"Okay! Everyone ready?" Melania smiled, ushering some little girls along with the other young women. "Mary Jane's gonna throw the bouquet!" She exclaimed, rushing out of the way. "Okay Mary Jane…on the count of three 1….2…3!"
Mary Jane smiled and tossed the bouquet of flowers over her shoulder, and spun around to see the young women and girls trying to catch it! It was quite a sight!
"I caught it!...I caught it! I caught the bouquet!...Mama, Papa! I caught the bouquet!" Helen squealed, running over to her parents, and her father picked the 7 year old up in his arms.
"Great job!" Fred smiled at his daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He put her down and she grasped his strong arm in her hands.
"Moanie…do you know what this means?" Her grandpa, George Gruber Sr. smiled.
The seven year old shook her little head.
"Why, you're the next one to get married!" He chuckled.
Helen laughed and shook her head. "Grandpa, why do you call me Moanie?"
George Sr. got down on his knees in front of his granddaughter. "Well, I think it is a cute little nickname…and I have a cute little granddaughter!" He smiled, running a hand over her blond hair.
Helen hugged her grandfather and giggled. "I think it's a little silly, Grandpa…." And she ran off to play with some other little girls.
"Helen, come back here and apologize!" Frances called to her daughter…."I'm sorry she said that to you, Pa."
"Oh, she is just fine!"
"No she's not!" Frances said, shaking her head. "I'm really sorry….Helen's been saying things to people without thinking first…..A lot lately."
"Franziska Catherine…." He said softly and put his hands on her shoulders. "She's fine…." Big George said, kissing his daughter on the cheek. "It did not hurt me…if she wants to think it is silly, let her!"
"She's just a little girl, Frances…." Fred smiled, wrapping an arm around her.
"Yes, but she shouldn't say hurtful things to people….Especially her Grandpa." Frances said. "It was the way she said it…"
"I said it didn't hurt me…."
"Listen to your Pa." Fred grinned, and planted a kiss on her lips.
"Well, all right…." Frances smiled.
Helen came running up to them. "Grandpa, you said I'm the next one to get married?" She grinned.
"Yes Moanie, that's what I said." He chuckled.
"I'm gonna marry Leo…" Helen grinned giddily up at them.
"The Lansing boy, eh?" Fred chuckled, looking off at the other side of the churchyard at the dark-haired boy, just seventeen years of age. "Does he know that, Helen?…."
"No….." She said, shaking her head.
"Don't you think he should have a say in this too, kiddo?" Fred chuckled. "I think you just like him…." He grinned.
"Isn't he so very handsome, Papa?"
"Whatever you say, Helen…" He chuckled. "Why don't you go play, sweetie?" Fred said, and patted her little back, and she ran off. "Only seven years old and she's already chasing after the boys." He chuckled. "Better watch her."
"It's just a little crush, honey…." Frances looked at him and chuckled. "Oh look!….Sam and Mary Jane are about to cut their wedding cake." Frances smiled. "How sweet…." She said as they walked over to where people were standing to watch the couple.
"I don't know if I exactly trust myself with a knife!" Mary Jane whispered at her new husband and giggled.
"I'll help you, don't worry…." Sam grinned and placed a hand over her small one and they cut their wedding cake. They both cut off a little piece off of the piece they had cut. He took his little piece, as did she, and they fed each other.
"You have a little frosting on your lip…" He whispered, chuckling.
"Sorry, I'll get it…." She giggled, reaching for her mouth with a napkin.
"Wait now,….I will." Sam smiled, and they heard a little bell ringing. Instead of having people throw rice, they had given them little bells to ring….When they heard them ringing, the tradition was for the couple to kiss each other…..Sam leaned in and kissed her.
"Sweetheart, now you have frosting on your lip!" Mary Jane giggled, dabbing at his mouth with a little napkin. And then she leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Bell or no bell ringing!
"Hey, shouldn't you kids be getting off to your honeymoon?" Sam's uncle called out. "Or are you gonna stay here all evening?" He laughed. It was getting close to 6.
"Where y'all going anyway?" Another man asked.
"Sorry, can't say! " Sam laughed. "The only folks that know are my parents, Mary's Jane's…. myself and the best man…"
"I'm sworn to secrecy!" The best man, the groom's brother, David laughed.
"Well….to the honeymoon!" Sam laughed, and scooped Mary Jane up in his arms, and ran over to his buckboard.
"Sam, put me down!" She laughed, and couldn't stop laughing on his way over. "Put me down!...Samuel Aaron!" Mary Jane laughed, and then he kissed her again and lifted her up into the back of the buckboard and with the best man at the reins, they drove off.
Sam kissed her, and they soon began a little kissing session. They couldn't keep their hands off of each other! Mary Jane was loving how it felt! Sure, a few hours ago, she barely knew the first thing about kissing, but oh….was she learning!
David looked back at the two now and then….."Hey, you two! Come up for air sometime!" He laughed and saw they had stopped and Mary Jane's cheeks turned a lovely shade of red. "Oh, I'm just kidding y'all!...You two deserve to be all over each other!...Go ahead!" David chuckled, and saw that they had continued.
"So, where are we going Sam?" Mary Jane whispered in between kisses.
"Don't you want to be surprised?" He whispered.
"Yes and no…" She giggled, and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "Will you tell me?" She smiled up at him, with her hands on his face.
"Mrs. Matthews' Boarding House….We'll have a light supper with her. Talk a little maybe,….and then go up to our room…." He whispered and kissed her again.
"That sounds great…." Mary Jane smiled.
"You don't think it's too simple? I want us to have a relaxing night….but not boring, of course." Sam chuckled.
"It's not too simple…." She whispered, kissing him again.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll have a time tonight….." David spoke up and chuckled a little. "It won't be boring…." He said, looking back at the newlyweds, still doing what they were before. "Sorry to stop you two…for now. But, we're here. The Fenelon Place Elevator….We're taking the long way there. Didn't think y'all would mind." He said as they were all getting into the little cable car contraption. Sam sat on the end seat nearest to the window so they could see while going down to the bottom on the little track, Mary Jane sat on his lap and they enjoyed the view. David, however, sat farthest from the front of the cable car. He didn't like the looking downward while they were moving. "Please don't snap while we're in here!" He kept chanting and looked down and saw the little railroad tracks before them and the ground at the end. He quickly looked away and looked at the window and saw the little building, inching farther and farther away.
"David, calm down!" Mary Jane chuckled. "You're all right!"
"Get me out of this thing!...Get me out of this thing!" David almost yelled. "It's crashed before! And I don't want to be in it if it does it again!"
"That was two years ago!...Dave, calm down, it ain't that bad! Besides, we're almost at the bottom!" Sam laughed.
"Thank the Lord for that!" David exclaimed and got out as soon as they reached the bottom. He went straight to the buckboard someone had brought down for them and calmed himself while his brother paid the four cents for the ride down.
"Hope you newlyweds enjoyed the ride." The man said. "Congratulations, by the way."
"Yes sir. We did." Sam smiled, shaking his hand. "And thank you."
They got back into the buckboard and David drove them to 428 Iowa Street. David went his way home, and Sam and Mary Jane went in and had supper with Mrs. Matthews.
"I'm almost ready, you two." Mrs. Matthews said, putting up her last year's cookbook away and was getting the table ready.
"Here, I'll help you, Mrs. Matthews…" Mary Jane said, and started placing bowls and other utensils on the table.
"No, now you just sit down…You relax, young one. I've got it covered." She chuckled. "You and your new husband better sit down at that table!" She said pointing a spoon at them and laughed a little.
"Yes ma'am…" Mary Jane chuckled. And so they both took a seat at the table. Mrs. Matthews served them and the three of them ate and talked awhile.
"I hope you enjoyed the soup…I always like a nice warm, potato soup on a chilly February evening like tonight."
"Oh, it was wonderful, Mrs. Matthews." Mary Jane smiled.
"It was terrific!….We'd like to go up to our room for the night, if you'll excuse us." Sam said.
"Isn't someone eager?" She teased. "As well you should be….Have a good night you two."
"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews." Mary Jane smiled.
"I put some extra towels up in your room….I'm sure you'll be needing them tonight." Mrs. Matthews whispered.
"Thanks…" Mary Jane blushed a little. She had done some reading beforehand on what to expect….Sex was messy….she might bleed…and it could be painful for her. She was only a little afraid, but she thought she shouldn't let those might be's and could be's and her own fear bother her.
"Don't forget to carry her across the threshold Sam!" They heard the middle-aged lady say as they headed upstairs.
Sam grinned and picked Mary Jane up in his arms, one arm on her back, and the other under her legs, opened the door of their room and stepped inside. He started kissing her again, and gently placed her on the bed, and then turned and lit a lamp that on a dresser next to the bed. He took off her wedding veil and put it away carefully and went back to kissing her again. A hand reached to her hair and she helped him undo her hair from the silver pins, and let her brown hair fall to her shoulders.
"You're strikingly beautiful…" He whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair all the way to the tips. He caressed her cheek with his hand and kissed her again.
"Should we get….undressed yet?" She whispered, a little nervously.
"I'll…I'll help you…" Sam said. And she turned her back to him as he started unbuttoning her blue dress, exposing her underclothing. She took off the dress and hung it up, now dressed in her corset, chemise and petticoats. Mary Jane turned around and saw that her new husband took off his waistcoat and outer-shirt and was dressed in his undershirt and slacks. She sat back down on the bed and began kissing him again.
"Do…Do you want to,…I mean, we're not too tired tonight, right?" Sam smiled and breathed out as he was nervous. "If you want to just get ready for bed and sleep tonight, that's…"
"Sam…" Mary Jane whispered and kissed him again and made him fall back on the bed gently and kept kissing his lips and face.
"Is that a yes?" He whispered.
"Mhhmm…" She breathed.
"You're ready?" He asked.
"I've waited for so long for this." She whispered. "How could I not be?"
"Well,…okay." He said nervously and started to take off her under-clothing and she reached over and began to take off his white undershirt. He slipped her petticoats off and tossed them to the floor. She wrapped her arms around him as she was kissing him, and he was trying to take off her corset. Sam was getting a little distracted as he was exposed to seeing this much skin from her. No cleavage he saw yet, just her collar-bone and below it, and the little lace part of her undershirt. She took off her corset as it was looser now, and slid off her bloomers and camisole she was wearing, and sat in front of him naked. Sam was so engrossed in his looking at her that it made Mary Jane blush a little. He was gazing at her breasts, and her small torso. He spied freckles spread out here and there on her shoulders, one by her left breast, and a few on her stomach and near her navel. He thought she was beautiful …that those tiny little freckles added to her beauty in some way. Nevertheless, Sam enjoyed how she looked. Mary Jane laid down across the bed in front of him, and Sam rested a hand down below and saw she was a little wet. Mary Jane sat back up and wrapped her arms around his strong back and began kissing him again and made her way down his chest and his slight abs. She played a little with brown hair on his chest, running a palm on it and back up to his face and kissed him again, poking her tongue slightly into his mouth and against his own tongue. Mary Jane ran her hands up and down his tanned back as he was leaning forward so she leaned back on the bed, his hand resting still where it had been. He rubbed it slightly and it made her more aroused as he got on top of her and kissed her. He kissed her lips and moved down her body and stopped for a moment at her slit. Nervousness built up inside him, but he pushed apart her lips and climbed on top of her again.
"Sam…" Mary Jane whispered. "Aren't you forgetting to….to do something." She said, almost giggling.
"What?" He asked, supporting himself above her by his arms.
"Your slacks…." She giggled.
Sam looked down and saw his gray slacks. He was still wearing them! He was so nervous, he forgot to take them off! "Oops!" He chuckled. Sam stood up and undid them, let them fall to the floor and he stepped out of them, sporting his erection. Mary Jane couldn't take her brown eyes off of it.
"Sam….." She whispered. "Your….is that going to?..." She stammered. "Will it fit?" Mary Jane sheepishly asked. Sam was rather….blessed, you could say. About seven, eight inches long, veins almost seeming to pop….Mary Jane still couldn't stop staring! Yet, she liked what she was seeing….a lot. She felt wetness return again between her legs. Her breathing had quickened.
"You're sure you want to…" He began.
"Oh yes…." Mary Jane said, nodding her head.
"All right…" He whispered, slipped on a piece of animal skin, and got back on the bed and on top of her. Mary Jane laid down on a towel on the bed, and helped him a little by parting her slit. Sam aimed himself at her entrance and began to push through.
"Ah!...Sam, that hurts…" Mary Jane winced.
"How bad?" He whispered.
"Not too bad…just some pain." She said.
"We can stop…." He said quietly.
"No…" Mary Jane shook her head. "We've gone so far now. Just hold me…and go a little slower."
"All right…" He grinned and started kissing her and held her in his arms. After a few fumbling, clumsy attempts which made them both laugh, he started again, and pushed through all the way this time.
"Ah!...Aha...ouch!" She yiped a little and tears came out of her eyes this time.
"Are you all right, Mary Jane?" Sam whispered.
"That just really,...really hurt." She breathed. "And I'm bleeding now...At least we know you broke through!" Mary Jane laughed a little and took the towel and wiped up the amount of blood between her legs. "Please...Hold me, Sam." She whispered, and buried her face in his chest and felt his strong arms around her. They kissed again a few more times and held each other.
"You okay?" Sam whispered.
"I'm fine…Let's go on."
And so he did and began sliding in and out of her, the wetness she had making it quite easy now. She had her arms wrapped around him and rested on his back. Sam kept kissing her lips and face. Mary Jane felt his hands run over her breasts and around to her back and soon felt him touch her backside. They had been having sex for about five, ten minutes or so when he stopped and pulled out of her.
"I cummed too early…" Sam muttered.
"I was just starting to enjoy myself…." She said, disappointed.
"I'm sorry…." He whispered, and gave her another passionate kiss and gazed into her brown eyes a moment.
"Should we get ready for bed now?" Mary Jane whispered.
"Sure…" He nodded, even though he wanted to do more...to do all sorts of different things with her, the woman he loved. Yet, he knew they both were tired and he didn't want so many things thrown at her in one night, he agreed. So, as she got dressed in her nightgown, he took off the animal skin condom and took a towel and cleaned himself off and got dressed in his nightshirt. Sam joined her in the bed together.
"The wedding so beautiful, Sam…" Mary Jane whispered wrapping her arms around him.
"You're so beautiful." He smiled and kissed her. "When I saw you coming down the aisle, I thought my heart stopped."
"Thank you…" She smiled. "I could've died when you dropped my ring!" Mary Jane said, her head resting on his chest.
"Sorry…."
"I meant died laughing!" She giggled.
"It was funny, wasn't it…." Sam chuckled. "Tonight was…" He began.
"Different…but a good different." Mary Jane said softly. "I'm…I'm no longer a virgin." She smiled a little. "And I'm glad I lost it to you. I'm glad that you're my first. My one and only."
"And I'm glad you were mine…" He whispered. "I'm glad I married you today." He smiled.
"I almost thought I lost you, Sam…when you moved away." She whispered. "And all this time…"
"I was planning on a way to propose." Sam said. "Finally, I thought, 'To heck with planning! The next time I'm in Dubuque, I'll ask her!'" He chuckled a little.
"I love you, Sam." Mary Jane whispered.
"I love you too...Goodnight."
"Goodnight...husband." Mary Jane smiled. It felt wonderful to say. Soon, she felt herself closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep, lyiing beside him.
A/N: George Gruber Sr. called his granddaughter Helen, "Moanie" Strange nickname, huh? Lol.
The Fenelon Place Elevator is now call the 4th Street Elevator. It was first operated on July 25th, 1882. It was originally made for Mr. J. K. Graves, a former mayor, former State Senator, also promoter of mines and a banker lived on top of the bluffs and worked at the bottom. Unfortunately, he had to spend half an hour driving his horse and buggy round the bluff to get to the top and another half an hour to return downtown, even though his bank was only two and a half blocks away. After it was first operated, he had his gardener let him down in the morning, bring him up at noon, down after dinner and nap, and up again at the end of the work day. Before long, the neighbors began meeting him at the elevator asking for rides.
The Fenelon Place Elevator had a serious of fires, the first started on July 19, 1884 when the fire that was banked in the stove for the night was blown alive. After Mr. Graves rebuilt the elevator, he remembered how his neighbors showed up when he used the cable car and he decided to open it to the public. He charged five cents a ride., the second in the year 1893 but because of a recession he could not afford to rebuild, but ten neighbors formed together and formed the Fenelon Street Elevator Company and Mr. Graves gave them the franchise of the right of way of the track. They attended the 1893 Colombian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, to look for new ideas. They brought back a streetcar motor to run the elevator, the turnstile, and steel cable for the cars. They had remembered that each time the elevator house burned, the fire also burned through the hemp rope that held the car and sent it crashing down the hill destroying it and the little house at the bottom. Then they in-stalled three rails with a fourth bypass in the middle to allow for the operation of two (funicular) counterbalanced cars. There was another fire in 1962. That time an electrical fire between the ceiling of the operator's room and the apartment upstairs brought the realization that the price had to go up. And it did to ten cents a ride.
In 1977, the cable cars were completely rebuilt. After 84 years the original gear drive was re-placed by a modern gear box with a DC motor. The Sylvester Stallone movie, F.I.S.T. included a scene that was filmed at the elevator.
Interesting little fact, but yes, condoms were made out of animal skin…animal intestine, and by 1844, when Charles Goodyear patented the vulcanization of rubber,….Want to learn more? Look it up yourselves, people. Lol.
