Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-24
MARRIED In HASTE.

| ished at college he wrote Dflel ielueT-lne
| only one | ever had from him-conveying
| the information that IL | knew what was
| good for me | would be married before
| was 2l That letter bothered me q great
| deal
The letter contained not a word about
| education or the law. Anyhow, my birth
| lay and commencement day occurred the
same week, and | thought would risk the
undesirable consequences OF waiting, what
ever they were.
Two DAYS before commencement father
was stricken with apoplexy. He was un-
conscious when got 10 the farm and lived
only few hours. His last few months had
been marked by total incapacity for bust
ness, and mother was nearly worn out with
looking after things
When the will was opened, IL almost
Knocked me out II left everything to moth
er In trust for me on the sole condition that
was TO be married within "a hours after
my graduation.
III did not graduate, was 20 be married
by IL o'clock noon on the day became Il
wears old Moreover, II old Parson Baker
was alive he was 10 do the job. In the
event Of my failure, for any cause, TO meet
tnest cDnlil ibllHs WIS w hhN' Nif"N'i "h'
the rest after mothers death was 20 go TO
fathers three nephews. who were plodding
farmers in an adjacent county.
Now here was nice layout. ] was not
engaged, md the girl whom | thought Of
in this connection was the daughter Of n
widow living down the road about two
miles, whose face had washed with snow
and who Ind spelled me down in the dis
h,,h q ft,a In n lla
Parson Baker lived in little village %
miles down the pike where there was
neither railroad nor telegraph station, |
explained the situation 10 the young lady,
and she blushingly consented. Why
shouldn't shei She had had known me all
her life. and there was 100000 and a rea
sonably good looking husband in it.
So far everything was easy. There were
vet Is hours before the limit OF time should
expire, and we felt safe. ! put the best
rider among our neighbor boys on our fast
est saddle horse and started him off to get
Parson Baker, requesting him on no ac-
count TO fail To he ut our farm by II o'clock
the next day.
The young man started about G o'clock
in the evening in heavy rain and made
the preachers about II o'clock that night.
Inc lolai iihl w 'Ai''i hN%Nh
morning TO rest his horse, while Baker sad
died his own and was away by o'clock In
the morning, simply telling his aged wife
that he was called to his circuit on impor-
tant business
Not five miles from home the plucky
preacher found his road barred by a washed
out bridge, aud he was obliged TO make a
long detour-il nilcs-to get back to his
road beyond the gap
From here on he was singularly unfortu-
nate His horse picked up stone and went
lame, and halts at three or four farms were
made before he got another.
By this time il was o'clock, and he
was yet II muddy miles from our house and
rain falling in sheets Many an old man Of
20 years would have given over his pursuit
OF an uncertainty, for he didn't know what
was the matter.
But never stopped 10 think what the
business was he said TO me afterward. 81
simply knew that ] was to get there-the
Lord Willingly II o'clock"
At 1880 the grand old fellow was within
mile OF the house. He had come to what
he thought was an overflowed bridge across
a little brook emptying into the Scioto riv-
er at his left, but he had no idea that the
bridge itself was gone, for no had crossed
several such places on his road. He urged
his horse forward, and plump into 10 feet
of water they went between the abutments.
The horse was game as well rs his mas
ter and swan to the fenced side of the road,
where he got his footing, the water being
there about three feet deep
The parson threw the bridls over fence
rail and left his painting and exhausted
q Ill.
and saving mile thereby. The lawyer saw
him coming and met him In the middle OF
that meadow before us. He explained the
business in - words
Have they got the license" was his only
question.
The license was all right.
Get them out on the porch, said Baker,
and the lawyer left him smashing over the
fence and hurried into the house. 1t was
now 1855 o'clock.
We were all on the porch in a quarter Of
n minute
As Baker hove up and came to halt on
the walk, his rough jeans suit streaming
muddy water, the lawyer handed him the
license over the railing. He glanced at 1t
front and back-he knew all its points 10y
hcart-and then off came his white beaver
hat.
"Join your right hands"
"Mary, do you take this man for your
husbandi"
81 do"
George, do you take this woman for your
wifey"
"I do"
"Then, by the authority vested in me by
the Methodist Episcopal church and the
laws Of Ohio, | pronounce you man and
wife. Whom God hath joined together let
no man put asunder."
Involuntarily ! pulled out my watch
without even stopping 10 kiss the bride. II
| wanted four minutes TO II.
That ceremony had been performed in 81
seconds, The preacher was the first e
break the silence, that you can sec must
have been little awkward, by saying:
George, my horse is standing in thre,
feet Of water down by the branch. wisl
you'd get him up here"
Now you know why | am not slavinV IN
the city for 5000 lying-or maybe less
Father knew that I'd marry TO save tn
farm, and he also knew that, once had tn
farm on my hands I'd be too busy 10 tinke
with the law
And he was right got the girl woul,
have tried TO get anyhow, and that part O
the deal was the best part for me after all
But may never raise You another colt
the old parson wasn't sight as he cam
swashing over the fence, although
thought at the time he was the handsomes
/ -. -. a. l..