The Portland daily press., 1892-06-09
he WAS IN DOUBT.
An Exhilarnting Story Of Man whs
Paid Ills Marriage Fee in Part.

An Exhilarating Story of Man wAs
Paid Ills Marriage Fee in Part.
A clergyman was telling anecdotes Of
Incidents in his early life as pastor.
One of them was about marriage cere-
mony which he once performed. A
young man of the country districts came
TO the pastor one day.
81 want to get married, he said, "and
guess I've got about as good a woman
as there is around this part OF the state.
Can you marry us?"
The clergyman thought that he could,
and so the young man went away and
soon returned with his bride. They
both took the affair very coolly, and
when the ceremony was over the bride
groom took the clergyman aside.
81 don't want to drive any bargain at
time like this" he said, tbut of COURSE
| amt sure this marriage business is go
ing to prove all that expect of it. How
would half cash now, one-fourth in one
month and the rest in two months, after
| have had fair chance to see if got q
good bargain, suit your"
"Well, said the pastor, ''if that seems
fair to you, l am willing. You seem to
be prosperous young man. Well say
ten dollars now, five dollars in one
month and five dollars in two months"
s'That's q CO." answered the happy
bridegroom, and he handed over ten dol
lars.
At the end of month he returned
with fiUa do11ars moro
81 amt sure,' he said, little doubt
fully, "abeut it yet. but I'm willing to
give you the benefit of the doubt and to
make the second payment. "You see"
he added, "whilc have my own doubts
about the blessings of married life,
don't know as it's going to make much
difference. amt just so sure as was
that could get out of this thing now if
wanted to. She's got an opinion Of
her own," he said, with faint grin;
''and if she says we, have got to keep ON
being married guess it'll have to go at
that"
"You aren't thinking of getting di--
vorce, are your asked the clergyman.
'Oh, no; at least not just yet"
VI WAAdD 1@uiuo Ill yOuI Wilo uO you
complaint
''Oh, nothing in particular"
"Why are you dissatisfied, thenr
81 amt just dissatisfied. I say I
haven't made up my mind yet"
"Why shouldn't you know one way or
the other?'
'sWell, to tell you the honest truth.
don't believe 1t would do any good.
I'm afraid whatever she decides will
settle it," Then he went off, looking
rather puzzled over the problem.
At the end Of the second month there
came knock at the door, and the pas
tor himself answered it. The bride was
standing there, and about five feet4be-
hind her was the doubling husband.
"My husband owes you five dollars,
doesn't he3" she asked sharply.
"Well," answered the pastor, with a
smile, II am not sure about that point.
eyes, he does," she said firmly. "He
owes you five dollars. Henry, wasn't
your bargain that five dollars should be
paid at tho end of the second month if
the marriage was satisfactory?'
eyes," said the husband weakly.
"And it's satisfactory, amt ifp'
Henry looked atthe pastor.
"It's satisfactory, amt itr' she 70
peated.
"Y-e-e-s," said the husband, looking
down at his boots.
81 thought so," cried the wife tri-
ulnphantly. 'sNow pay him that FIVE
dollars"
The husband handed bill to the cler-
gyman, and said to him in low voice:
Il amt quite sure yet, one way or the
other, but she's got me andI guess she
means to hang on to me. So I'll just
have to worry along till she dies or get
chance TO rnn away. New York Trib.
una