The Press., 1891-02-19


 For The Prese.)
 MARRIED BY A JUSTICE.
 II can arrange matters, Loren, so that you can be married by a justice, and every thing be agreeable to Lydia, said Mrs. Newbury, addressing her son.
 Capt. Newbury was about to be married. He was the youngest of large family, and the last to marry, the others being married and settled years before. The ap preaching marriage was happy event to his mother for several reasons. One reason was that he had promised to give up his sea- -faring life, and to settle down on the old farm then he was going to bring home 8 healthy, industrious young woman. who would take the burden of work and care from her failing head and shoulders for Mrs. Newbury was beginning to break down, and the young lady had cheerful, kindly disposition she was the kind of young person to make things pleasant for old people, and for these reasons Mrs. Newell felt an uncommon interest in the marriage of her ''baby," as she called him.
 Now the s'baby" was independent in his opinions, and very set in them. One of his opinions was that clefgymen were not the proper persons to perform the marriage ceremony. He had always sald he should be married by ajustice of the peace never by clergyman, especially in his own town. but Lyala Crandall, bis intended bride, thought differently; she wished to be married by a minister, and her choice was Rev. Mr. Morrison, who preached in the town of Peiton, where she and her intend ed husband both lived, and she had vainly endeavored to have her future lord consent to this arrangement Now Capt. Newbury should have considered that the bride has her choice in this matter, but people oi his stamp care little for the established usages of society. The matter was not de. cided when he had consultation with his mother.
 "Now listen, Loren, said she, "I have a plan in my head which will remove all difficulties. think Lydia will be more willing to be married by justice if she was away from Pelton. She wants MT. Morrison, and if she cannot have him don't think she cares much who marries her. My plan is for you to go up to your Cousin Phebe's, in Eiford, and be married there. You eau have justice there, and no one in Pelton need know anything about it.
 "But, mother, onght we to go up there in that way without an invitation9 Will it not tax her hospitality too much? You want to go, Maria, her husband and child i; there are too many of us to go there unex- pected."
 Don't worry about that, Loren l will take all the responsibility. Phebe Mills doors are always open to friends whether she expects them or not
 "Well, mother, will see Lydia to night, and if she consents to this plan we will go. ''
 It is evident that Lydia consented to the arrangement from the circumstances which followed, for the next Saturday afternoon there was surprise party in the village oi Elford.
 K It was towards night, and Mrs. Phebe Mills (the renamed cousinl was put. ting her supper on fhss table, when Aunt Huldah came into the kitchen almost breathless with excitement. s.Oh, Phebe, ? said she, -"the Lord have mercy on us :: we are going to have house full of company over Sunday. There are two loads of them just landed, with a great big basket, and don't know how much more baggage. You see to them, and will see to the baby. 2 So saying she hastily took up the little fellow and hurried away, where she could view these new corners, without observa ton.
 Aunt Huldah was not social in her dis. position, and she was very deaf, so that company to her meant extra work for Phe be and herself, and it was not strange that she felt vexed to have people come upon them in such an irregular manner
 Phebe Mills quietly placed a dish oi baked beans upon the table, and went out to meet her guests. A glance showed hel there were six of them, and who some oi them were. There was Aunt Lizzie New. bury in her cinnamon -colored silk Ca dress which one of her sons had brought hel from across the ocean, and which was only worn on special occasions). Phebe no. ticed 'tCapt. Loren'' in the company, his sister Maria, her husband and child, five of them. But who was the sixth? She was tall young lady, dressed in pink mus lin, who was introduced as Miss Lydis Crandall, one of our neighbors." When the guests were seated comforta bly, in the parlor Mrs. Mills went into the kitchen to finish her preparations for sup per. Aunt Huldah was there, commenc ing to clear up the table.
 "Wont you get me fine table-cloth Phebe, and will set the table over."
 "No, Aunt Huldah; it will make un necessary work. !"
 "But," said she, "you have an every day table-cloth on."
 "I know it, said Phebe, 'but it ii clean. Just put on what more dishes ar, needed, and we will have the fine table cloth tomorrow. If I had rode twent, miles this afternoon should be hungry enough to eat from coarse table-cloth, it was clean"
 The company were soon seated at th table, and did ample justice to the baket beans, brown bread, whortleberry pie ant whortleberry cake which was set befor them. Had their hostess prepared nor luxurious feast they woald not, probably have relished it better.
 When supper was over Maria brough the big basket, which Aunt Huldah no ticed, into the pantry, showed the cake t Cousin Phebe, and told her the object c their unexpected visit.
 If it was an easy matter to feed thes unexpected guests, it was not so easy lodge them. The house was not large, an there were seven in the Mills family ye by making changes, she succeeded in lode ing them all comfortably. She was in th garret preparing bed for sCapt Loren,
 when his sister Maria came up. s'It is to
 bad, said she, ''too bad, Cousin Phebt for you to be put to so much trouble, an