Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-11-28
AN AMUSING EXPERIENCE.
Bogus Marriage Performed by Q
Young Theological Student.


Young Theological Student.
'sfhis thing OF ministers telling
funny stories is not as safe as it might
be-" said clergyman who regularly
dispenses the truth indebted in one OF
the most imposing Of South Side
sanctuarics. "On one Of my last
vacations while student | vent to a
little town in western Massachusetts
to spend month with classmate. 1t
was so far from the college and the
discipline had been so stern that a
season OF relaxation was particularly
welcome. In face and figure his son
resembles him strikingly, One night,
when We came home from fishing,
Sylvester's grown sister gave him o
note which had been received during
the day, and which, to her experienced
eye, portended mischief. Together we
three held q council OF war. The note
was signed Ariel Smith, and
requested the pastor to be at
home at 8 o'clock that evening and
message and II lady whose name no
gave. Sylvester was sure the note was
from y mischievous cousin. That he
would keep the appointment we were
sure, so my friends proposed a plan
by which their scheme for Joke on
the pastor should end in their own con-
fusion. The parlor. irreverently de-
nominated marrying ground was
very dimly lighted. and the minister
himself was sent to his study at the
top Of the house. Ats o'clock carri-
age drove up to the door and a we'll
dressed young man with heavy black
beard alighted and assisted lady to
the ground. Something in the walk OF
the lady convinced all three OF us,
who were watching from convsnient
window, that it was some prankish
young man masquerading for the pur-
pose of playing joke. | opened the
door with great solemnity and silently
motioned the hesitating pair into the
parlor. In a moment Sylvester stepped
from an adjoining room. clad from
top to toe in his fathers well-known
Sunday habit. No marriage license
was required in the state at that time,
and SO the preliminaries were
of the briefeSt. The young
couple joined hands without say.
ting word. Sylvester opened
a well-worn copy OF DIR. Wayland's
Elements OF Political Economy and
asked in as husky voice as he could
summon the few questions required.
Both bride and groom answered them
in voices as plainly disguised, and as
the temporary pastor reached the end OF
his ritual, the words OF which he kne W
perfectly, both the high contracting
parties were con vulsed with laughter.
He pronounced the last sentence with
great impressiveness, and rs he declar-
ed them man and wife the groom sank
on a sofa, overcome by his mirth, and
pulled the rented false whiskers from
his face, revealing the youth we had
oii odopcStSA ibO poiSuo VI iuS GU phc
same time opened her fan and waltzed
down the length Of the room in great
glee, believing the honest old minister
would be simply horror-stricken at a
performance so unexpected. But a,
that instant | turned the lights up and
Sylvester completed their discontinue
by divesting himself of his robe and
walking into the middle OF the room in
the shooting jacket he had worn during
the day. For moment the checkmat
ed pair looked on in CONSERVATION
and then the pretended groom eiacu
lated; The jokers are joked, and bolt
ed from the house. Our shricks o
laughter brought Sylvester's father
and to him we confessed the shameful
incident and were sent upstairs with
out any supper, hungry as we we're, v
and the good man who had told the
story gave unbridled rein to the enjoy
ment of the memory of that night.