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

] U III
famous Register-offce. But have never
had anything to do with an English we'd
ding. just tell me what | must do, and
where the office is -
/ All the mischief danced back into MAYS
| bright eyes as she disengased herself
/ from the clasp of her lovers arms, and
cried teasingly as she tripped away up
the stairs:
! No. won't tell you single word !:
/ you'll have To find II all out YOURSELF"
| Then as she reached turn in the stairs
she peeped over the banisters like wick
ed little sprite rs she was. and said coax
ingly. but with the most provoking air of
defiance:
Now. Ex, dear, yOu shall reaUv have
me. provided you can get me; but if YOU
don't know the way to get me you must
go without me. I'm not going to show
you the way to WOO, or marry either. [
thought you Americans were sharp
enough for anythingn And May disap-
peared. leaving Exwinton more than ever
determined TO secure his claim without
delay. The next morning after an unu-
sually early breakfast he sailed forth from
his lodging in quest of the Register-ofiice.
not by any means sure what English law
would require at his hands when he got
Z
dence he saw approaching Jolly British
sailor, of whom he resolved TO make in
quries, tor he said to himself. There's
just the one 70 teel interested i'm such an
affair; he looks fine, Open-hearted tel
low, sure 10 have sweetheart of his own
somewhere" So accOsting the gallant
tar. ExwintOn said:
My friend. can you tell me the way to
the Register-Office?'
"l'm stranger here, sir; sorry can't
tell you the way" replied Jack with a
broad grin - wish | and my Sally Ann
was goin' there ourselves this mOrnin'
Good mOrnn' sir. wish you lack !" Ex-
wintOn walked few PAGES, and observed
a stately-looking lady of somewhat vine
gar aspect. on the opposite side of the
street. a pair of blue spectacles MAIN
tanned proud position on the bridge of
high Roman nose, and her thin, firm
lips were evidently unaccustomed to
waste words on subjects of trivial impOr-
tance. A strOng-minded woman"
thought our C9lebs, "sure to be well up
i'm the topography of the blessed place
I'll ask her." and crossing the street he
gracefully raised his hat asking if the
lady could inform him where to find the
desired spot.
Sir" she exclaimed with an indig-
nant glance, "and is it of me you ask
the way to the Register-office? OF me,
who spend my life in the vain endeavor
to teach fools wisdom? No, sir; will
not aid you in making one more slave TO
be ground down under the heel of despO-
tism. Sad enough is it to see persons of
mature years sacrificing themselves at
what they heathenishly call the altar of
Hymen; but you! Boy, l pity you. and
counsel you at least to postpone your folly
until you are better aware of the abyss
into which you are now so thOughtlessly
ready to plunge"
- But. madam" replied Exwinton. al
though it may be folly on the part OF
lady TO trust the care of us, the rOugher
part of creation. yet, in my opinion, we,
at least. show wisdom in securing to our
selves the loving cOmpanionship of noble
and pure-hearted women. And you
may remember the words of Holy Writ,
He that tindeth wife tindeth good
thing -"
dignified severity but your masculine
Scripture nowhere says, That she who
findeth husband findeth good thing
go i'm for the rights of woman, sir" she
declaimed emphatically, striking her
large Sarah Camp umbrella on the
pavement; the rights of woman, sir
And regret that you are about to drag
down another victim from the throne of
single freedom to the dungeon of matri-
mOnial thralldom
But | am American. madam, and
believe in no throne but this one, My
heart shall be the throne for my queen,'"
and with another grave and graceful
bend Exwinton ''went his way" not yet
rejoicing"
NO more old maids for me- thought
our hero irreyerently as he went on a few
steps; and then, meeting fair little wO-
man in spOtless widows cap under a
bonnet of the latest Partisan style, he re
solved to venture question once more.
t'Madam, am In search of the Register
office; can you kindly inform me where to
find it ?''
"The Register of Births and Deaths?
Yes, sir; 60 to the top OF this street. take
the turning to the left, and half way down
the street you will see the office"
Madam. pardon me. i wish for the
Register of Marriages" .
The widow applied a mOurning-edged
handkerchief to her eyes.
Excuse me, sir; my feelings-the sub
ject is too painful you might have OBJ
served by my dress that such question
could -gOod-mOrningr
"Oh!' grOaned Exwinton, mentally,
So Samivel, Samivel, beware of vid-
dersr" Then remarking a policeman
standing in an attitude of pOrtly import
snce on the edge of the pavement. our
persevering American advanced towards
the guardian of the public peace, and put
the Oft-repeated question:
"Register-Office for Marriages? 2" quoth
the officer. "Go down ST. Luke's street,
and take the third turn to the right;
that'll bring you into Martin street, and
two doors on the left side of the street is
the office"
ExwintOn walked on the way pointed
out, but found Martin street so narrow,
and altogether Of so low an appearance,
that he decided it could never be the right
place to bring his fairy May. He, there
fore, left the neighborhoOd as quickly as
possible; and having reached the more
fashionable part of the city, bethought
him that visit to hairdresser's was de-
sirable. Now, until recently, Exwinton
had been most culpably careless about his
personal appearance but, like the i'm
mortal crushing of Benedict's hat, which
showed that "the sweet youth was in
love-" his attention to dress had Of late
developed the college grub into resplen-
dent butterfly. The obliging hairdresser
arranged the toilet of our hero with
charming readiness: then in replv to EX.