The New England hills were tinged with that peculiar purplish haze so

common to the Indian summer time, and the warm sunlight of November fell

softly upon Snowdon, whose streets this morning were full of eager,

expectant people, all hurrying on to the old brick church, and

quickening their steps with every stroke of the merry bell, pealing so

joyfully from the tall, dark tower.

The Richards' carriage was out, and waiting before the door of the Riverside Cottage, for the appearance of Anna, who was this morning to venture out for a short time, and leaving

her baby Hugh alone. Another, and far handsomer carriage, was standing

before the hotel, where Hugh and his mother were yet stopping, and

where, in a pleasant private room, Adah Richards helped Alice Johnson

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make her neat, tasteful toilet, smoothing lovingly the rich folds of

grayish-colored silk, arranging the snowy cuffs and collar, and then

bringing the stylish hat of brown Neapolitan, with its pretty face

trimmings of blue, and declaring it a shame to cover up the curls of

golden hair falling so luxuriously about the face and neck of the

blushing bride.

For it was Alice's wedding day, and in the room

adjoining, Hugh Worthington stood, waiting impatiently the opening of

the mysterious door which Adah had shut against him, and wondering if,

after all, it were not a dream that the time was coming fast when

neither bolts nor locks would have a right to keep him from his wife.

It seemed too great a joy to be true, and by way of reassuring himself

he had to look often at the crowds of people hurrying by, and down upon

old Sam, who, in full dress, with white cotton gloves drawn awkwardly

upon his cramped distorted fingers, stood by the carriage, bowing to all

who passed, himself the very personification of perfect bliss. Sam was

very happy, inasmuch as he took upon himself the credit of having made

the match, and was never tired of relating the wondrous story to all who

would listen to it.

"Massah Hugh de perfectest massah," he said, "and Miss Ellis a little

more so;" adding that though "Canaan was a mighty nice place, he 'sumed

he'd rather not go thar jist yet, but live a leetle longer to see them

'joy themselves. Thar they comes--dat's miss in gray. She knows how't

orange posies and silks and satins is proper for weddin' nights; but

she's gwine travelin', and dat's why she comed out in dat stun-color,

Sam'll be blamed if he fancies." And having thus explained Alice's

choice of dress, the old negro held the carriage door himself, while

Hugh, handing in his mother, sister and his bride, took his seat beside

them, and was driven to the church.




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