Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-10-01
MARRIED FOR FUN.
From the Chicago Tribune,1

| [From the Chicago Tribune]
"What has been planned for to-mor
row EVENING"" cried a chorus Of
voices, as small company of young
people, camping out among the New
Hampshire mountains, were about tc
separate for the night.
The question brought two or three
early birds, who were fastening to their
tents, back among the rest of the com
pany to discuss some new pleasure OF
sport for the next evenings entertain.
ment. Several plans were suggested,
but none of them met with the approx.
al of the whole party.
"Mr. Carlson, you have as yet
suggested nothing. What do you think
it would be pleasant to do tomorrow
night?" asked one Of the young ladies'
II, Miss Mary?" answered the young
man addressed, who until this moment
had been leaning indifferently against
tree. II am 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 MIR. Carlson was a great ia.
vorite in camp.
"Mr Carlson must have found some
modern Maud Muller, who offers attrac-
tions much superior to ours, else he
would not make such frequent journeys
to the large metropolis of Meadville.
This remark was made in very sarcas-
tic tone by young lady who was stir
ring the dying embers of the campfire,
thereby causing a 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 q
spark which had fallen on the young
lady's dress, Mr.. Carlson said in low
tone: Miss Thurston, what matters
it to you if I go or stay?"
But before his question could be
answered, Carlson's sister cried petu.
lantly: 20, friends, let him go. He
told me he had a business appointment,
and Arthur will never break an ap-
pointment, no matter how trivial, I'M
less, perhaps, for wedding or funeral
swell, a funeral we will not have,
even to keep your charming company,
Art" cried a boyish voice. "We might
have wedding" the owner of the voice
continued; Il wouldn't mind being
party to that myself" and the speaker
looked mischievously at one of the
ladies, who colored deeply and walked
away in seeming anger.
"Herel here!" cried all the gentle
men, laughingly, "who will volunteer to
have wedding on Carlson's account? ~
The boyish voice spoke again:
mo one loves you we'll enough, Art,
to be married for you but me, and l sup
pose I can't be wedding all by my.
SELF"
II will help you in that, Cousin John, .
gayly cried Miss Thurston; II have been
meditating marriage for some time, and
this is the first opportunity-well," she
said, rather hesitatingly, "this is the first
opportunity which have cared to en-
Brace"
"But, Margie," replied her Cousin
John, as ii greatly perplexed, you see,
not anticipating this event, and never
having been encouraged by you to con.
slider myself candidate for such honor,
I have spoken to another girl upon the
same subject"
Every one joined in the laugh at Miss
Thurston's expense but Arthur Carl.
sou. "Miss Thurston," he said, when
the laugh had subsidized, "you have been
tilted, allow me to offer you PREPARATION,
If it is only the opportunity you care to
embrace, a change of groom can make
but little difference. If you will be
first party to the contract I will agree
to be second, and return tomorrow
evening, with all necessary pre]imi.
naries, in time for our wedding.''
"You are certainly very kind, Mr..
Carlson" replied Miss Thurston haugh.
tily. "People who are so generous sci.
dom expect their generosity to be &C.
cepted, but I shall surprise you by
agreeing to your proposition"
II was in earnest when I made the
proposition, Miss Thurston."
"And in earnest when I accepted it.
Mr.. Carlson"
These two were ever at swords points
They had quarreled together since baby
hood, and although, up to this time
each had guarded the secret jealousy
from the other, yet it was evident tc
most of their friends that the two were
dearer to each other in their quarrels
than many other people in their friend
ships.
The party now separated for the night
elevated at the prospects of the next
evenings entertainment, but that the
Jest would become reality never entered
their thoughts.
When the party breakfasted next
morning Mr.. Carlson was already or
his way to the village. It was agreed
that part of the day should be spent in
preparing place for the mock cere
mony. Miss Thurston was the gayest
of the gay, and peals of merry laughter
awoke answering echoes from rock and
cliff. Only, once or twice, when alone
in Ter tent, her cheeks paled as SHE
wondered what Arthur Carlson would
do, for he had looked determined the
night before.
well" said Miss Thurston to her
self, "your word is given now, Margaret
Louise Thurston, and q Thurston nev
er was 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 filed out the girlish white
form to the best, coiled the luxurious
brown hair around her head, and placed
bunch of simple mountain flowers al
her belt. Never before had she looked
GO beautiful or so defiant. A commo.
ton outside the tent announced Carl.