Smyrna times., 1884-11-26
The Kentucky Gretna Green.

Aberdeen is the Kentucky Gretna
Green, and Squire Beasley is 1.-THE
Great American MatrimOnializer."
The Squire is about 20 years old, and
sage he has married $4,000 couple. He
is available for the purpose day or
night His house, a large, comfortable
double structure of wood, stands near
the river bank. The marriages are
performed in a great front room, which
was once Il parlor. His scale of fees is
graduating one, and is guaged &C
cOrding to the financial standing of the
happy groom. If he is the son of rich
blue grass farmer the old Squire hints
that Il twenty dollar treasury note
would be about the proper cOmpensa-
ton. If he is u poor mOuntaineer,
however, in rough hOmespun, the kind
ly old dispenser of matrimonial felicity
will do the job for nothing, and fire.
quently presents the blushing, rosy
checked bride with So note to begin
housekeeping with. He claims that
80 per cent Of the marriages he solemn
ICES turn out well, which is a strong
statistical point in favor of the Aber-
deem article.
The Squire had been called up one
night to unite a couple, and, having
performed the ceremony, was about re-
firing. Suddenly the door few open,
and a hunted couple dashed into the
room.
"Quick p cried the man. eve are
closely pursued. Marry us!"
There was borne to their ears a faint
shout, and the squire knew there was
no time to lose.
Jine hands! ~ he cried.
They Obeyed.
Have him ?" he began, turning tc
the girl
Eyes -
"Have her?" he demanded of the
man
"Yes!"
Married I" was the Squire's laconiC
benediction, and then, as the newly
made husband displayed a well-filleC
pOcketbook, lie added: Ten dollars!'
The words had hardly left his lips
when the pursuing party rushed int
| the house only to witness the young
couples triumph.
\ little ferryboat, the Gretna Green
! plies between Maysville and Aberdeen
and it is principally patronized by run
away couples. When the riveris lock
ed in Winters frigid embrace the fer
rybOat is laid up, and the runaway
cross on the ice. One morning in ear
ly Spring a man and woman enteret
Maysville and proceeded directly t,
the levee. The river was breaking uI
and nearly the entire population of tn
town was on the banks watching tn
rapidly moving ice. Everybody recog
nized the new arrivals as runawayS
bound for Aberdeen, and a crowd gath
cred around the couple.
You'll have to wait until the rive
is clear Of ice" said one of the bystanC
ers, addressing the man. At this in
telligence the girl burst into tears an
wrung her hands despairingly
Through her sObs she confessed thu
they were running away.
If we don't get across the rive
soon," she said in conclusion, spa
and brother Ben will overtake u
They've got their shot-guns and John
here she glanced lovingly at h,
companion" will surely be killed"
44NCl bOuS ~ III pdJnlL6u WIFI u
damsel, and finally four stout fellow
volunteered to dare the danger and a
tempt to pull boat through the crasl
ing ice. Cheered by the populace IL
party embarked, and guided by skillf
hands the boat slowly made its wa
through the floating ice. They ha
nearly reached the opposite bank whC
Pap and Brother Ben dashed dow
upon the levee. The crowd set up
shout of encouragement to the fleeiI
couple, and the expectaRt grOoI
5 flushed with triumph, stood erect
the boat and waved his hat defiantl
= Just then the boat bumped against
), big cake of ice, he lost his balance, al
before he could save himself tumble
r headlOng into the icy flood. Tn,
~. fished him out with boat-hoOk, al
n not even stopping to change his drenc
5 ed clothing he hurried to the SPUR,
u house, and made the blushing g
who had accompanied him his wife.