The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-10
A STRANGE MARRIAGE.

mountains, were ABOUT 10 Scpefae Tor
the night. Several plans were suggested,
but none of them met with unanimous
approval.
Mr. Carlson, what do you think
would be pleasant?" asked one of the
young ladies.
Il, Miss Mary2" answered the young
man, who had been leaning indifferently
against tree. Il am going to the vii
lage tomorrow, and probably will not re
turn until the following day
Mr. Carlson must have found some
modern Maud Muller, who offers attrac
tons much superior to ours, else he
would not make such frequent Journeys
TO the large metropolis of Meadville. "
This remark was made in a very sarcas-
tic tone by young lady who was stirring
the dying embers of the camp fire,
The blood mounted high into Carlsons
face, and reaching out his hand to brush
off a spark which had fallen on the young
LADY, dress, he said in low tone: Miss
Thurston, what matters it to you if go
or stav?'
But, before she could answer, Carlsons
sister cried petulantly: "Oh! let him 60.
Arthur will never break an appointment,
unless, perhaps, for wedding or funer~
al"
Here here" cried all the gentlemen,
"who will volunteer to have a wedding
on Carlson's account
81 Will help you on that, Cousin JOHN,
cried Miss Thurston Il have been med
itating marriage for some time, and this
is the first opportunity | have cared to
embrace
But. Matgic, replied her Cousin John,
as if perplexed, you see, not anticipat-
ing this event and never having been en-
couraged by You to consider myself
candidate for such honor l have spoken
to another girl on the subject.
Every one joined in the laugh at Miss
ThurSton's expense but Arthur Carlson.
Miss Thurston,' he said, you have
been Tilted; allow me to offer you repara.
| ton. If it is only the opportunity You
care to embrace, a change of groom can
make but little difference | will return
tomorrow evening with all necessary
preliminares in time for cur wedding 3"
You are certainly very kind, MIR. Carl
son, replied Miss Thurston, laughingly
People who are SO generous seldom eX~
pect their generosity to ne accepted but
I shall surprise you by agreeing to your
proposition"
| Il was in earnest when | made the
proposition, Miss Thurston.'
And was in earnest when accepted
it, MI Carlson.
These two were ever at swords points
They had quarreIled together since baby
hood, and although, up to this time, each
had guarded the secret jealousy from the
other, yet it was evident to most of their
friends that the two were dearer to each
other IN their quarrcls than many other
people in their friendships.
When the party brcakfastcd the next
morning Mr.. Carlson was already on his
was to the village 1t was agreed that
part Of the day should be spent in pre-
pairing place for the mock ceremony.
Miss Thurston was the gayest of The gay.
In the late afternoon her friends came
to dress her for the wedding They drap>
ed her in the same fluffy, white dress
which filled ont the giriish white form 10
the best. coiled the luXuriaut hair around
her head, and placed IL bunch of simple
mountain flowers at her belt. Never he>
| fore had she locked so beautiful or so
defiant. A connection outside the tent
announced CarlSon's return, and Miss
ThurstOn, surrounded by laughing
| friends went out to meet them.
At this moment Mr.. Carlson came up.
| He, too, was pale, but his eyes burned
with an intense fire.
Miss Thurston," he said, Il was in
terrible earnest when | said what / did
last evening. In proof of which have
procured a license and minister. VIII You
be my wife, for funT'
The very demon of rccklessacss took
possession of Miss ThurStOG. If Carlson
had asked her, before them all to marry
him for love, she would have turned
away-but for fun; yes, she would dare
as much as he, and she cried in Il laugh
ing tone: YES, Mr.. Carlson, VIII mar
ry you for fun"
At this moment the minister, whom
Mr.. Carlson had secured, stepped ont ot
his tent, and the young people took the
places which had been prepared for them
when mock ceremony had been in view.
BY the time the ceremony was finished
the audience had concluded that the Attain
had been planned before and in secret,
and that they were the dupes Of tie joke.
Accordingly, never was company gayer
than theirs that night, and the merrymak-
ing was continued into the morning
| hours.
Two weeks passed after their return,
I'm which Arthur saw but little Of his
wife. Judge ThurstonS summer resi-
| dnnon VIC . nl1mhnr of rnilns from lLa