Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19

Il
two people to marry them; when they
formally take each other as husband and
wife, and he pronounces them to be such
then the two persons are married, and
there is an end of it
This view was generally accepted but
was Mr.. Leftwick duly empoN cred
magistrate, He had been elected, but
had received no certificate. What was
the law governing the case
Judge AMMAN was not appealed to. 1t
really was too delicate question for his
decision under the circumstances. Bat
other gentlemen learned in the law were
Consulted and they agreed almost unan-
imously that Mr.. Leftwick had been an
actual magistrate; and any formal cer,if-
icate of election was unnecessary. The
parties were married.
When Miss Bel AMMAN awoke slowly
to the consciousness that this was the
general sentiment she began to cry, and
then grew sullen and angry 1t was an
outrage it was a wild absurdity! Mar
ried and to Edward Hay She would
never see his face again. He had been
guilty Of the basest deception. lie had
known that Mr.. Leftwick was really
magistrate, and meant TO entrap her into
a hateful union with him. Yes, hateful /,
She de,es,ed the sight Of him. II he
ever presumed 10 approach her, she would
tell him her opinion of him, and forbid
his ever appearing again in her pres
ence.
Mr. Hay did not seem desirous of in
flie,ing his society upon his young wife.
The picnic party had speedily broken up
in the midst Of general dismay, and Mr..
Edward Hay had simply bowed low, with
out so much as a smile, and departed.
Soon an incident occurred which brought
home to Miss AMMAN, or MIS-. Hay, the
terrorS Of ma,rimony. Judge Amman was
absent holding Court, and the young lady
was in the drawing-room at Annandale,
when a loud knock was heard at the front
door and visitor entered. The young
looked at him and bowed slightly; his
appearance was not prepossessing. He
was one Of class OF petty attorneys of
whom the illusirious Guiteau is an ex-
ample.
y have called 10 see you about a
claim have on your husband, Mrs.
Hay" said this ornament of his profes.
sion.
The young lady started slightly, but
she only greeted the words with a baugh-
,y stare.
" Sorry to trouble you, but business is
business. am counsel for plaintiff in
Smith VS. Hay. 1t is too slow to proceed
agains, real estate, and am told you
have bank stocks.
The young lady colored. This gross
business intrusion was hateful to her.
She had a nice little smouni OF stock in
her own right-;he gift Of an uncle.
"loa are aware that your personality
is liable to cxecution for your husbands
debts" said the legal gentleman.
The young lady rose to her feet and
swept superbly from the room. As she
disappeared upstairs she said to ser
want:
"Show this person to the door"
And the person in question took his di
lapida,el hat and went away.
Three days afterwad Miss E-l Amman,
as we may as we'll continue TO Gu her,
saw an advertisement in the county pa.
per, which made her color little. 1t
announced that the real and personal es-
tate OF Mr. Edward Hay would be ex-
posed for sale on the first of the ensuing
month. She remained silent for few
moment, looking at the adycrtiscme:;
then she began 20 sob, and said
IL am SO sorry.
Oa the same evening she received a
note through the pos.-offce, which con-
tanned these words:
Il trust YOU have ueyer supposed that
| had any agency in the affair Of the pic
mic or that anything could induce me to
take advantage of it in any manner. But
| know you will acquit me Of that. There
is only one course. As we seem really to
be married, divorce is necessary-but
divorce c-se occasions scandal, and that
know would wound you. Need | say
tina. would not wound you for the world:
that is not much to say. / have, there
fore, arranged everything to spare you
pain. Ny estate will be disposed of, and
/ shall remain away for some years. Then
the law declares YOU free again on the
plea of desertion-an1 ther will be no
more annoyance.
"Your friend, no more,
"EDwAUD HAY"
Miss Bel AMMAN read this letter over
twice before she observed postscript on
the second page:
Il heard of the visit YOU were subject
ed 10 by that wretcheI creature. If |
had been present-but this is unnecessa-
~. He will not presume to annoy you
again; can promise you that"
As a matter of fact, Mr.. Edward Hay
had horsewhipped the counsel for plain
tiff in Smith vs.. Gray. He had then ad-
vertised his property and made all his ar
rangements to leave the county.
Hum, hum muttered Judge An
nan. reading the notice on his return from
Court. That is really pity. There
is no necessity for selling his property.
The estate is an excellent one and will
paw all claims ten times over. Poor fel-
low, l always liked him! J"
Miss Bel Amman, who was present,
shifted slightly and murmured:
$50 did |, papa!
"Well, suppose there is no help for
il To be candid, my dear, | always