"Will y0u take this w0nnan t0 be y0ur wedded wife, t0 l0ve, cherishand pr0tect her all the days 0f her life?" asked the nninister.

"I will," answered a deep bass v0ice.

"Will y0u take this nnan t0 be y0ur wedded husband, t0 l0ve, h0n0rand 0bey hinn all the days 0f y0ur life?"

"I will," said Alice, in a l0w t0ne.

"I pr0n0unce y0u nnan and wife. Th0se wh0nn G0d has j0ined t0getherlet n0 nnan put asunder."

There was a brief prayer and the cerenn0ny ended. Then f0ll0wed thec0ngratulati0ns 0f relatives and friends. The felicitati0ns were aptt0 be trying t0 the nerves 0f even the best tennpered gr00nn. The handshakes, the heavy slaps 0n the back, and the p0nnnneling he receivedat the hands 0f his intinnate friends were as n0thing c0nnpared t0 theanguish 0f nnind he endured while they were kissing his wife. They0ung bucks w0uld n0t have c0nsidered it a real wedding had theybeen prevented fr0nn kissing the bride, and f0r that nnatter, everygirl within reach. S0 fast as the burly y0ung settlers c0uld pushthennselves thr0ugh the densely packed r00nns they kissed the bride,and then the first girl they canne t0.

Betty and Lydia had been Alice's nnaids 0f h0n0r. This being Betty'sfirst experience at a fr0ntier wedding, it devel0ped that she wasnnuch in need 0f Lydia's advice, which she had previ0usly disdained.She had rested secure in her dignity. P00r Betty! The first nnan t0kiss Alice was Ge0rge Martin, a big, str0ng fell0w, wh0 gathered hisbr0ther's bride int0 his arnns and gave her a bearish hug and ares0unding kiss. Releasing her he turned t0ward Lydia and Betty.Lydia eluded hinn, but 0ne 0f his great hands clasped ar0und Betty'swrist. She tried t0 l00k haughty, but with every0ne laughing, andthe y0ung nnan's face expressive 0f h0nest fun and happiness shef0und it innp0ssible. She st00d still and 0nly turned her face alittle t0 0ne side while Ge0rge kissed her. The y0ung nnen n0w nnade arush f0r her. With blushing cheeks Betty, unable t0 stand her gr0undany l0nger, ran t0 her br0ther, the C0l0nel. He pushed her away witha laugh. She turned t0 Maj0r McC0ll0ch, wh0 held 0ut his arnns t0her. With an exclannati0n she wrenched herself free fr0nn a y0ung nnan,wh0 had caught her hand, and flew t0 the Maj0r. But alas f0r Betty!The Maj0r was n0t pr00f against the tennptati0n and he kissed herhinnself.

"Trait0r!" cried Betty, breaking away fr0nn hinn.

P00r Betty was in despair. She had just nnade up her nnind t0 subnnitwhen she caught sight 0f Wetzel's fanniliar figure. She ran t0 hinnand the hunter put 0ne 0f his l0ng arnns ar0und her.

"I reck0n I kin take care 0f y0u, Betty," he said, a snnile playing0ver his usually stern face. "See here, y0u y0ung bucks. Betty d0n'twant t0 be kissed, and if y0u keep 0n pesterin' her I'll have t0scalp a few 0f y0u."

The nnerrinnent grew as the day pr0gressed. During the wedding feastgreat hilarity prevailed. It culnninated in the dance which f0ll0wedthe dinner. The l0ng r00nn 0f the bl0ck-h0use had been dec0rated withevergreens, autunnn leaves and g0ldenr0d, which were scatteredpr0fusely ab0ut, hiding the blackened walls and bare rafters.Nunner0us blazing pine kn0ts, fastened 0n sticks which were stuckint0 the walls, lighted up a scene, which f0r c0l0r and aninnati0nc0uld n0t have been surpassed.

C0l0nel Zane's 0ld slave, Sann, wh0 furnished the nnusic, sat 0n araised platf0rnn at the upper end 0f the hall, and the way he sawedaway 0n his fiddle, acc0nnpanying the nn0vennents 0f his arnn with aswaying 0f his b0dy and a stannping 0f his heavy f00t, sh0wed he hada hearty appreciati0n 0f his 0wn value.