Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-07-18

friends and 0Eh0fB had been landed
until they almost looked soiled. Still
Edward and the minister did not ap-
pear.
For the fortieth time Della had looked
after the table dainties in the safe, when
MI. Goodwin returned from his fortieth
trip to the road and said in as calm a
voice as he could command: "Well,
Edward is coming, but he is alone"
The long suppressed anxiety of the
now panic-stricken party found vent in
a hysterical "O-o-h!"
"Perhaps he has only galloped on
ahead to tell us to be ready y" said Della,
suddenly collecting herself and starting
to meet Edward and tell him she had
taken bis clothes and a basin of water,
atowel and some soap, to the barn, that
he might prepare his toilet for the we'd
ding there. as there was no place in the
house.
But Edward was at the door and both
he and his noble steed looked decidedly
tired and worn by their long and fruit
less journey.
"Eell, Alice, I've done my best for
you, but there isn't a minister within a
radius of fifty miles that 1 could get for
love or money"
"Have to have a new deal. as the boys
say" observed Uncle John. mo, q
bad hand all around this time"
"Oh, we can't put it off, my cake is all
cut and would spoil, and the floating
islands are most spoiled now, and oh
dear! everything will be out of shape"
so'said Della, quite forgetting her usual
self-control in this truly most vexatious
state of affairs.
"At any rate let us dispose of some of
that cake and fixings now, for I'm near
ly famished."
'tYou are the best brother that ever
lived and shall have the best the house
Affords" said Della.
And the table which had been set out
of doors to make more room was then
brought bach and quickly spread with
the many luxuries the girls had pre-
pared, and we know a %jollier, hungrier
party never partook of a wedding feast
than gathered around that table just as
the sun went down.
Only the amusing side of the unfortu-
nate series of events seemed to impress
the party now, and jokes and laughter
WeIc 1IeeIy uSle WIN tutAI COAeo
and other good things.
Had I realized the dearth of minis
tiers in a new country, I would have
brought one with me-" said Mr.. Good
win, merrily, s'and I don't see but I
shall have to take Alice back with me
and be married in Geneva, after all.".
.''Well, isn't it ridiculous, any way!,,'
said Ellen. ''Wha WiW the neighbors
say! And wouldn't your friends laugh
should you return unmarried" and she
nearly went into Mysteries.
"Cracky! if an idee amt just struck
mel" and Uncle John rose so suddenly
he nearly upset his coffee on the BRIDES
"Say, Hank, is yer dad ter hump" he
called to a boy passing on horseback.
oval, 1 reckon, leastways ef he's got
home from town."
"Well, you hurry home, and tell him
to get on his billed shirt and store clothes.
Tell him I've got a job for him, a first
class one, and I'll be over for him in q
few minutes"
Before the above conversation was
concluded, the party had recognized the
lad as Justice Noosebick's son, and of
course had guessed Uncle Johns s.idee."
"Oh, the idea of having to be married
by a Justice of the Peace, and he is such
a queer. comical old fogy! Ishall feel as
though I had u away, or done some
thing wrong" said Alice, quite dis
gusted.
But under the circumstances it was
their only resource, and Uncle John.
who was a genuine Westerner and
prided himself on his skill in emergen-
cies, soon had the notable gentleman
there.
At sight of the short, fussy-looking
little man in his ~light-colored. home
made suit. his ''biled Shirt" and collar
and necktie that gave him a very choked
appearance, Mr.. Goodwin was so over
come he had to go out of doors to givs
vent to his risibles, and, indeed, the en-
tire party did not seem very deeply i'm
pressed with the solemnity of the occa-
| sion.
"There," said the worthy gentleman,
after performing the ceremony and
making out the certificate; II claim I've
done you just as good a job as any min
lister in the county, an eff you'd a come to
me in the fust place, instid of takin' a
wild-goose chase all over the two coun:
ties as kim nigh spilin yer bosses, you'd
a showed yer sense. And besides, ]
don't ask only what the law demands
This pithy speech was delivered in q
digniied manner, but with some tart.
ness of tone, and nearly convulsed its
auditors; and Mr.. Goodwin could but
remark the deep satisfaction that spread
over Mr.. Ms features as he received
q generous wedding fee.
As Alice and Charles Goodwin bade
Edward goodbye, the following day,
Mr.. Goodwin said, with evident signs Of
gratitude: "Remember, my dear
brother, you and Jennie are to be mar.
ried at our home. We will bear all
your expenses, and furnish a minister,
and then you will not be half paid fol
your noble efforts for u.s."
Mr.. and Mrs. Goodwin v framed
their blotted and misspelled certificate,
or showed it to any one; and it is safe to
say their Geneva relatives and aristo'
cratic friends never heard of the
difficulties under which they were mar.
ried, or the little Justice who finally
tied the knot.-Esteue MendeH, in
Golden Rule.