The Washington times., 1894-11-11
Id not have done II.
4 UNIQUE WEDDING.
The Brides Father, an Unwilling Spe eta
tor, Enliyens the Ceremony.

lOlJ A~iiANGlS the
All the old residents Of Montague county,
Texas, remember Uncle Henry Harris. the
preacher-ferryman OF Red River during the
latter part OF the sos. There have been many
greater men In this part OF the State, and
many more intellectual ones but there have
| been few who We're so universally loved or
who were so widely mourned TOR after their
death says the st. Louis Globe-DemOsrat
Uncle Henry was q one-legged man. and the
wooden stump which supplied the place oihis
missing member was very primitive affair.
Il was Joined TO the stump Of his leg by
single strap, which could be removed il a very
lew moments.
Calvin Dubhs, a half-bTeed Choctaw
Indian, cogrted his daughter, May Harris.
Uncle Henry was opposed to the suit of
DuDls because Of his ungodliness and bad
character. HIS daughter did not share in
these objections.
one afternoon Calvin DUbbs rode up to the
ferry, and, as the river was high, asked to he
ferried over. The old man and Tobe started
to take him across, but no sooner had they
reached the middle OF the river than their pas
senger whipped out a bowie knife. and in
very few passes severed the longer OF the two
ropes that bound them TO the trolley The
boat Immediately swung around in the cur
rent ana remained stationary in midriver
What's that for?' cried Uncle Henry in
alarm. Don't you know We can't get across
n0W?n
Don't know about you. I kin make It all
right myself"
CALVIN sprung to the saddle, urged his pony
over the side OF the boat into the water and
struck out for shore. The two captives on
the boat watched him heplessly until ne
gained the shore they had Just left As he
did so Nav came ont OF the cabin arrayed IN
her sunday best. ana two men on horseback
rode out from tn ir conceaiment back of the
bluff. The object OF the stratagem gradually
dawned on the old mans mind
There goin' to be a weddiD'" yelled
Calvin from the bank. Well let you attend
as a witness.
"Whars yore license. y shrieked the father
land whar's yore preacher?"
Here the license, yelled Dubbs. waving
a legal-loosing document; "can you read it
from there! And this man here's the
preacher"
The couple took their places, and the al
legged preacher began the ceremony Uncle
Henry began pleading and expostulating. but
all in vain. Suddenly he grabbed the Win
chester he always carried in the bottom OF his
boat and drew bead on his prospective SON.
in-law.
stop that tomfoolishnesS or I'll shoot"
'Shoot if you want to-" yelled Calvin. go
on, parsOn. This latter remark was ad-
dressed to tho preacher on shore. Whatever
might be said against CalvIn's morals, no.
body ever doubted lis nerve.
"Cracki' sounded the Winchester from the
boat, and with u thud bullet buried itself in
the horn OF the bridegroom's saddle Calvin
made a quick motion toward his own gun,
but May caught his arm
Don t." she cried PA amt goin TO hurt
You. II he'd wanted TO he d bored you the
first crack"
The ceremony was brief one. but every few
moments Uncle Henry would blaze away just
close enough to the bridegroom to be unpleas-
ant. When it was all over the party rode
away, with many tantalizlng adieus to the cap
tives on the boat. This was an unusual we'd
ding. 1t was never customary, even in Texas,
TO have a wedding ceremony on q river bank,
while the father OF the bride, as captive on
boat in midstream. fired desultory shots
from his Winchester at the bridegroom.