The Argosy — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

A Romantic Wedding. 313 Never before was such a bright May morning. Ermentrude danced through blue bells and hyacinths and anemones—by hawthorn and cherry-blossom and fern-frond—beneath larch and oak and aspen. Earth was alight with dew drops through which the sunbeams pierced,. and lights and shadows played at hide and seek in each forest glade.. The birds warbled so lustily that the very sky and air seemed alive with melody, and all nature held jubilee to greet the glad child and her knightly lover. ‘“* How slow thou art, Betto. We shall not reach the oak in time,” cried Ermentrude. ‘“‘T am repenting of my ride of yesterday,” answered the nurse. “Fie, Betto! But I see him! And he wears his gayest suit to meet me,” laughed Ermentrude, clapping her hands and running forwards. ‘Nay, but a stranger is with him,” she added, pausing and frowning. Beneath a gigantic oak stood a gallant youth, clad in the velvet and lace of the period. Headvanced to meet her, and kneeling on the dewy sod, respectfully kissed her hand. ‘““T have brought the priest and the ring,” he said. “But what will my guardian say?” asked sraeaegeigh ore charmed, yet terrified. “What matters it? Come quickly, and let us be married, or he will wed you to Aubrey.” Betto began to remonstrate, but the youth led the scarcely reluctant maiden to Llewellen’s Oak, where stood a priestly form in full canonicals, prayer book in hand. ‘A fine church, truly, and a grand choir,” laughed Ermentrude, as she set foot on the soft moss beneath the big oak, and heard the birds carolling in the huge branches. What would she know of matrimony? She loved Sir Tudor with all her heart, and would obey him in all things ; so she stood with him, half amused, half frightened, before the priest, and the marriage service began. But she sobered as she listened, and would have stayed it half-way, had not her fiery bridegroom urged her on. Still, she smiled as he placed the ring on her finger, and wept a little when they knelt together to receive the benediction and exhortation of the facile priest. It was easier to get married in those days than these. But scarcely was the solemn service ended when she suddenly jumped up, exclaiming, ‘‘The bell! The bell!” and without further ceremony took to her heels, followed by her faithful nurse. ‘‘By my troth it is a fine thing to be married,” she exclaimed, as they reached the Plas just as the big breakfast bell ceased to inform the world that it was eight o’clock. ‘“Where hast thou been, child? Thy dress is disarranged and damp, thy hair dishevelled ?” said Aunt Dorothy. “'To the woods to hear the birds sing,” she replied, holding didn her head, abashed. Meanwhile Sir Tudor and his recreant parson had mounted their COnniiclooolks (C(O) am