Tombstone epitaph., 1891-07-12
UEER WEDDING RING.
An Humble Couple Married by the
 Key of a Church.
Rural Dean Who Carried Out the Church Of England Ritual Under DimcUitis. The Departure of Bride and
 Groom and she Parsons Fee.

' E etit Zodiac, or as they called it in the arnacular, jacket, writes lrs. NJ. L. Rayre, in the Detroit Free Press, and it would be hard to imagine . simpler life, or one more remote from he fashion which passeth away. The Ettle stone church was old and pictur- ssque, and the people who worshiped here were as quaint and original as iL hey had stepped out of another century.
 When reached the church the wed. ling party had already arrived. It con iisted of the party themselves. as much done as were Adam and Eve at their bridal in Eden. They had arrived on horseback. and the unhitched animals each saddled over a flowing white sheet, which made them look like equine ghosts in the twilight-wer browsing about among the grave stones disturbing nothing but the long tangled grass and tho swectbrisT roses that groU wild there. I hurried past them into the vestry, where the dean was strug- giing into his white gown.
 You can be my cUrate for this occa- sion,7 he said, as peeped in at thc door. You will be needed for a wit ness and bridesmaid, to assist with the ring"
 l walked up the aisle of the little chapel and sat down in one of the high backed pews and tried tO see what mail ner of folk they were who had such queer bridal customs.
 Not young. And both were hard, or the humblest rustic type. The woman, brown as a Gypsy, wore a lowered mus liu dress that was coarse and badly made. A string Of beads and a 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 baShfuIness and a certain rude disdaiE of what other people might think. They clutched hands as if they were deter mined that no power on earth should separate them at this crisis.
 After they had been instructed where ro stand, they took their places, the bride eying me with some disfayOr as } possible intruder. "Who giveth this woman to be mar cied to this man7'
 At this moment stepped forward to make that part of the ceremony com plete.
 II don't know she," said the bride. sdgiug away, but the dean paid no at- Jention to her and repeated the sacred formula for them to follow with him.
 II will now take the ring, said my grandfather in low voice.
 "Reeng?" echoed the groom, T know nobbut a reeng- Hast any like reeng, Mathilde?"
 The rafters rung with his Whoa Dobbin," tone.
 II never thocht O the like. Happen we'll ne'er mind sech Ieetle thing a that" said the bride. with look oi genuine terror in her eyes, as it she might lose her gallant at the very altar.
 Take of 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 Floveless hands as iestitute of rings as those of the bTidJ lerselL
 What was to be done? The dean would 1 not have considered those good people lrcperly married if the ceremony of the ing were omitted. He glanced down t his own white hands, holding thu acred book, then he turned hurriedly Q De:
 .'Go and bring me the key of the ;hurch,7 he said.
 What in the world is he going to dc Eith it?" queried to myself, as Jbeyed.
 Taking the large, brass key in hi | land, he gave it to the man, designating { ne loop at the end of the handle. II, hen instructed him to slip the rinr ,ver the brides finger. Inearly laughed l loud as l saw the expression of sur,
 rise on the poor things face, as tn, ey dangled on her finger, while tho
 ridegrooIn lumberingly repeated after
 ne dean: With this ring, thee wed, i Je-
 As soon as they were married I re- i .Ored the key to tbe door and the groom
 lnded rude parcel to my grandfather.
 '-lt's the pay . weddin'," he said,
 risky.
 The dean thanked him courteously
 itbout having an idea as to what the 1rcel might contain
 There was a horse block at the door,
 n which the bride mounted with hel .ress tucked up about her. Only one lorse with its Tapping bridal accoutre. nents was in sight
 .'Ric5ardT screamed the new wife
 where's my beast?"
 Richard had taken of his white loves and was cantering round among be gravestones looking for the ''beast. lt was soon found, and after we hal ihaken Lands with the two and wished hem joy, the queer pair rode of in fine style.
 When my grandfather opened the parcel he found the soft. silky skins oI ! a dozen musk-rats-a priDcely fee from