The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-01-17
A STRANGE MARRIAGE.

Hampshire mountains, were about
to separate for the night. "Mr. Carl
son is going to the village tomorrow
and probably will not return until
the following day. He must have
found some modern Maud Muller
who offers attractions much superior
to ours" This remark was made in
Il very sarcastic tone by a young
lady who was stirring the dying EN-
bers Of the camp fire.
Carlson's sister cried petulantly,
"Oh let him go. Arthur will never
break an appointment, unless, per-
haps, for a wedding or funeral"
Here! here !" cried all the gem
tlemen "who will volunteer to have
a wedding on Carlson's account?"
II will help you out in that,
Cousin John" cried Miss Thurston.
81 have been meditating marrying
for some time, and this is the first
opportunity | have cared to em-
brace"
''But Maggie" cried her Cousin
John, as fgreatly perplexed, 81 have
spoken to another girl on the SUBJ
ject."
Every one joined in the laugh but
Arthur Carlson. "Miss Thurston,"
he said, 81 will return tomorrow
evening with all the necessary pre-
liminaries in time for our wedding"
"You are certainly very kind, Mr..
Carlson" replied Miss Thurston,
haughtily. "I shall surprise you by
agreeing to your proposition"
These two were at swords points.
They had quarreled together since
babyhood, and altogether 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 quarrels than many other peo-
pie in their friendships.
When the party breakfasted the
next morning Mr.. Carlson was al
ready on his way to the village. In
the late afternoon commotion out
side the tent announced Carlson's
return, and Miss Thurston, surround
ed by laughing friends, went out to
meet them. Mr.. Carlson was pale,
but his eyes burned with an intense
fire.
Miss Thurston," he said, II was
in terrible earnest when | said what
| did last evening, in proof of which
| have procured license and minis
ter. viii you be my wife, for fun ?"
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 laughing
tone
"Yes, Mr.. Carlson, l will marry
you for fun"
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
mock ceremoney had been in view. |
x X X X X
Two weeks passed after their re-
turn, in which Arthur saw but little
of his wife, Judge Thurston's sum |
mer residence was number of
miles from the city, and the gentle
man could only run down for over
Sunday.
But on one Sabbath evening
Arthur came out of the Judges |
library with u pale face and set lips.
Ascending the stairs with faltering
steps, he sought his wife's room and
knocked at the door. Entering, he
saw Margaret sitting in low chair,
with her light brown hair falling
around her head in great profusion.
lie had never seen her so before.
and some great mental emotion pre-
vented him from noticing the look
OF glad surprise which flashed into
his wife's face us she preceived who
her visitor was. Mr.. Carlson check
eel the impetuous words which rose
to his lips. Margaret" he said
advancing to her side, "you and |
made great mistake. We were I
for fun, of course, and now :
we do not find it so much fun as we !
anticipated. I shall have all NV /
arrangements completed by next
week to sail for Europe" t
Arthur waited a moment, as if to
near some word of farewell, but the !
igure before him never moved or h
spoke. Then he turned and left the 5
'oom. r
All night long Margaret sat in the a
title, low chair, Only once she fl
topped to pick up a crushed flower Il
With which he had been playing and Il
PRESSED 1t passionately to her Inns !,