West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-06-05

"No," answered Mr. Leigh; but
! 4" beg your pardon, said the doe
tor. in,errupting him, "but | want 10
speak in his behalf. lie must be indus
trious. and no fool, and prospecting, or
/ he woXA not have jumped into this
new position. / confess [ don't think
| you have made out q clear case. OF
course you want 20 see your son happy;
but if she does not love your son. that
ends the matter. And if she does love
this other man, and he is honest and
upright, why should he not have her?"
" lie is not her equal said Mr..
Leigh. You know in Philadelphia"
! The parson rose up with stiiled ex-
clamation that, coming from a lay
mans lips, might have sounded pro-
fame.
"lt is warm i'm here" he said. "L
want little fresh air; am not used to
q furnace-heated house. Poor grill
The city has not yet claimed me for its
own, and miss the fireplace in my
old study. Poor fellowr'
! He threw up the window, and looked
ont on wild eNpanse of tiny high
! fenced back yards; but overhead was
the clear sea of sky, where the moon
rode at anchor amid the fleet of stars.
He stood there, drawing in the crisp
| December air. until tap sounded on
the door. Come in" he cried. and
one of his daughters entered-a tall
slim girl with her fathers blue eyes.
" Papa" she said, pressing close TO
him, and smiling mysteriously there
are some people i'm the parlor
" Drawing room, my dear" said the
doctor. Eve are i'm Philadelphia.
1--WE are not, but no matter" she
returned. II tell YOU there are some
people in the parlor, and think it is
our first town wedding. She lis very
| pretty, and she has on the loveliest lit
/ tie bonnet you ever saw. Go marry 'em
| quick, and let me be a witness, only
they have two witnesses with them
He passed his arm about her and
| kissed her, she did not know why; then
led her to his guest.
"Mollie, this is classmate of mine.
My daughter, Mr.. Leigh-Mr. Harvey
Leigh OF Philadelphia. You must ex-
cuse me for few minutes"
He went into the adjoining parlor.
Yes, it was wedd ny party, no doubt,
/ but the would-be bride and groom did
not look like the brides and grooms
That seek out parson in such fashion.
The man was gentleman, with a fine
face and dignitied bearing The girl
was pretty, but more than that, she had
an air of courage, of self-reliance: she
was not weak piece of pink and white
flesh. An older couple was with them.
somewhat frightened middle-aoed
man and very nervous middle-aged
woman, evidently his wife, for she clung
TO his arm helplessly
II am William Dunbar" said the
young man. The parson shook hands
with him. "And this, he added, turn
ing to the young lady, lis Miss Kate
Perry. We are both of age-in fact |
am thirty-three-and | hope you will be
! good enough to marry us"
Mr.. Dunbar was very much i'm earn
esi, but he smiled little. "Our mar
riage is sudden" she added, because
| must sail for Europe tomorrow and
l want to take my wife with me"
The parson looked at him, then at the
girl. Her eyes met his steadily, though
faint flush stole into her checks.
Where is your homep" he asked.
81 have none,H she answered ~
have ne ther father nor mother have
been living in Philadelphia with nv
guardian The words were spoken
softly, but her eyes flashed. IL am
free to do as l please" she went on.
My guardian has no right to dictate
any longer
Hunt said DR.. Melton, passing his
hand over his beard. And YOU are
from Philadelphia too?" he added, turn
ing TO Mr.. Dunbar
- am was the curt response.
Your name sounds familiar said
the parson. Gould have seen it the
other day in list of passengers for
EuropePn
He scanned the faces before him. The
mans jaws clicked; the girls flush
deepened into crimson.
We are free 10 marry said Mr..
Dunbar There is no reason why we
should not be man and wife. II YOU
won { perform the ceremony, shall find
some one who is willing. We have with
us my uncle and aunt; there is no use
IN wasting words Will YOU marry us?''
Yes said the parson. Then he
asked a few formal questions, and mar
RED them according to the ritual of the
I Dutch Church. He begged them TO be
seated for a minute, while he filed out
the certificate. This made it necessary
for him TO return to the study
A runaway country coupler" said
Mr.. Leigh.
% can swear to the country part. -
/ the parsOn answered, as he drew GER
tiiicate ont OF his desk
" ] wonder YOU are willing TO perform
the ceremony Mr. Leigh remarked.
should think IL was q great risk "a
marry runaway couples
The risk is greater without il. 81
said the parson. IF / don't tie the
knot, somebody will, and it is 0ener-
/ ally satisfaction to one to know that
/ the knot is tied I'm this case. how
I ever, ] ann quite sure / am do ne right.
Do you believe in physiognomy?'
90 To certain extent yes
" Well, so do !, and / am confident
/ that i have just married a sweet Girl To
| q man who is worthy OF her"
/ lie went back TO the parlor with tho
I certificate. taking pen and ink, 81, tnat
I the witnesses might gn their names.
+ Mr. Dunbar shook him bv the hand
leaving note iu his palm The bride
/ smiled shyly upon him. and the elderly
woman bowed. but the elderly man.
VINO so far had not spoken 70 word
said, suddenly ~ viii tell YOU. sir.
/ that you viii never regret having
I helped this marriage
/ don't believe ! could have hnlped
l it said the parsOn with a drOI glance
/ at the ncw-madc husband 81 might
have been the means of dcferrinV H.
/ bat Mr. Dunbar intends 10 take bis VIII,