The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-12
SPOILED MARRIAGES.
SOME HITcHEs AT THE ALTAR.

The question how near a couple can come
to being married without actually becoming
husband and wife was answered in a very
extraordinary case reported not long ago
from Lyons, in France All the prelimina-
ries, including the marriage contract-the
bride being an heiress had been arranged
with the utmost harmony, and the day had
arrived for the civil maria ge-which under
the law of the Republic is the binding one
on the morning, and for the blessing of the
priest at the cathedral altar in the afternoon.
The parties were before the Mayor, and what
Chicago lawyer, addressing divorce jury,
called the "fatal question" had been asked
of each, and duly answered; wheIeupon the
Mayor had rendered his personal as well as
official congratulations, and placed before
them the attesting document which, when
signed, made them lawfully man and wife,
At this critical moment the proceedings were
interrupted by the entrance of a telegraphic
messenger. The couple paused. pens in
hand, the witnesses stared in surprise, and
the Mayor dropped his spectacles in ner-
vous fit as he handed the message to the
BRIDES father. The telegram ran as follows:
Monsieur - (the bridegroom) has al
ready been married in Germany, and his wife
lives. Vouchers are on their way to you by
post
The Mayor, as he is bound to do under the
civil code when warning comes, postponed
the authorization for a week The week
passed, but no vouchers came. Everybody
agreed the telegram was malicious trick,
perpetrated by some revengeful rival--everys
body except the bride, who had been brood
everybody, believed it. She sent back the
diamond ring. the silver candlestick, the
gold mounted prie-dieo, the brevia-y of the
lady who was almost her mother in Jaw, and
annulled the settlement. The Jude de Pair
of Lyons and the Mayor had a consultation
with the lawyers and the notary, and it was
unanimously agreed that the couple. as the
English peasantry put it, were still a couple
and not pair. All inquiries instituted by
the bridegroom with regard to the sender of
the telegram proved fruitless the only infOr-
nation ever obtained being that il was paid
for by 'veiled woman in black"
A still more recent hitch at the altar oc-
CURED at fashionable English watering
place. A large party had assembled in one
of the churches there to witness the nuptials
of the niece of a prominent citizen, when it
was discovered, at the last moment, that the
Registrar, who had the license in his pocket,
had not arrived at the suggestion of the
officiating clergyman, tn ceremony was de-
layed for short time, while one of the party
went in search of the errant Registrar. His
Office was the first place visited but he had
gone out, and nothing was known Of his
whereabouts. Thence the messenger re-
paired in hot haste to his residence, which
happened to be some distance out Of town
and meanwhile, the party at the chapel be-
coming impatient, other scouts were dis
patched in various directions. AT length it
was ascertained that the worthy Registrar
had left town by an early train, and as it was
impossible that he could return in time the
wedding had to be postponed until the fol
lowing day. The hitch, it appeared, had oc-
CURED through the Registrar having received
no intimation of the day and hour of The in
tended marriage.
One morning, in the depth of last winter,
a lady reached Inverness, Scotland from the
south, in one of the morning trains, intend
ing to proceed to Wick in the $40 A. n. train.
During the night, however, there had been a
heavy snow fall, and it was found that the
line to Wick was blocked. On being told
that she could not proceed, the young lady
appeared to be greatly disconnected, and i'm
mediately inquired for the station master
rs there no possibility of getting to Wick
to night?' she asked.
''None," was the answer
''Not by coach %
''No; not even by coach"
f'Nor by boat %
mo; nor by boat"
''Nor by
ono; it is impossible; you cannot get
there this week.
"Well," said the lady, "this is awkward" d"
I'm sorry said the official. 'Will you
be greatly inconvenienced ?''
'Inconvenienced Yes, was to have
been married in Wick tonight"
We will conclude with case in which
somewhat serious, s,obstacle to the celebration
of a marriage was removed at the eleventh
hour by the Intervention of a benefcent flash
of clerical jealousy. In a western Scottish
town, one evening. there were so many mar
riages that an unfortunate couple who had
arranged to be united at the minister's house
were unable to procure a cab to convey them
thither till long past the hour appointed, and
when at last they stood at the door of the
manse and rang the bell it was approaching
midnight. A loud and somewhat Indignant
voice presently responded from bedroom
window up stairs demanding to know who
was there. The situation was briefly ex-
planned, but the voice, that of the Rev. Mr.
w, minister of the first charge of the Abbey
Church, proved inexorable.
81 can't help it, was the ultimatum re-
eeived. ''You must just so home, and come
back tomorrow"
30, Mr.. w, ye ken we Gamma gang hame
without being married" struck in female
voice.
"But what would you have me do? Call
up the whole house because Of your bung-
ling?',
"Could ye not dae't over the window.
sir ?"
Nonsense. It is impossible
20, ye MIGHT, sir. Ye ken we attend the
Abbey on your day, and no on Mr.. b. s"
This final stroke of policy proved irresist-
able, for between Mr.. w. and MT. B., minis
ter of the second charge of the same church.
there existed a good deal of professional
jealousy. The window was put down. the
gas lighted, the door opened, and the mar
riage of the triumphant diplomatists duly
soiemnized.
EXAMINE for yourselves
How the goods upon the shelves
Disappear;
And gaze uDon the thron0