The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-11-07

MARRIED FOR FUN.

NAhhlLD FUN EDNs
"What has been planned for to-mor-
row EVENING"" cried chorus OF voices,
as a small company of young people,
camping out among the New Hamp-
shire mountains, were about to sepa-
rate for the night.
The question brought two or three
early birds, who were Fastening to
their tents, back among the rest of the
company to discuss some new pleasure
or sport for the next evenings enter
tainment. Several plans were sug-
gested, but none of them met with the
approval of the whole party.
'.Mr. Carlson, you have as yet sug-
gested nothing. What do you think it
would be pleasant TO do tomorrow
nightp" asked one of the young ladies.
Il, Miss Mary?" answered the young
man addressed, who until this moment
has been leaning indifferently against
a tree. Liam going to the village to-
morrow, and probably will not return
until the following day."
The faces of the whole party fell,
while it was evident from their tones
of regret that Mr.. Carlson was q great
favorite in camp.
MIR. Carlson must have found some
modern Maud Muller, who offers at
fractions much superior to ours, else
he would not make such frequent jour
news to the large metropolis of Mead
Vile" This remark was made in
very sarcastic tone By a young lady
who was stirring the dying emOers of
the campfire, thereby causing
shower of sparks TO fly around her.
The blood mounted high into the face
of the gentleman addressed, and,
reaching out his hand to brush off
spark which had fallen on the young
lady's dress. Mr.. Carlson said in a low
tone: ''Miss Thurston, what matters it
to you if go or stay?"
But before his question could be an
swered, Carlson's sister cried petulant-
ly: 20, friends, let him 90. He told
me he had n business appointment,
and Arthur will never break an ap-
pointment, no matter how trivial, I'M
less. perhaps, for a wedding or funeral"
"Well. funeral we will not have,
even to keep your charming company,
Art" cried a bovish voice. I'VE might
have wedding" the owner of the
v
ing party to that myself" and the
speaker looked mischievously at one of
the ladies, who colored deeply and
walked away in seeming anger.
Here! herer' cried all the gentle
men, laughinglv, .'who will volunteer
to have u wedding on Carlson's ac-
countP"
The boyish voice spoke again:
mo one loves You well enough, Art,
to be married for yOu but NE, and
suppose l can't be wedding all by
myself
Il will help you out in that, Cousin
john" gayly cried Miss Thurston; Il
have been meditating marriage for
some time, and this is liz, first oppor-
tunity-well," she said. rather hesitat-
ingly, ''this is tho first opportunity
which have cared to embrace"
But Margie." replied her Cousin
John, as if greatly perplexed, ''you see,
not anticipating this event, and never
having been encouraged by you to con-
slider myself candidate for such honor,
have spoken to another girl upon the
same subject
Every one joined in the laugh ut
i
Carlson. Miss Thurston," he said,
when the laugh had subsidized. '.you
have been Tilted, allow me to offer you
reparation. If it is only the Opportun-
ity you care to embrace, q change of
groom can make but little difference.
If you will be first party to contract l
will agree to be second, and will re-
turn tomorrow evening, with all nee
essary preliminaries, in time for our
wedding"
"You are certainly very kind, Mr..
Carlson" replied Miss Thurston
haughtily. People who are so gener-
Gus seldom expect their generosity to
be accepted. but shall surprise you by
agreeing to your proposition.
81 was in earnest when l made the
proposition. Miss Thurston."
"And / in earnest when | accepted
it. Mr.. Carlson"
These two were ever at swords
points. They had quarrelcd together
since babyhood. and although, up to
this time, each had guarded the secret
jealousy from the other. yet it was evil
dent to most Of their friends that the
two were dearer TO each other in their
quarrels than many other people in
their friendships.
The party now separated for the
night, elated at the prospects of the
next evenings entertainment, but that
the Jest would become reality never en-
tered their thoughts.
When the party breakfasted next
morning Mr.. Carlson was already on
his way to the village. 1t was agreed
that part of the day should be spent in
preparing place for the mock ccre-
mony. Miss Thurston was the gayest
of the gay, and peals of merry laugh
ter awoke answering echoes from rock
and cliff. Only, once or twice, when
alone in her tent, her cheeks paled rs
she wondered what Arthur Carlson
would do, for he had looked determined
the night before.
We'll" said Miss Thurston to her.
self, "your word is given now, Mar
garet Louise Thurston. and Thurston
was never known to break their word"
In the late afternoon her friends
came to dress her for the wedding.
They draped her in some fluffy, white |
dress, which filled out the girlish white
form to the best, coiled tho luxuriant
brown hair around her head, and |
placed bunch of simple mountain |
flowers at her belt. Never before had
she looked so beautiful nor so defiant.
A commotion outside the tent an
nounced Carlson's return, and Miss
Thurston, surrounded by laughing
friends, went out to meet him.
"Margie," said her cousin John,
stridiDg up to her angrily, this farce
has gone far enough. Carlson is. GER
tainly demented. He has brought
full-fedged parson with him without
even mentioning that this is all jest.
You must put stop to it at once, for
it is downright shame to trifie with
such serious things to this extent.
At these words Miss Thurston grew |
very pale, but her friends laughed and
said: s.Of course he is not real minis |