The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-11-04

low me to offer you reparation. Ii it is
only the Opportunity you ca-e to ema
brace change OF groom can make hut
little difference; if you will be the first
party to the contract will agree to be
second, and will return tomorrow even
ing with all necessary pfellminaries for
our wedding"
"You are certainly very kind, Mr.
Carlson" replied Miss Tburston haugh.
tily. People who are so generous sci.
dom expect their generosity to be accep
ted, but shall surprise you by agreeing
to yonr propositions"
IL was in earnest when made the
proposition, Miss Thurston,"
"And l was in earnest when / accept.
ed it, Mr.. Carlson"
These two were ever at swords points
They bad quarreled together since baby
beud, and although up to this time esct
had guarded the secret jealously from
the other, vet it was evident to most o
their friends that the two we're dearer t.
each other in their quarreis than many
other people in their friendships
The party now separated for the night
elated at the prospect of the next even
Iing's entertainment, but that the jes
would become reality never entered thel
thoughts.
When the party breakfasted the mex
morning Mr.. Carlson was already on BIZ
way to the village. 1t was agreed tina
part of the day should be spent in pre-
pairing a place for the mock ceremony
Miss Thurston was the gsyest of th,
gay, and peals Of merry laughter awok,
answering echoes from rock and cliff =
Oily once or twice, when alone in be-
tent, her cheeks psled as she wondered
what Arthur Carlson would do, for b,
had looked determined the night before
"Well," said Miss Thurston to herself
"your word is given now, Margaret Lou
ise Thurston, and Thurston was never
known to break their word"
10 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 form to the
best, coiled the luxuriant brown hair
around her head and placed bunch ol
simple mountsin flowers at her belt.-
Never before had she looked 80 beautiful
and so defiant. A commotion outside
the tent announced Carlson's return, and
Miss rhurston, surrounded by laughing
friends, went out to meet them.
"Margie," said her cousin John, strid
Ing up TO her angrily, 'this farce has
gone far enough. Carlson is certainly
demented. He has brought ful-Aedg-
ell .parson With him without even men,
ioning that this is all jest You must
put stop to it at once, for it is down.
right shame to tri6e with such serious
things tc this extent"
At these word, Miss Thurston grew
very pale, but her friends laughed and
said: "Of course he is not real minis
ter. John Shepherd. This is only part
of the joke"
"Yes, he Is real minister" was the
reply, "for heard him preach in the vii.
lage only last Sunday"
AT this moment Mr.. Carlson came up.
He, too, was pale, bat his eyes burned
with an intense ire.
miss Thurs,on," he said, 81 was in
terrible earnest when l said what did
last evening. In proof of which have
procured license and minister. Will you
be my wife -
Those wi o had been most forward in
urging on .he joke we're now most earn.
est in dissuading their friends against
such highly improper proceeding, but
Carlson's intense eyes were upon Mar.
garet's face and his voice said: '.You
and I have lived for fun all our lives lei
US now be married for fun"
The very demon of recklessness took
possession of Miss Thurston's spirit. II
Carlson had asked ber there, before them
ALTO marry him for love she would have
turned away shocked and grieved-bot
for fun; yes, she would dare as much as
be, and she Immediately stepped to Carl
sons side iemarking in laughing tone
Yes, MIR. Carlson, | will marry you for
fun"
"Margie. this cannot go on. What
will your father cay and feel2" 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 10 view.
A silence fell over the little group as
the solemn words of the beautiful Epis
copal service fell upon their ears. Then
rang out the esponses-from the bride,
low and defiant; from the groom, clear
and determined:
THAT ye may go live together in this
life that in the world TO come ye may
live everlasting"
Margaret never forgot those words.
In coming days she repeated them over
AID over TO. herself until she almost
prayed to have them blotled out OF her
memory.
By the time the ceremony was finished
the au Hence had concluded tha. the al
fair bad been planned beforehand in se.
cret and tina. they were the dupes OF the
j,ke. Accordingly never was company
gayer than theirs that highland the mer-
rymakng was continued into The morn
ing hours
The camp broke up in day or two.
Mr. aud Mrs. Carlson parting from their
friends in apparently high spirits. Al.
rived at their home, where the news had
preceded them, the culprits were received
with real forgiveness, fur undoubtedly
the match was a splendid enc. Judge
Tburston's family had been known and
honored in the community for years
while Mr.. Carlson was the junior member
of'a large and wealthy firm dealing il
ane imported goods
Two weeks passed after their return
In which Arthur saw but little OF his vile
Judge Thurs'on's summer residence wa:
a numbero OF miles from the city and tht
gentleman could only run down oyel
Sunday. On these days the two were az
uncomfortable es possible in each Others
presence and avoided being left alone 10
gother.
One quiet evening Arthur came out o
the Judges library with pale face ant