The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-12-26

brown uhlf hEOUlu uSI uCt~is 3hN PbNSSN
q bunch of simple mountain flowers at
her belt. Never before had she looked
so beautiful nor so defiant. A COM
motion outside the tent announced
Carlson's return, and Miss Thurston,
surrounded by laughing friends, went
out to meet them.
"Margie," said her cousin John, strld-
ng up to her angrily, this farce has
gone far enough. Carlson is certainly
demented. He has brought a full
! fedged parson with him without even
mentioning that this is all Jest. You
must put a stop to it at once, for 1t is a
downright shame to trife with such
serious things TO this extent"
At these words Miss Thurston grew
very pale, but her friends laughed and
said: "Of course he is not a real minis
ter, John Shepherd. This is only part
of the joke"
yes, he is a real minister, " was the
reply, "for l heard him preach in the
village only last Sunday"
At this moment Mr.. Carlson came up.
He, too, was pale, but his eyes burned
with an intense fire.
Miss Thurston," he said, II was in
terrible earnest when [ said what l did
last evening. In proof of which l have
procured license and minister, Will
you be my wife,"
Those who had been most forward in
urging on the joke were now most ear
nest in dissuading their friends against
such a highly improper proceeding, but
Carlson's intense eyes were upon Mar
garet's face. and his voice said: You
and / have lived for fun all our lives;
let us now be married for fun"
The very demon of recklessness took
possession of Miss Thurston's spirit.
If Carlson had asked her there, before
them all, to marry him for love, she
would have turned away shocked and
grieved-but for fun; yes, she would
dare as much as he, and she immediate
~ stepped to Carlson's side, remarking,
in a laughing tone: Yes, Mr.. Carlson,
| will marry you for fun"
"Margie, this cannot go on. What
will your father say and feel?" and her
cousin stormed up and down before
the tents, appealing first to n 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 a mock ceremony had
been in 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 responses: From the bride,
low and defiant; from the groom, clear
and determined.
THAT We may so live together in this
life that In the world to come we may
live everlasting"
Margaret never forgot those words.
In coming days she repeated them over
and over to herself until she almost
prayed to heve them blottcd out from her
memory.
BY the time the ceremony was fin
ished the audience had concluded that
the affair had been planned before
hand in secret, and that they were the
dupes of the joke. Accordingly,
was company gayer than theirs that
night, and the merrymaking was con-
tinued INTO the morning hours.
The camp broke np IN 6 day Or two,
Mr.. and Mrs. Carlson parting from
their friends in apparently high spirits.
Arrived at their home, where the
news had preceded them. the culprits
were received with real forgiveness,
for, undoubtedly, the match was IL
splendid one. Judge Thurston's fam
lily had been known and honored
In the community for years; while Mr..
Carlson was the junior member of a
large and wealthy firm dealing In fine
imported goods.
Two weeks passed after their return
in which Arthur saw but little of his
wife. Judge Thurston's residence was
q number of miles from the city, and
the gentlemen could only run down for
over Sunday On these days the two
we're as uncomfortable as possible in
each others's presence and avoided be-
ing left alone together.
One quiet Sabbath evening Arthur
came ont of the judges library with a pale
face and set lips. Ascending the stairs
with faitering steps he sought his wife's
room and knocked at the door. "Come
IN said q low voice. Entering, he
saw Margaret sitting in a low chair,
with her light brown hair falling about
her shoulders in great profusion. he
had never seen her SO before, and some
great mental emotion prevented him
from noticing the look of glad surprise
which flashed into his wife's face as
she perceived who her visitor was.
Mr.. Carlson checked the im~petuous
words which rose to his lips, aud spoke
in a voice OF strained coldness. Mar
garet," he said, advancing to her side,
II desire a few moments conversation
if it will not Inconvenience you"
The light died out Of the bright face
at these seemingly cold words.
"You have occupied my time so little