The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-03-09
That young lady was now Mrs.
Hay

created tn0 WllueSJ eXCltem6nG, Livery
teatable buzzed with it; every friend
meeting friend asked what would be
the result. Were the young people
really married or was it only a mock
ceremony, having no actual signif-
canoe? The Millbank neighborhood
was turned upside down.
The question was simply-Had Mr..
Leftwick authority to marry anybody
on the day of the picnic? If he had
that authority the parties were married,
for they had consented and he had
pronounced them man and wife.
1t was useless to urge that the affair
was intended as a jest. When duly
empowered magistrate is called upon
by two people to marry them; when
they formally take each other as hus
band 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 empow-
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 a question for
his decision under the circum-
stances. But other gentlemen learned
in the law were consulted and they
agreed almost unanimously that Mr..
Leftwick had been an actual magistrate;
the popular vote had made him such,
and any formal certificate of election
was unnecessary. The parties were
married.
When Miss Bel Amman awobe 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 wild absurd
ity! Married! and to Edward Hay!
She would never see his face again.
He had been guilty of the basest de-
ception. He had known that Mr.. Left
wick was really a magistrate, and
meant to entrap her into hateful
union with him. Yes, hateful She
datested the sight of him. If he ever
presumed to 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
inficting his society upon his young
wife. The picnic party had speedily
| broken up in the midst of general dis
may, and MIR. Edward Hay had simply
bowed low, without so much as smile,
and departed.
Soon an incident occurred which
brought home to Miss AMMAN, or Mrs.
| Hay, the terrors OF matrimon Judge
AMMAN was absent holding court, and
| The young lady was in the drawing
room at Annandale, when loud knock
was heard at the front door and Wis.,
itor entered. The young lady looked
at him and bowed slightly; his appear
ance was not prepossessing. He was
the illustrious Guiteau is an example.
81 have called to see you about a
claim I have on your husband, Mrs.
Hay" said this ornament of his pro.
| fession.
The young lady started slightly, but
only greeted the words with naughty
stare.
"Sorry to trouble you, but business
is business. I am counsel for plaintiff
in Smith VS.. Hay. 1t is too slow to
proceed against real estate, and l am
told you have bank stocks"
The young lady colored. This gross
business intrusion was hateful to her.
She had nice little amount of stock in
her own rignt-the gift of an uncle.
",You are aware that your personality
is liable to execution for your husbands 8
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
dilapidated hat and went away.
Three days aftera ard Miss Bel An
nan, as we may as we'll continue to call
her, saw an advertisement in the county
paper which made her color a little. 1t
announced that the real and personal
estate of Mr.. Edward Hay would be ex-
posed for sale on the first of the ensuing
month. She remained silent for few
moments looking at the advertisement;
then she began to sob, and said:
" am so sorry u
On the same evening she received a
note through the postotfice which con-
tanned these words:
81 trust you have never supposed that
1 had any agency in the affair of the
picnic or that anything could induce
me to take advantage of it in any man
ner. But 7 know you will acquit me of
that. There is only one course. As we
seem really to be married, divorce is
necessary-but divorce case occa
sions scandal, and that I know would
wound you. Need I say that 1 would
not wound you for the world ?-that is
not much to say. l have, therefore,
arrnged everything to spare you pain.
My estate will be disposed of, and
shall remain away for some years. Then
the law declares you free again-on the
plea of desertion-and there will be no
more annoyance
Your friend, no more, EDWARD HAY"
Miss Bel Amman read this letter over
twice before she observed a postscript
on the second page:
81 heard of the visit you were sub
jected to by that wretched creature. If
l had been present-but this is un-
necessary. He will not presume to
annoy you again; 1 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-
vertisod his property and made all his
arrangements to leave the country.
"Hum, hum |" muttered Judge
Amman, reading the notice on his return
from court. "That is really pity.
| There ia no necessity for selling his