Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-09-01
HIS OWN MINISTER.
A German Who Reads From a Bible and
Marries Himself-Fooling Hrs Papa-in-
Law With n Railroad Map.

| A German Who Reads From a Bible and
Marries Himsef-Fooling Hrs Papa-in.
Law With n Railroad Map.
New YORK, August 3l.-The residents OF
Northport, L. /. are gossiping over the al
legged marriage of Bernard Fisher until
Yesterday foreman of Mr.. H. c. Browns
brewery Farm" and Miss Lena 0sterbaie,
the seventeen-year-old daughter of b.
Osterbaie the boss carpenter" of the vii
lage. Mr. 0sterbaie, who is we'll to do, has
been in the country about two years, and
last fall sent to Germany for Lena, whom
he left there to be educated. Her beauty
and Accomplishments created qaite stir
in the village and she had any number of
admirers. Fisher visited the Osterbaie
house every evening to talk over business
matters with the girls father, but it was
noticed by the neiEhbors that Fisher paid
considerable attention to Miss Lena. They
became fast friends and the friendship soon
ripened into love. Her father forbade her
keeping company with Fisher and Lena
promised to obey.
She afterwards accompanied Fisher to
church festival and renamed out so late
she was ssraid to go home.
The Ceremony.
Fisher pulled a small Bible from his
pocket ard told the girl they. would marry
themselves withoat minister The young
girl at first protested, but finally consented,
and the pair kneh under a large elm tree
and the groom performed the ceremony.
She then started for home, and he cautioned
her against telling any one hOwsor by whom
they were married When they arrived at
Mr. Osterbaic's the old gentleman demand
ed where they had been. Lena began to
weep. but Fisher told him he had married
the girl
After the first surprise the old father con-
cluded to make the best of it, and the three
embraced. Later in the night Mr.: Oster-
bale expressed a'desire to see the marriage
certificate Fisher, knowing that Gsterbale
could not understand English and not hay
ing the requisite document, soleHiy pro-
ceedtd TO unfold time table" Of the Long
Island railroad and exhibiting it to the un-
sophisticated German, said: Here it is.
The old gentleman looked at the paper and
was satisfied. They spent the honeymoon
with Mr. 0sterbaie, and everything went
along all right for a few weeks, when it
leaked out that they had been married BY a
Clergyman, and the affair became the gos
sip of the village. Fisher became alarmed
lest his perfdy would be discovered, and in
formed Mr.. 0sterbee that he and Lena
were going to Germany for month Lena
was delighted, and they started for this city.
For Germany.
Tbrse months ago Fisher put her on
board Of steamer bound for Bremen He
accompanied her On. board the steamer. and
Just asit was aboEt 10 leave the deck, he
gave her some excuse 10 90 on deck, and
Jumping ashore let the unfortunate girl TO
continue her trip alone. He returned to
NorthpOEt the 4snday following and ex-
planned TO Mr.. OsteIbaie that wkes he ar
rived in this city he discovered that cabin
passage for both of them Was too.expensive,
and he could not permit Lena 70 travel in
the steersge, sC.he allowed her to go in the
cabin alone About Eve weeks after Lena
leh NorthpoE. her father received letter
fren her stating that she Was in Bremen
and needed money to return Mr.. 0stef~
bsie showed the letter 10 Fisher, and the lat,
ter advised him 10 send on the money 10
bring her home, Mr.. 0stsrbsie did 50 and
Lena araived in EOrthport Wednesday even
ing. The next day Fisher left the Sillage.
Lena told her father the whole story and be
obtained warrant for the arrest Of Fisher.