is quite an event. Martin, I wish you joy; you
will have a very pretty and a very good wife."
"I think so too, miss," replied Martin.
"Where is she?" said Mary.
"She is in the garden, miss," said Malachi, "getting out of the way of
the soldiers; now that the work is done, they torment her not a little,
and she is glad to escape from them; I'd tell them to go away, but they
don't mind me; they know I must not use my rifle."
"I should hope not," replied Mrs Campbell; "it would be hard to shoot a
good man merely because he wished to marry your daughter."
"Why, yes, ma'am, it would," replied Malachi; "so the sooner she is
given to Martin, the sooner we shall have peace."
As the boat was continually going backwards and forwards between the
fort and the farm, Mr Campbell wrote to the Colonel, stating what they
wished him to do, and the Colonel appointed that day week, on which he
would come and perform the ceremony. It was a little fete at the farm.
Mrs Campbell and the Misses Percival dressed themselves more than
usually smart, so did all the males of the establishment; and a better
dinner than usual was prepared, as the Colonel and some of the officers
were to dine and spend the day with them. Martin was very gaily
attired, and in high spirits. The Strawberry had on a new robe of young
deer-skin, and had a flower or two in her long black hair; she looked as
she was, very pretty and very modest, but not at all embarrassed. The
marriage ceremony was explained to her by Malachi, and she cheerfully
consented. Before noon the marriage took place, and an hour or two
afterwards they sat down to a well-furnished table, and the whole party
were very merry, particularly as the Colonel, who was most unusually
gay, insisted upon the Strawberry sitting at the table, which she had
never done before. She acquitted herself, however, without
embarrassment, and smiled when they laughed, although she could
understand but little of what they said. Mr Campbell opened two of his
bottles of wine, to celebrate the day, and they had a very happy party;
the only people who were discontented were three or four of the soldiers
outside, who had wanted to marry the Strawberry themselves; but the
knowledge that their Colonel was there, effectually put a stop to
anything like annoyance or disturbance on their parts. At sunset the
Colonel and officers departed for the fort, the family remained in the
house till past ten o'clock, by whi
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