The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-09-16

THE SPECTER WEDDING.
A Curious But An-Suficient Cero-
mOny.

Mr.. Martin Dupont was a justice OF
the peace in the little town of Mari
burg. lie had been elected To Office
1T the close of the war of 1872, and had
acted in his present capacity for nearly
nine years. Men of Mr.. Dupont's type
were very common in those days. and
even now one does not have to search
far IL find one of these eSclf-complacent
PonpouS gentlemen, who delight il
winning admiration from their aSSo-
ciatcs. who always have at their
tongues end a great many stories in
which they play the leading part, but
who are, nevertheless, very supcrsti-
tiouS, SO much 50, indeed. that a glimpse
of the moon over the left shoulder. or a
bowling dog, has power TO make them
melancholy for week.
Having failed 70 secure for himself
as large share of this worlds goods
as he had wished, Mr.. Dupont was fully
resolved that his two children, Henry
and Margaret, should not be lacking in
wealth. As for his son, he very wisely
concluded that good education, added
To his natural abilities, would secure
for him place in the world; and al
ready Henry was showing the wisdom
of the plan, and by his rapid advance
ment in business was more than full
filling his fathers expectations. II had
always been Mr.. Dupont's desire that
his daughter should marry some rich
man, but Margaret had fallen in love,
very foolishly, according To her fathers
idea, with the principal of the Mari
burg high school.
Charles Foster had several times
pleaded his suit in vain before Mr..
Dupont. There was no fault in the
young man, Mr.. ID. rather grudgingly
admitted, except that all he had to de-
pend upon was his salary, but still no
man should presume TO become his son
in-law who had not money enough JO
support his daughter in better style
than that in which she was then living.
He liked the school-teacher very well
as Il friend, but as a son-iu-law-that
was quite another matter.
Nevertheless Charles and Margaret
did not despair of their cause, although
Mr.. Dupont was seemingly immovablc.
The thought of an elopcment was ban
ishcd by them both as being dishonor-
able, and as no other plan seemed
practicable they very wisely resolved
10 want until some kind fate should
come to their aid. This, then, was the
condition of affairs when our story be-
gins.
Mr. Duponts duties as justice of the
peace did not cOnfine his law practice
TO Marlburg, but very frequently he
was called away to attend various law
suits in neighboring towns and ham
lets: and it so happened that at this
particular time he was engaged in Il
case of some considerable Importance
in an adjoining town. On account OF
the nearness of the place II was Mr..
Dupont's custom to drive his own horse
back and forth and to spend his nights
at home.
one night. on account Of an unusual
press of business, he was obliged to re-
main beyond his ordinary time of leav-
ing. and after the work was completed
be Welded TO the urgent invitction of
his client to chat for Il few moments. As
they puffed away at the choice Havanas,
they began to tell each other of various
exciting adventures and wonderful cx-
pcriences Time slipped away SO rapid
Iy that il was after ten o'clock before
Mr.. Dupont suddenly remembered that
4 seven-mile drive lay between him and
his home. Hastily bidding his friend
pood-by, he started for the hotel stable
10 BtN lllS iOiSN"
The weather had changed while the
two gentlemen had been chatting, and
now the ominous stiffness and the
cloudy sky admonished Mr.. Dupont
that, IL he wished to get home before
the rain began to fall, he must hasten.
Hastily throwing a quarter to the
sleepy hos'ler, he sprang into his bug
gy and set out on his hOmeward way.
The road home was a lonely one;
| houses were few and far betv cen, and q
few miles out of Marlburg some lonely
! woods lined the road on either side, and
/ adjoining the woods was a graveyard
| As Mr.. dupont drove on into the dark
! ness he began to become nervous, the
weird stories that he had just been
hearing kept flashing through his mind
| n great many wrong deeds of his lIfe
came before him, magnitied by the
| darkness and solitude, and among other
| things he began to wonder if he was
| doing Just right in refusing his consent
( 10 his daughters maFriage. In thi'
J frame of mind he approached the
4 woods; involuntarily he tried 10 qalcll
en- his horses pace, but the dark
ness and the low murrnurings o
thunder seemed to have affected th'
4 horse, too. and the sagacious brut
1 tried constantly to slaclfen his pace
| How lonely il seemed there, no houses
! no living being-nothing but the dea'
in the graveyard beyond Suddenl,
] the horse stopped and snorted. Nh
| Dupont saw two white figures suddenl.
| dart into the road; one stood beside hi