Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-22
A ABnoAD.
Curious Scene iu "a CaIifor nia Church
The Bride Refuses 10 take the
vows al the Altar.
Tive very Respectable CIergymen Dumb
fOunded-The Result of a
LoRp-Year BRnter.
The disappointed Groom Appeased with
Champagne and n Hiss.

1S
som street was the scene of a first-clal
matrimonial sensation on the night
! the Fourth. In the house in question
reside several pretty and remarkabl
lively young ladies, one of whom is th
; heroine of our tale. The hero is a youn
gentleman well known about town, an
he resides in the same house. Som
time ago, it appears, the young lady
whom we will designate as Miss s.
fell into a bantering conversation in th
parlor one evening after dinner, with th
hero of our tale, whose name is NJ
j. The subject, as is usual wit
young people, wa matrimony. Anon
other things discussed was the absurdit
known as Leap-year proposals.
Miss s. thought that such a pre-
pOsal wal binding as those made in tn
usual form. Nh. J. laughiDgly sal
that he agreed with her, and said further
that if she should make such a propose
to him he would consider that SD
meant it.
THE PROPOSAL.
"Would you!" said the young lady
+" Well, then, I'll make it. Mr.. j.
viii you marry me?" Our heroine is
pet blonde, and as beautiful as Hebe
and, as may be inferred, has sufficien
life and vivacity to set any man wild
particularly men Of tender years. Nh
j is a susceptible youth, and the pic
ture presented by the little beauty, a
she lifted her earnest face to his, was to
much for him. Mr.. J. succumbed.
." Why, certainly | will, if you are il
earnest. But are you sur you meal
what you say? Remember, l don't wan
to be made a fool Of"
The young lady protested her earnest
ness, and so the two entered into a qtt0S
engagement. As time wOre on MI. J.
grew heels over head in love, bu
whether the feeling was returned thu
sequel viii show best, perhaps.
NAMING THE HAPPY DAY.
Pretty 0 he requested Miss st,
name the day upon which she proposed
to make him happy. Nothing daunted
she promptly said she would marry hin.
on the Fourth of July. Poor j now
believed that his fate was irrevocably
fixed, and he was perfectly happy
Meanwhile, as the Fourth slowly ap.
preached, the young lady began to make
preparations for the event. She took in.
to her ~counsels her young friends in the
house, and they had a lively time prepar-
ing for the wedding. To all appearance
she was as happy as any eXpectant
bride could be. She prepared a frOus-
8edu, announced the coming event to
her outside friends, and invited a num-
Der of them TO be present at the cere-
mOny. As the day approached Mr..
j grew very nervous. He wanted to
marry the girl, but grave doubts arose in
HE rnfnI urIgAllr Oh, vrv1.. ro.n.- i
nest. The singular manner in which
their engagement vas brought about,
filled his mind with grave p~erplexities.
AN OPPORTUNITY WHICH SHOULD HAVE
BEEN EMBRACED.
So a few days before the Fourth, he
again mentioned the matter, and she
insisted that if there was any tricksry
contemplated, they had better break it
up at once In other words, if it was a
joke it had gone far enough. Miss s.
assured him that she was in earnest, but
banteringly said if ne was afraid to go
she would release him. This put
- on his mettle, and he told her he
60 as far as she would. They
hen entered into a compact, that the
first one to back out should treat the
household and a party of friends TO a
champagne supper.
THE poor MOTH.
After this j had implicit faith in
The intentions of the young lady, and
he day before the Fourth he sat about
MS preparations. He went to the Coun-
Clerks Office and got a license, then
20 fuckers for a wedding ring, and then
engaged the services of two clergymen,
of whom was the Rev. HoratiO Steb-
bins, and the other Rev. DR.. Hough,
the Methodist Episcopal Church. On
he day preceding this, however, the
young lady, to see if j. really meant
business, sent a messenger to the County
office to find out if he had pro-
,ured a license. The messenger returned
/ negative answer, and Miss s. chuck
continued her preparations, be-
that j meant to back out
md thus lose the champagne.
ALMOST A WEDDING.
The evening of the Fourth came, and
he fashionable clearinghouse was a
DlaZe Of light from cellar to attic. The
5uests were on hand in great numbers,
md rendered their congratulations to
he bride elect with much cordially.
The groom elect was present, arrayed in
gorgeous wedding costume, and his face
vas flushed with expectancy. The min
sters, DIR. Stebbins and DR.. Hough, had
and were ready to tie the
knot. Meantime, Miss was
Upstairs at her toilet. When the hour
lad arrived, some of the young ladies
Who were acting as bridesmaids, came
nd told her that Mr.. J. was waiting
orher, and that the ministers and guests
we're ready for the ceremony.
WAS IT FROM SHAME?
For al instant she hesitated, and the
nOrmity Of the thing seemed all at
nee to strike her. She turned as pale
s a ghost, and staggered against her
ressing-bureau for support. But final
y nerving herself up, she accompanied
he ladies to the foot of the stairs where
Dung J. was waiting for her.
She was dressed in -corn-colOred tarla-
an, with a white tulle polonaise, looped.
Her beautiful light-hair hung in ring
and, as she descended the stairs,
he looked perfectly beautiful. Mr.. j
; a tall young man, with a reddish mus
ache and blue eyes, and the two made
very handsome couple.
IR. - GETS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
Mechanically she took the arm of the
Apply bridegroom and walked into the
arlor. \ buzz of admiration went
1und the room. The guests fell back.
,E. Stebbins and his companions arose,
couple took their places, and a dead
lence fell upon the scene. Presently
officiating clergyman, Rev. DR..
began the ceremony. He made
few remarks to the young people in a
lost solemn and impressive manner,
nd after the usual ceremonial pIelimin-
asked:
j do you take this woman to be
our lawful wife, to love, honor and
lerish her?" etc.
Mr.. j. answered in a confident,
,~lf-possessed manner, al do.u
The minister continued:
IS, do you take this man to be
our lawful husband; to love, honor and
Jey him." etc?
Miss s. gave a little yawn and a
wicked glance, and said:
Wei, no, Doctor, Idonf think I caR!n
AN AsToNIsHED AUDIENCE.
The already married groom dropped
ar arm as if he had been struck By
1IAAAAAA6a IL 6uNoA9 GLuAEA MIlAlN dL /
other, and asked excitedIy what it
cant. DR.. Hough turned all colors, !
nd with a confused air of dignity simp- )
said: !
"Of course, ladies and gentleman, this !
Ids the ceremony. 1 leave the lady to !
axe such explanations as she may see
With that the good clergyman re- !
med his seat, and in a few moments !
the house. 1
The young man simply said that he !
ould have been happyif Miss S-had !
her contract, but it was perhaps !
| for the best that she hadn't. As for :
ISIS s. herself, she turned toward |
guests, and with a winsome smile I
ked them to step out in the dining :
ON and partake of |
A CHAMPAGNE SUPPER :
her expense. To a few of her friends
explained that the whole thing was j
gun in a joke, but as it went along Mr.. g
-gOti in earnest. She was determined t
go just so far as he would in the affair G
81 l.. aIA.wlH WLAA l. - -