The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-09-04
QUEER WEDDING RING.
An Humble Couple Married by the
Key Of q Church.
A Rural Dean who carrled Out the Church
of England Ritual Under Dif,icultics
The Departure OF Bride and
Groom and the Parsons Fee.

Come over to the church in half an
hour, Myra. A couple are to be mar
ried then. 1t may amuse you to see one
Of our provincial ceremonies"
My grandfather was rural dean near
Petit Zodiac, or as they called it in the
vernacular, petticoat-and-jacket, writes
Mrs. Nj. L. Rayne, in the Detroit Free
Press, and it would be hard to imagine
a simpler life, or one more remote from
the fashion which passeth away. The
little stone church was old and pictur-
esque, and the people who worshiped
there were as quaint and original as II
they had stepped out of another century.
When l reached the church the we'd
ding party had already arrived. 1t con-
sisted of the party themselves, as much
alone as we're Adam and Eve at their
bridal in Eden. They had arrived on
horseback, and the unhitched animals
each saddled over flowing white
sheet, which made them look like
equine ghosts in the twilight-were
browsing about among the grave stones,
disturbing nothing but the long tangled
grass and the sweetbriar roses that grow
wild thoro. l hurried past them into
the vestry, where the dean was strug-
Cling into his white gown.
"You can be my curate for this occa-
sion,' he said, as l peeped in at the
door. "You will be needed for wit
ness and bridesmaid, to assist with the
ring"
1 walked up the aisle Of the little
chapel and sat down in one of the high
backed pews and tried to see what man
ner Of folk they were who had such
queer bridal customs.
Not young And both were hard, Of
the humblest rustic type. The woman,
brown as Gypsy, wore aowered mus
lin dress that was coarse and badly
made. A string Of beads and white
cotton vail were her ornaments. Both
wore white cotton gloves, and as their
hands were immense the effect was al
most grotesque. Their faces expressed
bashfulness and certain rude disdain
Of what other people might think. They
clutched hands as If th " were deter
mined that no power on earth should
separate them at this crisis.
After they had been instructed where
to stand, they took their places, the
bride eying me with some disfavor as
possible intruder.
"Who giveth this woman to be mar
ried to this mani"
At this moment stepped forward to
make that part of the ceremony COM
plete.
81 don't know she," said the bride.
edging away, but the dean paid no at
tention to her and repeated the sacred
formula for them to follow with him.
81 will now take the ring" said my
grandfather in a low voice.
"Reeng?" echoed the groom, ~ know
nobbut reeng. Hast any like reeng.
Mathilde?"
The rafters rung with his "Whoai
Dobbin," tone.
II never thocht O. the like. Happen
We'll ne'er mind seoh leetle thing q
that" said the bride, with look Of
genuine terror in her eyes, as II she
might lose her gallant at the very
altar.
"Take off your ring, Myra, we can use
that for the ceremony" said the dean,
who carried out the Church of England
ritual to the letter.
Alas, held up my gloveless hands a.
destitute of rings as those of the bride
herself.
What was to be done? The dean would,
not have considered those good people
properly married If the ceremony Of the
ring were omitted. He glanced down
at his own white hands, holding the
ha t,,v- L,,, {nAN
TO me:
"Go and bring me the key of the,
church, he said.
"What in the world is he going to do,
with it?" queried to myself, as I
obeyed.
Taking the large, brass key in his
hand, he gave it to the man, designating
the loop at the end OF the handle. He
then instructed him to slip the ring
over the BRIDES finger. Inearly laughed
aloud as l saw the expression Of sur
prise on the poor things face, as the
key dangled on her finger, while the
bridegroom lumberingly repeated after
the dean: with this ring, I thee wed, ~
etc.
AS soon as they were married ! re-
stored the key TO the door and the groom
banded a rude parcel to my grandfather.
'It's the pay t. weddin'," he said.
briskly.
The dean thanked him courteously
without having an idea as to what the
parcel might contain.
There was horse block at the door,
on which the bride mounted with her
dress tucked up about her. Only one
horse with its Tapping bridal accoutre-
ments was in sight.
"Richardl" screamed the new wife,
where's my beast?"
Richard had taken of his white
gloves and was cantering round among
the gravestones looking for the "beast.
1t was soon found, and after we had
shaken hands with the two and wished
them joy. the queer pair rode of in fine
style. ra
When my grandfather opened the
parcel he found the soft silky skins OF
0 dozen musk-rats-a prtncely fee from