Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
A QUEER MATRIMONIAL EXPE
RIENCE.

I most popular OelleS OF the country nnus
herself married without having intended
to marry anybody.
This startling incident occurred under
the following circumstances-the queer
est of all incidents in the chapter of acci-
dents.
A picnic party at "Annandale, the
residence of Judge Amman, our popular
county official. \ beautiful autumn day
inspired every heart, and a picturesque
grove near the mansion had been selected
A. the scene of the festivities. Nothing
could be more attractive than the specta-
Gle presented. The youths and msidens
were seated in groups under the brilliant
T foliage hampers OF edibles were already
uncovered under the shadow OF great
oak, aud the autumn sunshine ii, up gay
sCaris and curls and laces.
Miss Bel Annsa-for she was a belle
IN name as We. as IA rcality-waS en-
gagged IN her customary amusement Of
flirting She was a lovely blonde, and
devoted 10 the occupation. No one had
ever succeeded in flirting With her At
twea;y i've, II you could believe her
statement, she was heaTi-whole aad i'm
PeTyi1as.
Hcr f1cman Ou tbs occasion was fine
yoang fellow called by his in,ima,es Ned
Hay lie was very much in love with
Ni,s Bel Annan, and everybody was
aware Of il. Hence general enjoyment
Of 'hc salic, Of the youag couple who
v,ic equally sly.
lOu people really ought 10 be mar
r.yd sand 4 ,a'irical voice behind them.
And. turning around, Mr. Hay saw
friend oi biz, Mr.. LefJWick, smiling with
q grim expression. Mr.. Lef,wick has
been a candidate for magistrate, and the
fa,es seemed unpiopi,ious. The election
had taken place on the day before, and
the returns indicated that his opponent
had been elected by clear majority
II had oaly had good luck might
have married you to celebrate this festive
occasion.
Mr. Hay looked "a; his fair companion
and smiled
Isn't it PITY" he said
'Ies--i, IS really too bad - said Miss
Bel, with dangerous glance.
It would be such noyelty--a we'd
ding at a picnic" said Mr.. Hay.
Ifagreeable," said Mr.. Leftwick, Il
will perform the ceremony for the general
enjoyment.
At country picnic the extravagant ;s
the order Of the day. The proposition of
Mr. Leftv;ck had been overheard by some
Of his Strayed reyelers." They gather
ed around the group, besieged Miss An
nan and Mr.. Ilay-convinced the latter
promptly, Then the former after awhile;
and il was announced 10 the company in
general tina; Mr.. Edward Hay and Miss
Isabel Atuan were now about TO be mar
ried.
In ten minutes the whole gay company
tad gathered beneath the oak some wild
flowers were improvised into a wreath for
the bride, and she presented herself, lean
ing on Mr.. Hays arm and modestly hold
ing down her head-no,hing could be
better.
Mr.. Lenwick, with deep solemnity.
performed his functions 10 the best OF his
memory.
If anybody can allege aught why this
marriage should not take place" said
Mr.. Leitwiek, ." let him speak or forever
after hold his peace"
"Doyoa, Edward Hay, take this hand
some young person for yoar welded
wife :"
with pleasure-I certainly do" said
Mr. Hay.
And do yoa, Isabel AMMAN, take this
unfortunate victim Of your charms for
YOUR welded husband = said Mr.. Left
wick
"Yes." said Miss Bel Amman, looking
down with the appropriate air OF iImld-
uy.
" Then" said Mr.. Leftwick, solemnly,
=" by virtue Of the authority vested in me
or which should have been vested in
me-as a magistrate of this country,
pronounce you Edward Hay and You Is
abel AMMAN to be man and wife Salute
your bride,
Mr.. Hay seemed willing, but Miss Bel
promptly declined. She was blushing a
iittle-the whole affair seemed so very
real. A very few minutes afterward
her bushes had suddenly disappeared.
An old farmer, who was riding by, had
called out:
Mr.. Leftwick, congratulate You
Congratulate me
You are elected magistrate. The
Russell precinct was ho, heard from last
night. but the returns are now all in.
You are elected by thirty five majority
Elected - exclaimed Mr.. Leflwick.
Certainly. you are elected. "
"Wen. then" said Mr.. Leftwiek,
desperately. Il have celebrated the
event by performing a marriage eeremo-
ny
The gay revclers stood looking at each
other in Wild amazemeni, and Miss Bel
/ was vlsloly trembling.
That young lady was now Mrs. Hay.
n.
No sooner had the incident at the PIC
mic become generally known than 1t cre-
ated the widest excitement. Every tea
table buzzed with ii; every friend meet
ing a friend asked what would be the re-
suit Were the young people really mar
ried, or was it only mock ceremony,
having no actual significance The
Millbank neighborhood was turned upside