Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-22


taking her glovsd hand. s'This Is my
wife, my lawful wife, by Scottish law"
Now whether such is the Scottish Law
know not At su, but in Northumberland
it was always believed that, across th'
Border, such n form of wor3s, before wit
nesses, constituted the whole Of marriag,
required by law, although, by way Of ad
dtcg some grSce of ceremony, the PAL
sometimes jumped over a hroomshck, o.
wrote their names in . book, or gave
blacksmith a guinea.
my lawful wife" Mathew repeated.
The bride, who had been standing will
bent shoulders and bowed head, straight
ened herself and stood upright. Then TIL
witnesses observed q very curious and re
narkabla thing. The face of the bride
groom, which should surely on such al
occasion show a lively sense Of happiness
expressed first establishment, then uneasi
ness, and finally terror.
The cause Of these successive emotions
wss simple. When Mathew bad repeated
his form Of words he would have dropped
his brides hand, but she now held his
first with q gentle pressure, next with de
termination, and finally with q viselik,
tenacity which amazed and filled him will
strange fears.
Presently, still holding his hand, sh'
spoke:
IT acknowledge Mathew Humble as my
true and lawful husband"
Toe voice was hoarse and rough
Mathew with his left hand tore off the
hood. Before him stood, her mouth open
ing gradually to make room for the hOars'
laugh which followed, no other than Sailor
Nan herself, in her short pstticoats snc
Der cloth jacket, with a wooden wrapper
tied about her her head.
my husbandr' she repeated; "my low
ing husbsndl Would We believe it"-sht
addressed the company generally-"he's
5 fond o. me that he couldn't wait to have
the bans put up, but must needs carry mt
off? Saw ye ever such q Draw loyer?"
They were all astonished; and when she
laughed, still holding the astonished bride
groom By the baud, some o fthem tremoled,
because they knew not whether che wa
mau or woman, her voice was so rough,
her hair was 30 short, her jacket was sc
sailor like.
"a, hinueysr" she laughed agair
hoarsely, because the air had touched hel
throat. "Ths bonny, bonny bride and the
happy groom! Kiss Your wife, my hus'
band dear"
She threw herself upon his neck, and
began to kiss his lips.
You? You? He tore away his hand
from her grasp, tried to push her from hin
with violence, but she chung fast to him,
and rstreated. step by step, to the corner Of
the room. "You?"
Yes it's ME. dearie-it's me. Did "
ever hear the like? To fall in love with al
| old M of 20, like me, and to run
away with her! I never looked to get an
other husband. There's a spirit for you,
There's q bold spirit. Mathew dear, when
shall we go back? Oh, the wedding feast
that We will have! Well! We women love
a lad of mettle. Is there q boy in Wark,
worth, except my man here, who would
carry his wife all the way across the moors
when he might have had me asked IL
church,"
Dan, one of those who are naturally
slow TO understand things unless they fall
out axactly 81 is expected, had by this
timesueceeded in comprehendingt the whole
He had, he now perceived, carried of the
wrong woman, which fully accounted iO'
the vigor ofthe kicks, the amazing strength
of the clout and the capacity for strong
drink.
"Nanp' he cried. Its our Nanw
at is, ye lubbsr," she replied, land nc
one else"
He then began to laugh too. He laughed
80 loud and 50 long, being a man who
seldom sees a joke, and then cannot make
enough of it, that the landlord, the land
lady and the servant girl caught the in
lection, and they all laughed too. Mathew
ragged and swore. This made Dan laugh
he louder and the longer. Mathew ceased
to swear; be threw himself into a chair,
with his hands in his pockets, and eat,
cheeks red and eyes flashing, until the
storm of mirth subsidized. Then his dainty
and delicate bride banged her great fist
upon the table.
"No sheering off now" she cried.
You're my man, and a merry aud q hap,
py life you shall lead. Mates and jolly
sailors sill, this is my third husband. The
first, he was hanged; the second, he hanged
himself; better luck to the third. What 8
wife he's got! what a wife! Now then,
rum for this honorable company, and $
fiddle for the wedding; and more rum and
tobacco, and more rum. Stir about, ]
say" She produced u bo's'n's whistle,
and blew 3 long shrill call. "Stir about,
or I'l rope's end the whole crew. Rum,
I say; more rum for this honorable com
pany!"