The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-16

Not five miles from home the plucky
preacher found his road barred by q
washed out bridge, and he was obliged
TO make long detour-eleven miles-to
get back to his road beyond the gap.
FROM here on he vas singularly unfortu-
nate. His horse picked up stone and
went lame, and he stopped at three or four
farms before he got another. By this time
IL was O'Clock and he was yet fourteen
very muddy miles from our house, and
ram falling In sheets. Many an old man
oil seventy years would have given over
MS pursuit OF an uncertainty, for he
ilont know what was the matter. But
never stopped to think what the busi-
ness was, he said afterwards; / simply
new that was to get there-the Lord
"lliin'-by IL o'clock At II 80 the grand
I'D fellow was within mile OF the house
ne had come to what he thought an over
lowed bridge across little brook empty
Hg nto the Scioto River at his left, bu.
ae had no idea that the bridge itself was
zone, Tor he had crossed several such
places on his road. He urged his horse
onward, and plump into twelve feet OF
Water they went between the abutments.
The horse was game, as well as his
master, and swan to the fenced side OF
ne road, where he got his footing, the
.ater being there about three feet deep
he parson threw the bride over a fence
All and left his painting and exhausted
Iced taking across the fields to the house
-nd saving mile thereby. The lawyer
sw him coming and met him in the
niddle OF that meadow before us. He
xplained the business in twenty words.
Have they got the license?" was his
)nly question.
The license was all right.
Get them out on the porch said
.aker, and the lawyer left him swash-
~ over the fence and hurried into the
ouse. 1t was now five minutes to twelve
clock.
1--WE were all on the porch in quarter
a minute.
"As Baker hove up and came to a halt
Il the walk, his rough Jeans suit stream
2s muddy water, the lawyer handed him
ne license over the railing. He glanced
it front and back-he knew all it's
oints by heart-and then off came his
5aite beaver hat.
Join your right hands.
"' Mary, do you take this man for your
US band?'
al do.'
George, do you take this woman for
our wife?'
"I do
"' Then, by the authority vested in me
by the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
ne laws OF Ohio, i pronounce you man
ana wife. Whom God hath joined to-
sether let no man put asunder'
"lnvoluntarily pulled out my watch.
Without even stopping to kiss the bride.
I wanted four minutes to IL.
That ceremony had been performed |
Il thirty secondsl The preacher was tho |
lrst to break the silence, that you CIR |
&c must have been little awkward, b, |
aying:
George, my horse is standing IN |
hree feet of water down by the branch |
wish you'd get him up here.'
And went, and didn't think anv-
hing strange about going either, for |
,ad been used to taking care of his horse
imost all my life. Besides, / new that
d taken care OF the main chance a.
.ady.
Mother was so grateful that she en-
OWED the little church on the pike, ma,
arson Baker leave the active work o
- anu Installed MIN over IL |
10 breaches there every Sunday after
DON. / think the only thing tha;
others him to-day is that he was moi
allied TO conduct fathers funeral service
ne fact is mother thought it would b,
ruel to drag the poor parson out or III.
Ircuit before his regular time. littl,
linking how near she was coming to-
ards disinheriting me.
Now you know why am not slayirr
! the city for a three e-thousand-dolls-
ving-or maybe less. Father knew that
q marry to save the farm, and he also
new that, once ] had the farm on nv
ands, I'd be too busy TO tinker with tho
~. And lie was right. got the girl
ould have tried to get any yhow, and thai
'rt OF the deal was the best part for N,
ter all. But may / never raise you an
her colt IL the old parson wasn't
ght as he came swashing over the fence
though thought az the time be was
'e hanGsomest object in the universe
Prairie Farmer.