The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-14
AMoMAN,s srRArAGEM

A WOMAN'S STRATAGEM.
1t was quite the talk of the town when
Colonel Hunter and Sister Madge de-
cided to be married at last, and none
were more surprised than we, her
sisters. You see, John and Madge had
been on the point of marrying onct be-
fore, and we never expected they would
think of each other in that way again.
Our Madge was temperance en-
thusiast and the Colonel liked his cham
payne. Madge declared she would never
marry him unless he signed her temper
ance pledge. He resented this demand
it seemed to imply that Madge doubted
his strength of willard for time they
were scarcely friends. You may imagine,
therefore, how surprised we were when
the engagement was again formally an
nounced.
The merchants of our little town we're
to give a picnic on the fifteenth of
August, and had offered handsome
present to any young couple who were
married on the picnic grounds. John
playfully asked Madge if she would con-
sent to their marriage being solemnized
on that day, never hoping to obtain a
favorable reply, and to the joy of us all
she said she would.
We were in great flutter when the
momentous day arrived. A committee
of the merchants had sent a special coach
for the wedding party. Madge and the
Colonel would start on their wedding
tour from the picnic grounds. Just as
everything and everybody was ready,
Madge said she had forgotten something,
and asked me to go back to her room
and fetch her an envelope she had left
on the dressing table. OF course went,
and of course l looked in the envelope,
as it was unsealed, and What do you
suppose saw? Only a temperance card
You should have seen the searching
look Madge gave me when l handed it to
her! But appeared as unconcerned as
usual, though l knew something was
going to occur not set down in the pro-
gramme.
When we arrived at the grove we had
to walk up to the pavilion, where two
rooms had been made ready for us. But
as our coach was the first we were ahead
of the others in alighting. so were not
obliged to elbow our way through the
crowd and spoil our dresses.
The ceremony was to take place on
the grand stand in the base ball grounds,
so that all might see the bridal pair The
band played the wedding march, and
the people, two at time, marched in
and took their seats. Then we walked
to our places ON the grand stand, and all
became still.
l looked at Madge; she was pale as
ghost, and trembled violently as she
turned to the Colonel and said in low
tone:
John, have come so far; but before
we are married you must sign this card.
Here is pencil"
Their eyes met; his reminded me of
blue lightning.
"And if l refuse?' he said.
"Then you will never see me again."
was the firm answer.
1t was an awful moment; there stood
the minister, ready to begin the cere-
mony, and the people were wondering
what caused the delay.
"You have taken acowardly advantage
of me, Madge." John whispered through
his clinched teeth.
She did not answer but looked at him,
oh, so sweetly and so imploringly We
girls gatheredIabo them, to beg Madge
not to persist in her resolve and make'a
scandal, perhaps; but John mOtioned us
away. We knew he adored our beautiful
sister, but whether he would be caught
in that manner or not we could not tell.
His face was drawn and white and angry,
though but minute before it had been
so happy.
But he soon put our fears at rest, for
suddenly taking the pencil and card
from Madge he wrote his name upon it,
then turning, gravely kissed her on both
cheeks. And her face looked like an
angels.
1t seemed an hour since we had ar
rived on the stage, but it was in fact only
five minutes. The minister then pro-
ceeded with the ceremony.
After it was over we crowded around
Madge and asked her how she dared to
do such thing. But she only shook
her head and laughed AS for the
Colonel he looked radiant.
Well, they started on their wedding
journey in high spirits, and at last &C
counts were the happiest people in the
world. And the Colonel has entirely
forgiven Madge for what he at first SO
bitterly resented Nettie Morgan in
WGuerLy Magazine.