The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-08-02
The Wedding Fee.

or rain now ana then beat against the
house, as if bound TO seek shelter there
in.
Little Robby was sound asleep in his
crib, and the minister and his wife
were spending the evening together in
the coy sitting-room.
The hour for retiring had come, and
while Mr.. Watson was ma king the Ere
safe for the night, aua Mrs. w. was
bustling about. picking up and adjust
ing the numberless concerns which no.
body but q careful housewife can ever
see or think Of, there came q most
violent ring of the bell.
Mercy" exclaimed Mrs. Watson.
somebody must be dying or dead.
What dreadful night for you to go
out in
Mr.. Watson opened the door and
pe:re into the darkness. Not hu.
man being conld be see or hear. A
few seconds passed. when loud, gruff
voice was heard asking:
Can you splice US tonight
For an instant the minister was con-
fused. not being acustomed to the use OF
that nautical term in relation to the
duties of his profession. A second re-
flection, however, made clear to him
the possibility that splicing might be
within the limit of his particular prov
ince; and so, raising his voice above the
s:orm, he replied:
II you mean To ask me, air, to marry
you, shall be most happy to perform
the ceremony. Is the lady with You?
Ha, hal that's good one Sary Ann
you mean? Don't suppose l come to
get the knot tied without her. do ye!
No, sir; she's right here in the cart.
Mr. Watson need not have stepped
back to inform his wife of the great
event which was to take place, for she
had heard all the conversation, and
was using her utmost endeavors TO ex-
pei the laugh from her countenance be-
fore the happy couple appeared.
1t must be confessed that the sight
of the couple was not conducive to
gravity. They had passed. good
while before, the bloom of youth, aud
had made no special efforts to conceal
the fact. Both had evidently come
direct from their work, which, indeed,
the gentleman proceeded to intimate.
Fact is, parson, It's rather bad
night outside and so | says to Sary,
What's the use; let's not fix up q bit,
but go just as we are. The knot'll hold
just as we'll as il we had our best bib
and tucker on. And besides, parson,
we want to take the old folks by sur
prise; and they'd be sure to 'spect some
thing if we go to work and put on all
the higgins.
Mrs. Watson was glad for this little
opportunity to smile, and promptly
improved it. What would she not have
given for good hearty laugh.
The brief ceremony concluded Mr.
and Mrs. Watson extended their con-
gratulations.
Thar, broke in the newly married d
man, is the ticket; guess you'll find it
o. X Now, Sary, let's be goin.
Plaguey tough ride before us. Good
by, parson. Good-by. ma'am. Much
obliged for the job. Hope to do as
much for you sometime.
The cart ratified away, and Mrs.
Watson, into whose hands her husband
had delivered the certificate, made haste
to open it, thinking that. after all. it
wasn't best to judge people by the
outside, and that the strange man
might have done something handsome
by way of fee. There it was A bill
Yes, and upon it the magnificent
figures of one dollar.
Well, declare, shouted Mrs. Wat
son, isn't this too mean for anything?
Shame on that man; he dosn't deserve
to be married.
Now. my dear said the minister,
you should not be too hard, for | think
you had at least dollars worth of en-
joyment out of the occasion.
Yes, sir, and / noticed somebody
who seemed to keep from laughter.
Next day little Robby's shoes was
bought with the wedding fee, the min
ister's pants were brushed and cleaned
for the hundreth time. and the
good lady. by dint of extraordinary
management. made the old dress an
swer an excellent purpose.
The Spring passed away, and the
Summer In all its beautiful bloom and
abundant fruitfulness came on. The
wedding on the stormy night had al
most passed from the minds of the
minister and his wife albeit, now and
then, she would break out with n laugh,
and ask her husband if he didn't think
il was time TO splice another couple.
One day. as the happy little family
was eating their dinner. aud jus. as the
parents were feeling uncommonly proud
of something smart little Robby had
said, there came just such another
ringing of the bell as that heard on the
stormy night.
Well, there. said Mrs. Watson. one
would think for all the world, that
that splice man had come again.
Before the minister could reach the
door it was opened, and, astonishing TO
relate, there stood the identical hero of
the wedding occasion.
Afternoon. parson and ma am; hain't
forgot me, have yes Member that
io5 YOU did for me last Spring. Never
did anything better in that line. bet
your life. Didn't know then how
'twould turn out. 'Ge,tin married is
kinder risky. anyhow. But you don't
find happier psir this ride o'canaan
that's sure. And so Thought twas about
time brought along the rest OF the
fee. Where'll you have these tnlngs,
parson
The minister went TO the door, and
there was the cart Utterly toaded with
frui, and vegetables of every descrip-
tion. Such a store was never before
l-L4 .nAn tho h.,nSa