St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-10-01
THE SPECTER WEDDING.
A Curious But -Sufncieut Cere.
mony.

the peace in the little town of Marl
burg. He had been elected to Office
mt the close of the war Of 1919. 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 to find one of these eself-complacent,
pompous gentlemen, who delight in
winning admiration from their asso.
ciatcs. who always have 1t their
tongues end = great many stories in
which they play the leading part, but
who are. nevertheless. very supersti-
tious. 50 much 50. indeed, that glimpse
of the moon over the left shoulder. or q
bowling dog, has power 20 make them
melancholy for week.
Having failed to secure for himself
Is large share of this worlds goods
IS 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 AZ
ready Henry was showing the wisdom
of the plan, and by his rapid advance
ment In business was moro than full
filing 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 Marl-
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.. d. 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 70
support his daughter in better style
than that in which she was then living.
He liked the school-tcscher very well
NJ = friend, but rs . son-in-law-thAt
was quite another matter.
Nevertheless Charles and Margaret
did not despair of their cause, although
Mr.. Dupont was seemingly immovable.
The thought Of an clopement was BAN
ished by them both - being dishonor.
able, and as no other plan seemed
practicable they very wisely resolved
to wait until some kind fate should
come to their aid. This. then. was the
condition of affairs when our story b.
gins.
Mr.. Duront's duties MS 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 nciyhboring towns and ham,
lets; and it 50 happened that 1t this
particular time he was engaged in .
case of sorac considerable importance
in an adjoining town. On account of
the nearncss of the place it was Mr..
Dupont's custom to drive his own horse
back and forth and to spend his nights
1t home.
Ono night ON account Of IN unusual
press Of business, he was obliged to re-
main beyond his ordinary time Of lcav-
ing, and after the work was completed
be yielded to the urgent invitation Of |
his client to chat for few moments As |
they puffed away at the choice Havanas.
they began to tell each other Of various
exciting adventures and wonderful ex-
periencc& Time slipped away 50 rapid !
X that il was after ten o'clock before |
Mr.. Dupont suddenly remembered that |
! seven-mile drive lay between him and l
his home Hastily bidding his friend
yood-by. he started for the hotel stable
"a Get his horse
The weather had changed while the
;wo gentlemen hal been chatting. and
,ow the ominous stiffness and the
cloudy sky admonished Mr.. Dupont
hat II he wished to get home before
he rain began to fan, h. must hasten
lastly throwing quarter 70 the
leepy hostler. he speang into his bug.
" and set out on his homeward way.
The road homo was . lonely one:
.ouses were few and far between. and
ew miles ont at Marlburg come lonely
woods lined the road on either side. and
dioiuing the woods was . graveyard
Is Mr.. dupont drove on into the dark
less he began 20 become nervouA the
veird stories that he had just been
caring kept flashing through his mind.
great many wrong deeds Of his lite
anne before him, mngnihed by the
arknees and solitude, and among other
hincs he began 70 wonder IL he was
ding just right in refusing his consent
D his daughtcr'p marriage. In this
rame q mind b Approached the
- A. NJ. Il