The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-01-10
MARRIAGE IMPROMPTU.


One DIR. Graham, of the United States
army according to writer for the
Drawer of Horper's for January being
detailed, before the day of railroads, to
post in Texas, obtained permission TO
go by way of Arkansas, and, having
shipped his baggage, went on horse
back. He had letter of introduction
to an Arkansas planter. who welcomed
him heartily when he reached the place,
and would not hear of his going on to
the next town, but put up his horse and
gave him feast. After supper they
adjourned to the parlor, and he enter
tanned his new-made friends with the
latest news from the outside world. The
Judge brewed some stiff whisky punch,
which Graham, socially inclined, i'm
bibed quite freely. The old couple re-
tired and left their daughter to enter
tain him; and, whether it was the punch
or what, mt all events he made hot love
to her, and finally asked her to be his
wife and go to Texas with him, to
which she consented. She, being very
unsophisticated and innocent, took
everything he said in downright earnest,
and with her it was case of 'love mt
first sight"
During the night.our friend, the doc
tor, woke up and remembered what he
had said, and it worried him but he
said to himself, after employing his
water-pitcher, "Never mind, I'll make it
all right in the morning. 1 must have
made fool of myself. She's lovely,
but what must she not think of me?"
and rolled over and went to sleep again
Morning came, and upon his going
down to the parlor he found the young
lady alone, for which he blessed his
lucky stars, and was just about to make
an apology when she said:
IL told mamma, and she said it was all
right" at the same time giving him
kiss which nearly took his breath away.
Papa is going to town this morning,
dear, and you ride in with him and talk
it over but he won't object, know"
But, my dear miss. was very fool
ish, and"
mo, indeed; you were all right"
Well, l must go to my post and re-
turn for you, for must go on at once"
No; can go with you"
You won't have time"
"Oh yes, will. Papa will fix that.
1t would be such an expense for you to
come back all the way here"
But l have no way of taking you"
have thought of that; that does
not make any difference. Father will
give us a team"
With nearly tears in his eyes he went
in to breakfast, to which, Mt that mo-
ment, they were both summoned; but,
alas! appetite he had none. 1t was not
that she was not pretty and nice; but
he thought what n COMPOUNDED fool she
must be not to see that he wanted to
get out of it. But it was no use.
When the Judge started for town, DIR.
Graham was sitting beside him. The
Judge saved him the trouble of broach-
ing the subject by starting it himself:
always, young man, give Nell her
own way; so it is all right; you need
not say word"
:" But I've got to go on to-day"
The old Judge turned his eyes toward
him. He had an Arkansas bowie in
each, and one of those double-barreled
shotgun looks as he said: You amt
a-trying to get out of it, are you?"
The doctor, taking in the situation,
said, promptly, all hope being gone,
" No, sir"
That's right. I will fix everything
for you-give you that black team of
mine, and light wagon to carry your
wife's things (here the doctor shud-
dered), and thousand as starter
You can be married tonight and leave
early in the morning. Thatll suit,
won't it,"
yes, sir" answered Graham, family.
But, on the Judge turning toward him,
he said, Yes, sir, certainly"
After you get fixed at your post I
will come down and pay you visit. 1
have been thinking about selling out
and moving to Texas for some time; it's
getting crowded here, and things are
a-moving as slow as 'lasses in winter
time"
Things were arranged as the old
Judge said. The marriage took place,
and the army received an addition to
its ladies in the person of the Arkansas
Judges daughter, and DR.. Graham has
never regretted the obduracy of his
father-in-law, or the unsophisticatedness
of his wife.