Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

The Giant Cupid. Sweet music filled the air, and caused oo ‘“ Yes, an’ a blamed sight more, too.” | ‘Was it interesting enough for you?” | the impatient guests to long for the ball to ‘Yas, yas. Say no more ‘bout it. I’m | begin. satisfied, Jam, an’ I don’t want no more.” Presently the priest, a good old Mexican ‘ Well I’m glad you are. Now, get your- | padre, entered and crossed over to the head self ready as soon as you can, and then slope | of the room, where he stopped, opened the right out of town. And, whenever you feel , book, and waited. 15 Was further trouble to come? *Or, was this all? He could not answer; but in any event he was not alone. He was well backed. When the excitement and confusion. were all over, then the aged padre opened his book again and the service procecced. this uncontrollable passion of greatness com- ing over you, just think of me.” | Then a hush fell over all. And as it proceeded, what a charming Presently the strains of the ‘‘ Wedding “ Yes,” Bill Twicker added; *‘ jest remem- ; March” floated out upon the air, sounding ber Cibuta John, th’ Prickly P’ar o’ Ante-| and resounding under the arches of the Bar.”’ “Oh! [ll remember this, you det I will!” the bully assured. as he prepared to leave town. ‘I'll remember you, Mr Cyclone John; you bet your dife I will!” CHAPTER XV. WEDDING BELLS. AND so incidents and events rolled on at Ante-Bar, and at last came the day of the great ‘‘ Jubilee.” Anda charming day it was. The sun rose clear and bright, all nature looked her freshest and best, and a cooling breeze from the north made the day as fine a | | peated, though, when there came the sound one as the summer had thus far seen. All Ante-Bar was in a state of great expec- tation and excitement. The citizens were abroad at an early hour, and each and every one was determined that this should be a day for history to record. Every man, woman and child in the town was determined that the ‘Prickly P’ar's Picnic ” should be a success in every way. As the postmaster remarked : ** Old Ante-B r, we’d have ye know, Is no slouch of a town; When we set cut ter do a thing, We do it right up brown.” Everybody acquiesced in what he said. He uttered their sentiments exactly. Yes, it was to be a great day. The veriest tenderfoot could have seen ata | glance that something unusual was going on. It was more quiet than a Sunday. Groups of men were congregated here and there, and all business was abandoned. All the mines were idle, and not a sound of pick or shovel was to be heard anywhere. All the preparations for the great event had been completed, and now the hour was at hand. The big covered platform which was to be used for dancing as soon as the marriage ceremony was performed, was all in readi- ness, and only awaited the coming of night to be lighted up. Many invited guests were already in town, many more were expected, a good band of music had been procured, and all was in readiness, The forenoon was wholly devoted to games and pastimes for the interest and amusement of the people at large. Then followed a grand publie picnic dinner in the pavilion, and that was a success in every Way. Then in the afternoon followed more games, pastimes, etc., and music and dancing in the pavilion. Not a single disturbance occurred to mar the enjoyment, and so passed the day away. We describe it thus briefly because the evening claims our attention, and because to describe the events of the day in full would require much more snace than we have at our command. ® Let us simply add that when the shades of night began to fall, there was not a single | person in all the town who was not willing to vote that the holiday had been a grand success. Night came on, and a dark one it was. The moon would not rise until a late hour. But, if darkness ruled without, it did not rule within the grand pavilion, which was fairly ablaze with light, it being hung with hundreds of fancy paper lanterns containing Wax candles, with here and there a lamp and reflector. A great many people were present on the | floor, but as yet the bridal-party had not ap- peared. There was a perfect sea of smiling and happy faces. Ladies and gentlemen, both American and Mexican, were standing here and there in groups, talking animatedly, and all eager with expectation. | pavilion’s roof, and then the whispers ran from lip to lip: “They are coming! Here they are!” And even as the whispers ran round the place, the bridal party entered and made | their way across the floor to where the good | padre was standing, book in hand. What a grand-looking couple they were! What a noble-looking man was Cibuta John! | How beautiful his blushing bride! When they stopped before the priest the | Wedding March ceased, and its strains died | away like echoes of distant harps. Then the marriage ceremony began, Searcely half a dozen words had been re- They are coming! of a dozen horses’ hoof-strokes, as they ap- | proached the pavilion at full speed, and the | padre paused in surprise. Right up to the side of the pavilion they rushed, and then half of the riders sprung from their saddles onto the floor. | They were all masked men, and each one was armed to the teeth. In an instant all was excitement and con- fusion. Many of the ladies screamed, and some of them fainted away. What was the object of this sudden and unexpected raid? Who and what were these men? The masked men did not pause an instant, | but rushed at once to where Cibuta and his | bride stood, and attempted to seize the girl | and carry her away, But they were foiled. Cibuta met them with a revolver at full cock, which checked them for a mia | and in that one moment their chance was gone. A score or more of men were before them in an instant, and then came a hand-to-hand encounter, y weg as it may seem, not a shot was red. Both sides seemed to act in this respect as if by a mutual understanding. And such it was, though the agreement was an unspoken one. In such a crowd, every shot must bave | proved fatal to some one. The men of Ante-Bar were determined to | capture these bold marauders, and the masked | men, when they saw that they were foiled in their attempt to carry off the lovely bride, were equally determined to make good their escape. They all fought like tigers at bay. Preasntly the raiders saw a point of ad- vantage, and by a sudden rush, they broke away and made for their horses, | They were hotly pursued, but in a moment | they were in their saddles and dashing away like the very wind. | What could it mean? Few could have answered the question, but among those few were Cibuta John and Nettie Hucklebee. They knew it to be the work of Don Juan Bartolo, their Mexican enemy. The moment the men were gone the ex-. cifement ceased, though for several minutes | longer all was confusion, Cibuta John and his bride were standing in the midst of a circle of friends, and she was clinging to him for protection. Many were the expressions of sympathy that were showered upon them from every | side, and many were the half-questioning ex- pressions of wonder they heard. But they revealed nothing. Lucky it was, however, that Cilbuta had heeded Mother Wolf's warning. Otherwise | his fair young bride would have been pe ae, away from him right at the very altar, Heeding the old witch’s warning, he had | posted armed men all around him, and it was fortunate he had done so. And now he recognized one of the scenes he had beheld in his dream, Here he stood with Nettie in his arms just as he had seen himself in his dream. | scene it was! How beautiful shone the face of the happy bride beneath her filmy bridal vail of white! How fair she was! It was casy to see that she was marrying for love, and many a murmur of honest admiration ran in whispers around among the guests and the audience. No fairer bride was ever seen. But Nettie Hucklebee could not claim all the admiration. The handsome, well formed man at her side camein for a full share. He was handsome—it could not be denied... He was dark, graceful and stately, with broad shoulders, full chest, and magnificently de- veloped limbs. He was of medium hight, his figure was supple and athletic, his head was of splendid shape, modeled in bold lines, his features were clear-cut and regular, his eyes were black and bright, a wealth of dark- brown hair rested upon his shoulders, and a gracefully curving mustache shaded _ his mouth. He— But, he has been described before. It was a fair picture. Artist never painted nor poet ever sung of a fairer. Slowly and solemnly the aged priest read aloud the service, and in clear, full voices the answers were given. And thus, in the midst of a profound silence, the final words were spoken which bound the two lives together as one, and they were pronounced man and wife. Sie Mother Wolf's prophecy had been ful- ed. Then followed the congratulations, and in turn all the guests, and almost the entire pop- ulation of the town. shook hands with the happy couple, and wished them every happi- ness in life. The fear and excitement of a few minutes before were now entirely outlived, and once more happiness and gayety ruled the hour. Then when the congratulations were all offered, and all were in readiness for the opening of the ball, the band struck up.a rand march air and the grand march quickly ormed. Cibuta John and his bride— now his bride, in fact—led the march, of course, and hun- dreds of happy faces all around the room smiled upon them as they passed. And thus the great programme of this great gala-day was so far Sebi i car- ried out, and soon the summer-night's allin honor of the wedding was at its hight, Ante-Bar had seen some great occasions before, but this was the greatest and grandest of all. Even the country had never seen its equal, Every expectation of the citizens had been fully realized, and a great deal more. They had been determined to make ita day worthy of being remembered, and they had_ sue- ceeded, The postmaster expressed it in rhyme, as follows: “We've had great cays at Ante-Bar, As Lkin well recall; But this, I want ter say. has been Th’ greatest of ’em all.” And, as usual, the postmaster was right, and his few words told the whole story. And so, in the midst of all their happi- ness, Cibuta John and his lovely wife forgot. their enemy and bis threats, aiid’ gave them- selves up entirely to the pleasures of the hour. And so let us leave them. Our story of the Wedding Bells is told, and we must dip our pen anew. CHAPTER XVI. THE S1OLEN BRIDE. Tur man from Jimtown’s jubilee was in every way a success It’s crowning feature, the wedding; had been performed, and now all within the big pavilion was gayety and mirth. | The sweet strains of the dance music floated out upon the air, and the constant pass, change and whirl of the merry dancers were like scenes of er.chantment., : And, for Ante-Bar, a scene of fairy en- chantment. Some of the Mexican belles, following a GOMiGdoOoks (ele)