Honolulu Republican, Volume IV, Number 505, 24 Ianuali 1902 — My wedding Dag. A Romance of Concord and Lexington. [ARTICLE]

My wedding Dag .

A Romance of Concord and Lexington.

By L. G. Woodberry.

Well, as 1 was saving, this Is the way it came about: I was a young thing then, just turned 18. Your grandfather had been my playmate, hero and protector from the time that I was old enough to go to school. 1 had never thought of marrying any one but him. and so when he asked me to be his wife. why. of course. 1 said "Yes.” Well, it was in the spring of 1775 that we were to be married. Mother and I spent the winter getting my things made up. and I had as fine an outfit as a gir! could possibly have in those days. The day set for the wedding was the 19th of April—yes, the very day on which the battle of Lexington occurred, as 1 have good reason to remember. Those were anxious days for us. I remember how serious my father and brothers used to look as they discussed the events which were then taking place. Their only conversation was about rights, stamps and taxes. When the towns began to raise “minutemen.” why, of course, we raised a company In our town, and your grandfather and my brothers were members of It. We girls could not stftnd guard, of course, so In order to show our patriotism we all signed a paper in which we agreed not to have anything to do with the men of the town who refused to join the company. The 19tb of April was a beautiful day. though a warm one for the season. We were all up early that morning. for there was a great deal to be done. It was about 9 o'clock in the forenoon when my mother, who had been looking over some linen, suddenly raised her bead, exclaiming as she did •o. “Why. Mary, was that the meeting bouse bell?" “What can It mean?” 1 cried, and. running to the window, 1 caught sight of our neighbor's sons. Joe and John Eaton, running down the road with their guns. Across the way Harry Wright was plowing the field. The boys called out to him as they passed, and. without stopping to unhitch the horse, he seized his gun and was off across the fields. “It Is an alarm, mother!” 1 cried. “The boys are down by the brook.” she said. “The sound will not reai-h them. Run and tell them!” Without delay I hurried to the kitch en. and. seizing the horn. I ran out of the house and started for the brook, which was some distance from the house. I blew a blast on the horn as I ran. and as the boys caught sight of me I pointed toward the road, where several men could be seen running with their guns. The boys understood, and. waving their hands to me. they were off across the field to the road. “What do yon suppose the matter la?" asked mother when I returned to the bouse. “I do not know." was my reply, “but I am going to find out.” And 1 ran out of the house and took a short cut across the fields to the meeting house, which was to be the gathering place If the alarm should ever be sounded. I. for one. had never expected to hear any alarm, for at home we hoped for » peaceful settlement of the difficulties But when I reached the church and saw the whole town gathered on the green the men's stern air and the wo men's pale faces frightened roe. and I began to fear that something serious was the matter. “T hat Is it? Where are they Ing?” 1 asked. And as I spoke the men came hurrying out of the meeting house, where they had heard a few words from Parson Smith, and. mount ing their horses. r>de off as fast as they could go. I looked for your grandfather. but be was not there. Catching sight of my father. 1 ran to him “Have you seen Henry?” (that's your grandfather! 1 asked. “Henry was at the tavern when the messenger rode through here.” replied my father, “and. a« be had his horse with him. he rode away without waiting for the company to assemble.” You may imagine my feelings as I turned to go home. This was my wedding day, and the man who was to marry me tad ridden off without a word, knowing, too. that he might never return. If all they were saying about fights and resistance was true. My father had reached home before me. and as I opened the door 1 beard mother ask. “Do you think it is anything serious, father?” “I am afraid It may be. wife.” be Mid. “The messenger said that Gov ernor Gage has sent some of the king’*

troops to destroy the supplies which have boon stored at Concord. If the report is true, there will be resistance, and If St comes to that it Wil be eery •erioas business for 0*.“ Mr mother kept her fears to herself and did her best to make me feel that It would come out all right, but those hours were the most anxious I ever •pent So through the day we watched and waited for news. The first news that came to oa from lie fight at Lexington and the other j doings of that day arrived about 6 | o’clock in the afternoon, when some : mlnutemen from another town stopped ‘ at the tavern on their way home. They told the story of the day to the little . crowd of anxious women who eagerly , gnestloned them for news of some dear 1 »ne. My father would not let me go down to the tavern, but went down himself and brought us the news. 1 can see him now hurrying along the road. " Something unusual has happened. Mary!” exclaimed my mother. "I nev- '1 er saw your father look so excited.” I hastened down the path to meet him. "Bad news, my child: bad news!” he exclaimed. ‘There has been an encounter with the king's troops.'' And then, reading the question in my eyes, he continued. “But they brought no news of our men.” The hour set for the wedding was 8 j o’clock, but It began to look as if there would be no wedding, for It was now after 7 o’clock, and none of our men bad returned home. Mother and I sat In silence In the kitchen while father walked back and forth in the room above. At last we lieard steps outside, and then my brother Arthur, who was among the first to reach home, stagger- ; ed into the room. T sprang up and ran to him. He sank Into the nearest ! chair, and his gun fell to the floor with a thud. Arthur was only a boy of 15. you must remember, and the day had been a terrible one. When he had recovered a little, my j father spoke. “What news do you bring, my son?” he asked. Now, 1 had felt from the first that he had brought bad news, and by the way he hesitated and glanced from father to me and still did not speak 1 felt sure of it So 1 put my worst fears Into words. “Arthur.” 1 said. “Is it Henry?” “Listen.” he said, speaking rapidly. “The king’s troops were In full retreat when we reached the road. We did uot keep with our companies, but each one found shelter as he was able behind trees, walls or fences. 1 met Hen- j ry as I was crossing a field, and we j took shelter together and awaited the coming of the troops. We had just got 1 settled when Henry caught sight of a flanking party coming right down on us. He called to the men near us to run for their lives, and at the same time we both jumped the wall and ran for a house which stood in in the field Just opposite. 1 reached the opposite wall In safety and turned round to look for Henry, but he was not with me. At that moment the troops came round a sudden turn In the road and sent some shots in our direction. At the risk of being shot at 1 stood up and looked across the road. He must have been hit by the flanklug party, for he lay just by the wall.” "Are you sure It was he?” asked father. “Yes; I knew him by the green on his powderhorn.” replied my brother. “You staid by and looked after him?” asked father. “1 tried to, sir. but the troops came down on us. and we were obligM to move on. I went hack to the place as soon as I could, but I must have mistaken the spot, for 1 could not find him.” Meanwhile 1 sat In my chair, feeling as If ! had just awakened from a bad dream, i did not fully realize what had happened, for it seemed Impossible. “Here are some people, Mary,” said mother, "You would better go up to your room and lie down.” I did as 1 was told. There on the bed lay my wedding gown. 1 could not bear to look at It, and. picking It up. 1 placed It In the large chest in which my linen was packed and pulled down the lid; then 1 threw myself on the bed. and tears came to my relief. So I lay there thinking over of the day. my wedding day that was to have been. How different from what I had anticipated! Suddenly I heard the sound of a horse’s feet coming up the road at a furious pace. I sat up and listened. “Somebody Is riding on an important errand.” I said to myself. Nearer and nearer came the sound, and the rider, whoever he was. drew rein at our door. ■ Then there were a murmur of voices and an opening and shutting of doors and then my mother’s voice calling to me: “Mary. Mary; child, come down! Henry is here. He’s come.” Scarcely believing that I heard aright. ( got up and ran down stairs and into the kitchen, and there before me. his face pale as death. w ; th a blood stained bandage bound about hia forehead, stood your grandfather “Mary.” he cried, bolding out his bands to me. “1 am in time! The clock has not struck yet!" Then Parson Eider, who had come ■ over to hear the news from .Vnbur. came forward and said. "Shall I perform the ceremony now?" So right then and there your grand father. In his working clothes, all stain* ■ ed with dust and blood, and 1 in my morning calico, were married. — For ward.