The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-03-17

with the defense, was to be submitted
to the village justice, and they were to
abide by his decision.
Judge Marrowbone was an honest
man, and with the exception of being
partially blind, and very deaf, he was
well suited to the Office, as it is nova
days.
Squimps' lawyer got his fee. and had
sent the documents to the Judge, who
received them from the oflice-boy in
connection with blank marriage GER
tificate to be filed up and used that aft
ernoon for another party.
Bulge and the widow were there
dressed in their best. to get his de-
cision in the matter, and abide thereby.
Bulge was not so distant as he for
merly had been toward her, but actually
squeezed her hand when he saluted
her.
Marrowbone drew the papsrs before
him. and after wiping his glasses. took
up his pen to write.
"What is your age?"
Fifty"
sirP''
"Yes, sir. What has that to do with
ita" said Bulge to himself.
"Were you ever married?"
"Neverr' shouted Bulge, casting a
nervous glance upon the widow, who
sat looking very demurely in the corner.
And what is the lady's name?'
"Dolly Squimps-Widow Squimps?"
said Bulge, acting as spokesman.
"And your husbands name was"
"Marcus Squimps, poor soul!" said
the widow.
"Marcusr' shouted Bulge. "How
deuced particular he is" he added. to
the widow.
"Yes, sirr' said she. with much ten
derness. -
"Yes; I knew him." added the
Judge; and few other half-counected
sentences about an old debt escaped
him; and he ordered them to join
right hands and stand up before him.
They obeyed; for neither of them
knew much of law. and consequently
but little of its forms.
.' Bumper Budge. do you take this
woman to be your lawful wife?"
What the deuce does this mean?"
exclaimed Bulge. in surprise. 81
thought we were to have our dispute
settleda"
Yes" chimed in the Judge. "nev-
or to dispute, but love, cherish and
protect herr
"Hold on, Judger' shouted Bulge,
one taken aback. But the Judge
that sounded like: "Go alongr'
"No hurry, sir; I am going on. Do
you. Mrs. Dolly Squimps, take this
man to be your lawful husbandP'
81 would like it we'll enoughr' she
said, dropping her head, and making a
"Hold on, sirr' again shouted
Bulge. boiling over with rage and fear,
yet unable to move.
"Don't be impatient. Then l pro-
nounce you man and wife, and wish
you much joy"
ried mep''
s'.Yes; you was . fool not to get mar
ried before. Here is your certificate.
sir; and "a have to attend to a referee
case about this hour 1 beg to be ex-
cused. '.--,...-..
"But, my good man." said Bulge.
while the big drops ofsweat rolled down
his blood-red face -
YES" said the old Judge. ga very
good plan, indeed; and hope you will
never regret it, although my fees are
but triaing," he added, by way of hint
for them to pay up. $50 ...-.7
Bulge could bear it no longer, and.
driving his hat over his head, vanished
through the door like shadow.
But the movement was unobserved
by the Judge, and the widow, thinking
to reconcile him to the mistake, paid
the Judge . fee Che heard that jingle)
and started in pursuit.
Budge few like frightened deer,
and those who saw him could only con.
lecture that the case had gone hard with
him.
Rushing into the house. he trod on
numerous appendages whose other ex.
tremity produced something resembling
q painful yowl. but, unheeding every.
thing. he rushed to his bedroom, where,
locking the door, he threw himselfupon
the bed in . state of mental excitement
bordering on insanity.
For . whole day he lay thus; and at
length the widow made bold to enter.
She found the, poor man in a high fe-
yer. occasioned by the excitement; and.
like . good woman, she set about min.
istering to his wants, and in the course
of u week he, was able to be about
again. 49,,
After mature reflection he concluded
not to inform the Judge of his mistake,
and content himself with the result
that his oats and the widows dog had
SO crriously brought about.-M Y. Mer-