Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-06-14

Mr.. Hammond said Mrs. Parkhurst
as she was pouring out his tea one evening
"shall you be at. leisure next Thursday
evening? 2"
Eyes, am" was the reply.
''Then will you do us the pleasure to at
tend party which my dauhter intends tt
give to some Of her young friends on tina
occasion. We shall try to have pleasant
time"
II will accept your invitation with 9
great deal Of pleasure, and have no doubt
| shall enjoy myself on the OCCASION
Il hope you will, Mr. Hammond, for, to
say the truth, I have got it up chiefly on
your account" ~..s...
Indeed, ma'am, am greatly indebted
to you" ,.4. 3 sao4-1 ~ ass ~
"Not at all. You have been with us SO
long that we expect to miss you great deal
J when you 60, and hope to make the re-
maiuder Of your stay as pleasant as posi-
bic" ..l,.tss-
OF course our hero made a suitable reply,
and really looked forward to the party with
considerable anticipation, as no doubt many
of the agreeable people he had met in the
village would be present. He felt quite in
debted to Mrs. Parkhurst, and concluded
that although she was not a liberal hostess,
yet that she was very good sort of wo-
man after ALL
The time slid by, and the time of the par
ty came 41
The rooms were we'll filled, and all seem.
ed pleased. a5 s.a
Susan had got blue dress expressly for
the occasion. which served as rather sin
gular contrast to her yellowish hair. How
ever, she seemed to be in the best Of spirits,
and was in constant giggle. Gj
1.-The Child has such spirits,'' explained
Mrs. Parkhurst to our hero. 'sShe enters
with such vivacity into the amusements of
her age" q.u.>a
Our hero bowed and said nothing.
At length there came lull in the eve
nipg's entertainments taes
Good people," said Mrs. Parkhurst, II
have plan by which to amuse you
"What is it 2" asked dozen voices in
chorus.
"It is no less than a mock marriage"
said Mrs. Parkhurst. Il was present on
one occasion when one was performed, and
it created great deal of amusement"
80, it will be just the thing" exclaimed
several. "But who will be the parties 2"
perhaps Mr.. Hammond will be so OBJ.
liging as to serve as bridegroom" said Mrs
Parkhurst. sg
80, certainly" said our hero, gaily
land Susan, you will consent to acting
the part of bride, won't you 7"
80, ma, how can you ask me 2" said Su-
san, depreciatingly.
Perhaps" said Charles Hammond, re-
lieved, "some other young lady will"
''Excuse me,' said Susan, suddenly re-
covering horsolf, 81 was, at FIRST, startled,
bet.will do anything to oblige. y
"But if it would be Gisagreeable to you,"
said Charles Hammond, anxiously, II am
sure your mother will not insist on it."
eyes she WILL said Mrs Parkhurst, de-
cidedly. "It's only foolish whim of the
child"
"Mr. Bagely, will you perform the cere.
mony %
Mr. BageIy, who was an elderly man of
portly make, expressed himself as quite will
ling, and asked the regular questions pre-
scribed by law, and wound up by speech
Of becoming advice.
Everybody seemed to enjoy the scene,
and it proved the most popular feature of
the evening f"
A week more passed, and Charles Ham
mond prepared to leave town. AS he an
nounced his purpose to Mrs. Parkhulst, the
latter, said with some asperity. "And do
you propose to leave your wife here {"
"My wife !" exclaimed the man in pro.
found establishment.
CERTAINLY" said Mrs Parkhurst, "You
were married to Susan on the evening of
the party"
co." said the young man, relieved and
smiling, ''you refer to the mock marriage?"
cit was genuine marriage" said Mrs.
Parkhurst ''Mr Bagely was Justice of
the Peace, and the law makes such mar
riage legal one"
Good Heavens p exclaimed the young
artist, thunderstruck "You don't mean to
say that you urge such claim %
''We intend to do so,' said the widow,
ooldly, "both my daughter and myself are
resolved upon it,"
In state OF dlsmay little TO be imagined,
the young man few rather than walked to
Mr.. Bagely's Office, and laid the case before
him
1.-The lady is right" said Mr.. Bagely,
"a marriage performed by Justice of
Peace, under any circumstances, is legal. !"
''lhen Why did you consent to perform
the ceremony?" asked the artist, indig-
nantly.
"Heca"sH' ~ young friend" sud Mr..
Bagely, calmly, "my commission as Justice
expired the day before the party"
"Saved Saved = EXCLAIMED the young
man, overjoyed, selling his hat and hasten
ing back to Honeysuckle Cottage
The disappointment and rage Of Mrs.
Parkhurst and Susan can hardly be imagin-
ed when they heard how all their machina-
tons had failed. The coup d'etat on which
they had so much depended had proved an
utter failure.
AS for Charles Hammond, be has since
married beautiful girl, but he shudders
sven new With alright when he thinks Of
the narrow chance he ran in the Mock Mar.
riage.
The Spaniards have saying that wife
should resemble three things, and yet differ
from the same things. First, she should
be like snail, which always guards itf