and he refused to descend.
But the request was repeated, and at
ast he climbed down and entered the
'oach. All looked at him expectantIy,