The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 303: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

800 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, ‘¢ Well, I never thought so until I saw you this morning, walking about, a-boiling over with something or other.” Thus Rafferty was attacked by one or the other the whole morning; but when the hour for the marriage--which hour was an early one—came round, then all was bustle, and the party to the church was a numerous one. Captain and Mrs. Morton went with them to the church, and then the happiness of both was completed, and they were now united to each other for life. The whole party left the church—the village church where so many incidents had taken place—where the man Sternholde bad more than once been seen to seek concealment, and from which he had been chased by the hostler of the Morton Arms. The house—the hall—had been open the day or two previous to the calls of such as chose to go, who were in any way con- nected with the estate, and Rafferty, being the head man, had a controlling influence upon the character and extent of the pro- ceedings that were exerted for the benefit of his patron, and the comfort of all who came there. However, when the marriage was over —when the newly-mar- ried couple came home to the hall, Rafferty was nowhere to be seen. . But Captain Morton remarked that Rafferty Brolickbones was somewhat eccentric in his notions, and, therefore, he thought nothing of that, though, on that occasion, it did somewhat sur- prise him. No more was said at the time, and the bride’s health was drunk round in some of the finest champagne, and that with the utmost good will. Many were the good and kind wishes that were, on that day, uttered toward the bride and bridegroom. They were both beloved by all who lived within the sphere of their influence. ‘+ But where is Rafferty ?” inquired the captain. Nobody knew; he was called for everywhere, and search was made, but no Rafferty was forthcoming, and by dint of much inquiry, it was decided that he had disappeared suddenly and mysteriously, immediately after the ceremony had been per- formed that morning, and had not been seen since. ‘¢ And what can have become of him?” said Captain Morton. “JT am anxious about him, because J] am sure, had not some. thing happened to him, he would have been present upon such an occasion.” ‘¢ Arrah! and sure yer honor is right. Tfakes! where would Rafferty be if not at a wedding when a wedding was pomg ont But, carracovaky! hereIam. I have been doing a little busi- ness on My Own account.” As Rafferty spoke, he pushed the door open and stood on the mat—oh, ye gods! with as fine a specimen of female flesh as could be found in any county in the three kingdoms—namely, fair, fat, and forty. The lady was indeed all] these combined in one. She was very fair—very fair, indeed, her face being something more than the color of the ‘red, red rose,” being a very red rose indeed that could match the vermilion of ber cheek. comicbooks. com