Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-03-27

Yes, he is real minister" was the
reply, for | heard him preach in the vii
lage only last Sunday
At this moment Mr.. Carlson came up.
He, too, was pale, but his dark eyes
burned with an intense fire.
Miss Thurston," he said, II was in
terrible earnest when | said what l did
last evening. In proof of which | have
procured license and a minister. Will you
be my wife,"
Those who had been most forward in
urging on the joke were now most earnest
in dissuading their friends against such a
highly improper proceeding. but Mr.. Carl
sons intense eyes were upon Margaret S
face, and his voice said: ''You and l have
lived for fun all our lives; let US now pe
married for fun.
The very demon of wrecklessness took
possession of Miss Thurston's spirit. If
Carlson had asked her there before them
all to marry him for love, she would have
turned away, shocked and grieved-but for
fun; yes, she would dare as much as he,
and she Immediately stepped to Carlson s
side remarking in laughing tone:
Yes, Mr. Carlson, l will marry you for
fun
"Margie, this cannot go on. What
will your father say and feel?" and her
cousin stormed up and down before the
tents, appealing to one and then to the
other, but all to no avail.
At this moment the minister, whom Mr..
Carlson had secured, stepped out of his
tent, and the young people took the
place which had been prepared for them
when a mock ceremony had been in view
A silence fell over the little group as the
solemn words of the beautiful E Episcopal SER
vice fell upon their ears. Then rang out the
responses: From the bride, low and de-
faint; from the groom, clear and deter
mined.
That We may live together in this life
that in the world to come We may have life
everlasting" Margaret never forgot
these words. In coming days she repeat
ed them over to herself until she almost
prayed to have them blotted out from her
By the time the ceremony was finished
the audience had concluded that the affair
had been planned beforehand in secret,
and that they were the dupes of the joke.
Accordingly, never was company gayer
than theirs that night, and the merry
HIdhIHS was CouulHueel llleo Ullo HlolHlAS
hours.
The camp broke up in day or two, Mr..
and Mrs Carlson parting from their
friends in apparently high spirits. Ar
rived at their home, where the news had
preceded them, the culprits were received
with real forgiveness, for, undoubtedly,
the match was splendid one. Judge
Thurstons family had been known and
honored in the community for years;
while Mr. Carlson was the junior member
of large and wealthy firm dealing In fine
imported goods.
Two weeks passed after their return in
which Arthur saw but little of his wife.
Judge Thurston's summer residence was a
number of miles from the city, and the
gentleman could onl y run down over Sun
day. On these days the two were uncom-
Portable as possible In each others presence
and avoided being left alone together.
One quiet Sabbath evening Arthur came
out of the judges library with a pale face
and set lips. Ascending the stairs with
faultering steps, he sought his wife's room
and knocked at the door. Come in,
said a low voice. Entering he saw Mar
garet sitting in low chair. and her light
brown hair falling around her shoulders In
great profusion. He had never seen her
so before, and some great mental emotion
prevented his noticing the look of gre at
as she perceived who her visitor was. Mr.
Carlson checked the impetuous words
which rose to his lips, and spoke in voice
to her side, Il desire few
moments conversation, if it will not in
convenience you
The light died out of the bright face at
these seemingly cold words.
You have occupied my time so little of
late that | can give you few moments
without great inconvenience, she replied,
without rising You and | have made
great mistake, Margie." her husband
continued sadly, Il take my due share of
the blame; but even | would never have
dared do this if had not thought no
matter what thought. We were married
for fun, of course, and now we do not find
it so much fun as we anticipated. | have
been speaking with your father. He will
not hear to divorce, nor is there sufficient
grounds for one if we desired it. But he
agrees with me, that you and cannot live
in this mutual state of unhappiness.
would give anything if | could undo the
past, but that is impossible. 1t is neces-
sary that one member of our firm live
abroad. | consider the necessity very OPP
perfume, and shall have all my arrange
ments completed by next week to sail for
Europe This is not so hard for me, for |
am a man, but for you-God forgive me
for what"
You mistake Mr.. Carlson" interrupt
ed his wife Jelly, lit is the easiest and
most appropriate thing that could be
done
Arthur looked down at the figure be-
fore him The darkness and the wavy
masses of hair hid her face. else he sure
ly would have seen the white lips and
burning fearless eyes.
Il do not blame you, Margie, he said
gently, but sadly. Il onl Y wonder that
you can bear me here at all. | crave your
forgiveness. and | pray God that | may
not utterly blight your happy life.
Arthur waited a moment as if to hear
one word of farewell, but the figure before
him never moved or spoke. Then gazing
intently at his wife to imprint upon his
turned and left the room.
All night long Margaret sat In the little
low chair where Arthur had left her.
Only once she stopped to pick up a
crushed flower with which he had been
playing, and pressed it passionately to
her lips.
Two years now passed away, and the
following winter found Judge Thurston and
his daughter under the gentle skies of Flor.
ence. The Judge was suffering In health
which some said was due to Margaret s
unlucky marriage. However that was, the
two were very dear to each other and were
rarely seen apart.