Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-12-27
"Cousin James, father" said Ellen, with a

"Cousln James, father," said Ellen, with a
blush
Dear sir" said I, dashing in, "I am re.
joiced to see you Looking at my hair, see
not SO red as in old times, sir |! Did not arrive
| till late this afternoon--hence my misfortune
| Unjust getting your last letter." flung it on
the table. "Am delighted with Ellen, and
she, hope, with me. Beg your fatherly
blessing
And down we popped at his feet
The old gentleman stared at US with aston
| ishment and delight
"Bless my heart y he cried "Why. where
did you stumble on her, and how did you
bring her into such good humor ?"
"Oh, sir, have been sitting with her this
half hour, in her boudoir, and"
| "Ah, you dog. like your spirit--daughter
first, and dad afterwards"
| "And, sir she finds my hair not quite so
red as she thought it was"
Bravo lad And she'll have you 7"
This very night sir, if you insist upon it,
as | hope yon will"
me, Nell | insist upon you marrying him
Immediately"
"Yes, sir" said Ellen.
| "Ring the bell for parson. How we shall
nick that rascally Harry. Was trying to
stop the match had some villainous plan of
his own; and was quite afraid of him /;
abused you like pickpocket. Shall chouse
him handsomely-a parSon--a kingdom for
parson !"
And my venerable father-in-law skipped
across the floor, rang the bell, squeezed my
hand kissed his daughter, and rang the bell
again, and performed various other feats
which were, in their effects, of a truly leger-
demain character for, within ten minutes, as
if by trick of magic, !, who, thirty minute,
before was frce-hearted bachelor--free Of
the world and women-was standing in a
wedding group, composed of persons, all of
| them entire strangers to me--with my bride
my fatherin-law, the venerable clergyman
with his book, the lady of the house, and
some other persons admitted as witnesses of
the ceremony. about 10 be married to lady
whose name / did not actually know. The
haste, the hustle, the extraordinary transition
my hopes, my apprehensons, my ignorance,
all combined to throw me into a whirl of con-
fusion, during which the ceremony was begun,
| and conducted very little to my edifcation I;
for cannot say that distinguished one word,
| until my ears were suddenly struck by the
important question-"James J. Smith, take
this woman to be your welded wife ?" &c. AT
that moment ] was struck with the enormous
| absurdty of taking such leap in the dark
| of marrying a woman, who, for all could
| tell. might be -. But as was going to
bolt (for truly that was the impulse then upon
me) caught view Of the brides face steal
ing to me an upturned glance so full Of good
ness, purity, affection, and heaven knows what
other divine qualities. that fear changed TO
rapture, and uttered the important Yes"
with all the emphasis of res olution.
| How quickened into life now. and prcked
! IN ,rig
do you, Ellen Brown----"
l felt as if struck by a forty jar charge of
| electricity The name contounded, without
! illuminating me. In truth. had no time
for comparing facts and making differences,
| for just as the clergyman breathed the ex-
| pected name OF my chaImer, the door flew
open, and man rushed in, hastily exclamng
| Hold hold | forbid the bans"
! Conceive the surprise ofall present, at this
! extraordinary interruption and conceive my
surprise when snatching Ellen in my arms,
resolutely determined to maintain my right
to her, against all mankind, but particu-
larly against James J. Smith, the genuine,
who doubted not<Sas the cause OF the inter
rupton-conceives my surprise i say, when
turning to this detested parsonage, my eyes
felt. not upon my red-headed nsmesake. but
my old friend and college mate, Harry Brown
of Virginia That he should cause such a
dangerous interruption--lhat he should turn
against me, his old friend and ruin me
raised my hand in furious menace, and II
there had been pistol in 1t, should certain
" have blown his brains out.
You forbid the bans, you scoundrel 7" said
nv father-in-aw, in Il rage equal 10 my own
" on, you dog, you forbid the bans
He was approaching my friendly irefuly
I loci at M
lichtened IN with wonder, followed by an all
of recognition and delight; and smotherng
or irving to smother q laugh, and laying his
finger Significantly along his nose, he looked
ut me as he repeated though in very altered
acconts--in fact, he could scarcely speak from
laughing
YES, forbid the bans-until Mrs. Brown
gsts M. She Is on the stairs. What, uncle
do YOU expect to marry Nell of without al
lowing us to be witnesses Here she is.
Enter Mrs Harry Brown, as fine looking
as Nelly
} "You thought to give us the slip, by taking
the morning boat, and changing the boarding
house-you forget the evening train, and NJ!
! skill in hunting down fugitives.'
And you don't oppose the match, then
I YOU dog?" cried my inther-n-law, "and yot
5 don't know anything against cousin jim, alie
, all ?" 80
"Oh, no. nothing at all. Iapprove OF th'
t match with all my heart and soul; and pro
/, ceed with it as quickly as possible You, III
lea Brown, do yon take this man--but be;
the reverend gentleman's pardon.
f The ceremony was resumed, and in two mi
. nutes was married.
Victory" cried Harry Brown seizinS m,
hand and so nterrupting the first nnptlal EN-
brace with which, according TO fashion, . wa
saluting my wife congratulate you cousi'
James Smith. upon having married the fin
est girl and richest heress in Virginia; The
very girl intended for you. oh, you dog
who would have thought you had the Wit o
: the spirit to accomplish the splendid adven
. ture without my assistance? Know your rela
: tions Don't you see my wife wants to kls
| her unknown cousin? You kiss hes and II
kiss Nelly. Ila! ha! ha"
!, And here my friend vent into snch explo
y sions of laughter and rejoicing as amazed eve
nv body except me, who began to be aware G
| the full extent of my good fortune.
: In the midst Of this joyous tumult, ente
another unexpected visitor. Death It was tn
| Of ha thQntrp 7 thp r