Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-09-12
QUEER WEDDING RING.

.SCOE1C over 10 tnO CuuECn III nolI M
hour, Myra. A couple arc to be- mar
ried thcn. It may amuse you to SEQ ono
of our provincial ceremonies"
Fly grandfather wns rural dean near
Pctit Zodiac, or as they called it in tho
vcrnacular, potticoatand-jacket, writes
7Irs. NJ. T.. Rayno, in tho Detroit ircc
. Press, and it would bo hard to imagine
simpler life. or ono moro remote from
tho fashion which passcth away. Tho
little stono church was old and pictur-
esuuc, and the people who worshipcd
thoro were as quaint and original rs II
,tbcv had stopped out of another century.
When reached tho church the wcds
ding per ~ had alroady arrived. 1t con-
sisted OF tho party themselves. as much
alone IA were Adam and Evo at their
bridal il Eden. They had arrived on
horse back. and tho unhitchod animals
each saddlcd over flowing white
shoot, which mado .thcm look like
Sauinc ghosts in tho twiliJht-wcro
browsing about among tho Eravo stones.
disturbing nothing but tho long tangled
gr;:ss and tho swcctbriar roses that grow
wild there. hurried past them into
tho vcstry, where tho dean was strug-
Cling into his white gown.
'sYou can bo my cLrato for this ooca-
sion,' no said. aa I peopad in ut tho
door. t.You will BIO needed for wit
ness and bridesmaid, to assist with tho
ring"
I Walked up tho aisle OF tho littlo
chapel and sat down in ono of tho high
backed pcws and tried to SEQ what man.
ner OF folk they 1woro who had such
queer bridal customs.
Not young. And both were hard, OF
tho humblest rustic typo. Tho woman,
brown as Gypsy, worc lowerod mus
lin drcas thai was COARSE and badly
made. A string OF beads and q white
cotton vail werJ her ornaments. Both
woro whito cotton gloves, and lbs their
handswero immense tho cffcct was al
most grotcsquc. Their faces expressed
bashfn!ncss and q certain rudo disdain
OF what other people might think. They
clntched hands US If they woro deter
minea$ that no power on earth should
separate them ut this crisis.
After they had bccn instructed whcro
60 stand, they took thcir plhccs, tho
BRIDE cying mo with some disfavor as
apostolic intruder.
"Who givcth this woman to DO mar
AT this moment stepped forward to
mako that part Of tho ceremony COM
piste:;
81 don't know shc," said tho bride,
edging away, but tho doan paid no at
tenti6n'to hcr and repeated tho sacred
formula for Thorn to follow with him.
l,I Will now talco tho ring" said my
grandfather in low voice.
"Reeng?" ouhocd the groom. II know
nobbuS rccng. A..., any IIKo q reeng,
Mathildc?' .... .....
Tho raftors rung with his "Whoal
Dobbin," tone. "r~'
81 mover thocht o. tho like. Happen
woll nc'er mind sech !ectlo thing o.
that" said the bride, with q look OF
genuine terror in her eyes, as il she
e might lose hor gallant ut tho very
altar.
"Take of your ring, Myra, we can use
that for tho ceremony" said tho dean,
who carried out the Church of England
ritual to tho letter.
Alas, hold up my glovoless hands as
destitute Of rings as those of tho bride
hcrself.
What was to be done? Tho dean would
not havo considered those good people
properly married If tho ceremony of the
ring wore omitted. Ho glanced dowr
OF his own white hands, holding the
sncred book, then no turned hurriedly
to me: t
eco and bring mo tho key Of tho
church" he said.
''What in tho world Is no going to d,
with it?" I queried to MYSELF, as
oboyed. -
As soon as they wero married TO
stored tho key to tho door and tho groom
handcl rude parcel to my grandfather
,."lt5 tho pay Z woddin'," he said
brislsly.
Tho dean thanked him courteousl,
without having on idea as to what thu
parcei might contain; ill.s .rt,
E" Thorc was horse block at tho door