Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-08
AS A GRETNA
GREEN.

GREEN.
/ have written of WilliamspOrt
as a 'Gretna Green" Such it was
to considerable extent, while ]
was studying medicine there, forty
years ago, Runaway couples from
Virginia were not uncom-
mon guests at the hotel. When it
got whispered around that some
love-stricken swa in and dulcinea
were guests there, the news spread
like wild fire, and there was quite
a gathering of the quldnuncs and
gossips of the village in the dining
room, where the modifying took
place, to see what sort of couple
they were. Carriages were seldom
used even among better classes.and
that decided convenience of the
present day, the light spring wag-
on was unknown to the people of
the rural districts whence the rum
away lovers came. Hence they
travelled, of necessity, on horse
back. They rode night and day
for they generally started while
the old folks slept. Having gone
long distance, sometimes a hun
dred miles, over bad roads, with
but to little to eat and no time to
partake satisfactorily of what they
had brought with them, because of
seeing an angry father or guardian
in every bush as they sped their
way to Maryland, they were often
"sights" as well as their sweat
streaked and jaded animals. These
they had not once stopped, per-
haps, to feed. When the bride and
groom came on a single horse, as
once was the case, the novelty OF
the scene was greatly increased. If
a travel-worn couple came riding
double in this way, and were seen
dismOunting, there was no hest
tation on the part of the villagers
in setting them down as actors in
q runaway match. They crowded
around the horse-block according
ly. Their gaze did not by any
means discomfort the bride. Hav-
ing escaped the clutches of her
irate daddy intent on her pur-
pose of avowing obedience to an
other-not that she loved her sire
less but her sutton more-she was
ready to say to'herself: "Let them
gaze; they don't know me; who
cares?" In fact lovers, at such
a time, are SO completely absorbed
in thoughts of each other and of
the coming bliss, that they scarce
ly notice their surroundings. So it
was with the class of runaways re-
ferred to. / recall one occasion of
the kind under notice, which /
wall briefly describe. 1t will serve
to show the roughness of the char
acters concerned in some of these
hymenial performances.
A couple had arrived at Will
Transport and preacher had been
sent for. The knot was duly tied,
and John Smith and Sally Jones
were declared to be no longer
twain, but one flesh. Having so
declared them and asked the
blessing of Heaven upon them the
officiating clergyman, remember
ing the assurance that the laborer
is worthy of his hire, awaited his
fee. The hint of his waiting atti-
tude was not at all quickly taken.
The groomsman slowly and with
hesitation handed him piece of
money. Silver being then in use,
IL was at once concluded by the
spectators that the fee presented
was an unusually small one. The
preacher gave smile that had a
hidden meaning in it. Curiosity
was on tip-toe. 1t was soon salts
fed by the Infringement of the
fact, pumped out of the preacher,
that quarter of a dollar was the
sum paid. Indignation ran high
among the until now pleased spec
tators. The preacher being poor,
there was very much sympathy