The Penn's Grove record., 1886-08-07
On this festive occasion,
With roses and rice,
We offer oblation
To the bride of his choice.

D IA ~
We offer oblation
To the bride of his choice.
pronounced ''chicen from exigency On
ryhme.) The oldest inhabitant in II
clean smock frock, dispensed blessings
and imbibed beer with praiseworthy
prodigality. Everything that human
ingenuity could devise or contrive was
done to render the ''happy day. memo
rable for its discomfort to the contract
ing parties. In spite of this, the bride
looked as charming as sweet IL can look
when it tries its best, and considering.
that she, SO to speak, stepped out OF the
school-room into the church, carried her.
self with commendable self-possession.
As for the bridegroom, he went through
the ordeal like a soldier and a man, and
looked, according to the doctors daugh-
ter, '~'heayenly." Not the least salts
fed member of the wedding party was
the BRIDES brother joey. 1.-The girls
must look slippy after husbands in these
hard times" had been that young mans
remark a year before. Spurred on by
parental murmurings at empty farms
and no rents, joey had suggested a re-
duction in she home establishment M
stead of his substantial but inadequate
allowance. The establishment did not
quite see it, but joey was firm. The
girls must marry. and one of them, rs all
could not, must marry Godfrey tItz-
Johnson. He was in every way eligible;
<oung, good looking, well off, in a snug
,erth at the War Office and heir to
everal rich and sedate relations, unlike
" to commit the indiscretinos, matri-
nonial and otherwise, of modern old
lge. So captain Fitz Johnson was taken
Town to Mumblethorpe, passed over live
alarming aspirants to his hand and
heart. and threw the handkerchief to.
lhe shock-headed young person who sent
pot Of musk within an inch Of his de-
Ioted head, craning out of the school
Dom window, on the evening OF his
arrival, to catch a glimpse of 'Joey's
,hum.o 1t was rather a blow to Joey,
ais ''chum'' walking off with his favor
tie sister, but he bore it philosophically.
He had always intended to exercise u
particular care over Florrie'S interests
when she came out, and he was no pre-
pared 70. the young lady going off so
| orematurely. However the Fitz john
sons would live in London, and as joey
vas at the Foreign office and in rooms III
Bury street, he could still keep an eye
IN his sister and see that she held her
own in the S'Smart set'' of which her
husband was SO popular a member.
| Joey was ten years older than Florrie,
and had the majestic carriage and law
giving p~roclivities of a man about town.
lie was what is known as "a great instl-
tuition" which means that he was in
valuable in a snow-bound country house.
He could tell first rate and first-hand
| ghost stories, and could pass the severest
Examination in Debrett. lie was a pill
lar of strength in private theatricals,
and could initiate the divine Sarah to
the life. He knew all the latest gossip,
and could tell it without seeming ill-na-
tured. In short, joey was that q arlS,
A social success.
A happier couple than the FitZ john
sons when they first came to Curzon
Lstreet could not be imagined. 1t was
only when Captain Fitz Johnson settled
down in his new house and his old set
that lie made the gratifying discovery
that he had won his wife's heart as well
as her hand. During his courtship and
tiOltl IllDOii NllC ulSIOHlNAOI Va NlQt ia
~portant factor in matrimonial happiness
had been doubtful. FlOrrie leased.
Ichaffed and commanded her husband in.
Ia way that to such a ~conqueriag hero
was both novel and provoking. Captain
FitZ-Johnson had, however, learned
strategy elsewhere than at Woolyieh.
This morning after the arrival IN Lon
don the willy young man left his wife in
the boudoir-the latest thing. in boil
doirs, executed under Joey's supervision
wondering dismally how he should kill
the time until 8 o'clock in the evening,
when she was told she might look for
ward to seeing her lord and master
again, 1t was something more than to
fetch q forgotten cigarette case that
made Captain Fitz johnson retrace his
steps on arrivingat tlle foot of the stairs.
His instinct had not deceived him. The
fortress had capitulated.
II i3ye you so, Godfrey" sobbed the
poor little wife with her head on her
husbands shoulder, and Godfrey, as he
strolled down the street, haying prom
ised to be back by luncheon time, i,as2-
med 'Aule. Britannia" in triumphant
soto uoee. TIE victory won, the victor,
as he had a perfect tight TO do, rested
upon his ianrels; but lie need EGt have
given up 50 suddenly the re%yerent;2l
worship of the lover aud assumed SO in
stantly the condesendiGg tolerance of
the husband. 1t was upkipd 6f him
when he came home just in time 20
dress for dinner. after having been at
the club all the afternoon, 10 plunge into
that horrid French novel with q salts
fed grInt, and barely youchsafe his wife
a word. It was downright rude OF him
when she leaned over his chair and
his hair to snatl out sayagely,
'For heavens sake, Florrie, don't paw
me about like that. / don't like IT."