Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-31
MATRIMONY UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

-ExPEDITIoUs ExwINToN and | were play
mates in boyhOod; chums at college.
where ave were the terrors OF the dOnS
and bosom friends, when, at the close OF
our collegiate course. We entered on the
battlefield of life. ExwintOn was of old
Puritan descent, whence he inherited his
remarkable Christian name, and putting
the first syllables OF his two names to-
gether, his friends usually hOnOred him
with the soubyiquet of "Ord Double NJ
Shortly after the completion of his studies,
he went to England on business for his
father: and there, while Ostensibly en-
gagged in sterner duties, he found time for
that which, ever since the nightingales
sang to the Eden roses. has, somehow or
other. crept into the lives of most people.
In short, he wooed and won pretty,
blue-eyed English girl, May RawdOn. A
sweet, sonsie May blossom she was ; fair
and gentle, yet full OF mischief. and gifted
with keen appreciation for frOlic-just
the one t. suit frank hearted, affectiOnate
Old Double Y. May was protected by
the slightest shadow of guardianship.
that infirm, old aunt, almost in her do
tage; and when Exwinton offered the
homage of his brave, manly heart, little
May felt that to nestle under the wing OF
SOOu IldIi = loNt. was
than the lonely life she had hitherto led.
Money was scarce with the young couple;
and besides that, their feelings were in IA
vor of a quiet wedding; so they agree
that whenever the event should come off,
it was to be the qyietest of all possible af-
fairs: and therefore the Register-Office
was to be the place where the marriage
vows were to be exchanged.
They were standing in the shadow of
the window curtain one evening; Exwin-
toms arm round the tiny waist of his lit
tie May; while the old aunt Obligingly
dOzed in her easy-chair by the fireside.
Snow, May" said ExwintOn, 81 must
be in America by Christmas and can't
90 without my wife so tell me where the
Register-Office is, and I'll get married to-
morrow"
"Indeed but you WON'T" pouted May
81 am not to be taken by storm in that
way. You Americans are so grand since
you got England to pay the Alabama
claims, that you don't know but the Old
Country is one of your own States. You
may come the Yankee dodge over Glad
stone, but you can't over me.' and May
tossed her curls willfully.
''But just hear reason" said the young
American my English rosebud, you:
little mouth wasn't meant to talk politics
which you don't understand, besides ; Ol
you would know that it is much better tC
come over and be an American citizen
than to stay here to pay taxes for those
same Alabama claims, which have beer
80 gracefully yielded up to our Stars and
Stripes by ysur dear Old England. And
you needn't be so sore on the point" 1t
added, laughing, ''for you know tits moi
like sending property out Of the family
you are not paying it to a foreign
power, but Only just handing few dol
lars to your Uncle Sam to take care Of fol
you, till you have learned little more
prudence in money affairs J"
"Well 60 back to America" replied
May; "and wait for me faithfully two
wears; maybe then I'll yield to your
Alabama claim; at any rate you may
hope for favorable grant at the end o.
that period. / want to see if an Ameri
can can be faithful, as well as brave ant
'cwte.'"
SNOW, May" pleaded Exwinton, ''yo,
shall not put me off with bright speeches
: You saucy creature ; you couldn't hav'
heart to keep me waiting all tina
=. Come, my pet, do promise to b.
ny wifo at once. Let me take you bacl
with me to my father and mother; the!
NH iove you as their own daughter"
But May had plenty Of woman's dig
as well asa supersbundauce of wo
" perverseness and she kept he
4 q state q misery during the le1
y evening until he rose to leave,
srk eyes looked reproachfall2
s = 5ss sislas1n