Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-30
ROMANTIC MARRIAGE.
A Discarded Lover Comes In Mt the
Nick of Time.


A very singular and romantic wedding
took place at or near the beautiful and
romantic town of Florence, Alabama,
some three weeks ago, and as no account
of the affair has been published, we give
the principal facts without mentioning
any names.
A large party of people assembled in
the evening at the residence of we'll
known citizen to witness the marriage of
beautiful and accomplished young lady
to highly respectable young man Of an
other neighborhood. Eight o'clock was
the time appointed for the ceremony.
The invited guests we're all in the house,
for people seldom slight such invitations.
The minister was there, and looked with
beaming countenance upon the goodly
assemblage; for it was crowd COM
prising intelligence as well as elegance,
and representing wealth and good stand
ing. But at nine o'clock the bridegroom
had not made his appearance. Every
thing else had been in readiness near
an hour, but wedding without a
bridegroom could not be under
taken. They waited. There was
nothing else to do; but lcok Of disap-
pointment gathered in many faces, and
others frequently went to the door mo
ment and returned with an air of imps-
thence. Some of them may have thought
of the fine supper they knew was in wait
ing. The company gathered in groups
and conversed 10 an undertone. All sorts
of opinions were expressed or limited at,
but the dreary hours rolled on to mid
night, and the mystery was still unsolved.
The people began to think of leaving.
The bride was in her room, arrayed in
becoming style for nuptial ceremony,
and bowed with emotions of wounded
pride and deep modification.
At this critical juncture a former
sutton, who had been discarded, sent her
note, vowing that he had ever
loved her faithfully, and now that
she was disappointed, if not deceived, he
would again offer her his heart and hand,
and if she agreed to the proposition, he
would at once take the place of the miss
ing groom. She considered the offer a
moment, and resolved in her heart to
accept it. He was accordingly notified
to prepare himself to be husband in a
short time. The overjoyed sutton soon
arranged all the prelminaries, and
before one o'clock they were united
as man and wife. The spirits OF
the party revived, and all went as merry
as marriage festival was ever wont to
be. Supper was Immediately announced,
but while congratulations we're still being
rendered the tender pair, a solitary horse
man dashed up to the gate, and leaping
from his steed was a moment later in the
midst of the chattering throng. He was
besplashed with mud, his cheeks were
flushed, and, looking around wildly, he
asked what all this meant It was the be-
lated bridegroom. All paused and turned
their eyes upon him in dsmay, except,
perhaps, the young bride. No one an
swered his question, which was asked
more with his eyes than his lips; but the
father took him aside and asked him why
he vas so late, Re explained that some
creeks he had to cross we're SO high that
he could not cross at the usual ford, and
that he had rode hard all evening and
come several miles out of his way to
reach the place. He was then in
formed, as delicately as possible, Of what
had occurred. A look of blank surprise
vas his only answer. He took one steady
glance at the bride, renoHnted big horse,
aud rode awsy-having made, We you'd
say, lucky escape.