The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-08

tull-tiedged parson with HIM without
even mentioning that this is all jest.
You must put a stop to it at once, for
it is downright shame to trihe with
such serious things to this extent"
At these words Miss Thurston grew
very pale, but her friends laughed and
said: "Of coursc he is not a real min
lister, John Shepherd. This is only part
Of the joke"
eyes, he is a real minister" was the
reply, "for | heard him preach in the
village only last Sunday
At this moment Mr.. Carlson came
up. He, too, was pale, but his eyes
burned with an intense fire.
"Miss Thurston," he said, Il was in
terrible earnest when | said what | did
last evening, in proof of which l have
procured license and minister. Win
you be my wife,"
Those who had been most forward
in urging ON the joke were now most
earnest in dissuading their friends
against such a highly improper pro-
ceeding, but Carlson's intense eyes
were upon Margaret's face, and his
voice said "You and have lived for
fun all our lives let us now be married
for fun"
The very demon of recklessness took
possession Of Miss Thurston's spirit.
If Carlson bad asked her there, before
them all, to marry him for love, she
would have turned away, shocked and
grieved-but for fun; yes, she would
dare as much as he, and she immedi
ately stepped to Carlson's side, re-
marking, in a laughing tone: Yes,
Mr.. Carlson, l will marry you for fun"
'Margie, this cannot 90 on. What
will your father say and feel?" and her
cousin stormed up and down before
the tents, appealing first to one and
then to the other, but all to no avail
At this moment the minister whom Mr.
Carlson had secured stepped out of his
tent, and the young couple took the
places which had been prepared for
them when mock ceremony had been
in view.
\ silence fell over the little group as
the solemn words of the beautiful Epis-
copal service fell upon their ears. Then
rang out the responses. From the
bride, low and defiant from the groom,
clear and determined.
THAT We may SO live together in
this life that in the world to come We
may have life everlasting" Margaret
never forgot these words. In coming
days she repeated them over and over
to herself until she almost prayed to
have them blotted out from her men,
ory
By the time the ceremony was fin
ished the audience had concluded that
the affair had been planned beforehand
in secret, and that they were the dupes
of the joke. Accordingly, never was
company sayer than theirs that night,
and the merrymaking was continued
into the morning hours.
The camp broke up in day or two,
Mr. and Mrs. Carlson parting from
their friends, in apparently high spirits.
Arriving at their home, where the news
had preceded them, the culprits were
received with real forgiveness, for I'M
doubtedly, the match was a splendid
one. Judge ThurstoA's family had
been known and honored in the COM
munity for years, while Mr.. Carlson was
the junior member of a large and
wealthy firm dealing in fine imported
goods.
Two weeks passed after their return
in which Arthur saw but little Of his
wife. Judge ThurSton's summer resi-,
dence was a number of miles from the
city, and the gentlemen could only rur
down for over Sunday. On these days
the two were as uncomfortable as pos
sible in each others presence anc
avoided being left alone together.
One quiet Sabbath evening Arthur
came out of the judges library witt
a pale face and set lips. Ascending
the stairs with faltering steps, he soush
his wife's room and knocked at the
, door. Come in," said a low voice
Entering he saw Margaret sitting in ;
low chair with her light brown hal
falling around her shoulders in grea
profuslon. He had never seen her 81
before and some great mental emotion
} prevented his noticing the look of glae
surprise which flashed into his wife
face as she perceived who her visito
. was. Mr. Carlson checked the impet
r uous words which rose to his lips, anC
| spoke in voice of strained GOODNESS
Margaret, he said, advancing to he
, side, Il desire few moments CONVEX
: sation if it will not inconvenience YOU
The light died out of the bright fac
r at these seemingly cold words.
'You have occupied my time SO lit
tie of late that can give you fey
! moments without great inconvenience,
she replied, without rising. you ant
| | have made a great mistake, Margie,
her husband continued, sadly. q tax,
my due share of the blame; but even
+ would never dared do this if | had no
| thought-but no matter what thought
: We were married for fun, of course
: and now we do not find it so much flu
as we anticipated. | have been speak
: ing with your father. He will not hea