"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

all the days of your life?"

"I will," said Alice, in a low tone.

"I pronounce you man and wife. Those whom God has joined together let no man
put asunder."

There was a brief prayer and the ceremony ended. Then followed the
congratulations of relatives and friends. The felicitations were apt to be
trying to the nerves of even the best tempered groom. The hand shakes, the
heavy slaps on the back, and the pommeling he received at the hands of his
intimate friends were as nothing compared to the anguish of mind he endured
while they were kissing his wife. The young bucks would not have considered it
a real wedding had they been prevented from kissing the bride, and for that
matter, every girl within reach. So fast as the burly young settlers could
push themselves through the densely packed rooms they kissed the bride, and
then the first girl they came to.

Betty and Lydia had been Alice's maids of honor. This being Betty's first
experience at a frontier wedding, it developed that she was much in need of
Lydia's advice, which she had previously disdained. She had rested secure in
her dignity. Poor Betty! The first man to kiss Alice was George Martin, a big,
strong fellow, who gathered his brother's bride into his arms and gave her a
bearish hug and a resounding kiss. Releasing her he turned toward Lydia and
Betty. Lydia eluded him, but one of his great hands clasped around Betty's
wrist. She tried to look haughty, but with everyone laughing, and the young
man's face expressive of honest fun and happiness she found it impossible. She
stood still and only turned her face a little to one side while George kissed
her. The young men now made a rush for her. With blushing cheeks Betty, unable
to stand her ground any longer, ran to her brother, the Colonel. He pushed her
away with a laugh. She turned to Major McColloch, who held out his arms to
her. With an exclamation she wrenched herself free from a young man, who had
caught her hand, and flew to the Major. But alas for Betty! The Major was not
proof against the temptation and he kissed her himself.

"Traitor!" cried Betty, breaking away from him.

Poor Betty was in despair. She had just made up her mind to submit when she
caught sight of Wetzel's familiar figure. She ran to him and the hunter put
one of his long arms around her.

"I reckon I kin take care of you, Betty," he said, a smile playing over his
usually stern face. "See here, you young bucks. Betty don't want to be kissed,
and if you keep on pesterin' her I'll have to scalp a few of you."

The merriment grew as the day progressed. During the wedding feast great
hilarity prevailed. It culminated in the dance which followed the dinner. The
long room of the block-house had been decorated with evergreens, autumn leaves
and goldenrod, which were scattered profusely about, hiding the blackened
walls and bare rafters. Numerous blazing pine knots, fastened on sticks which