Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-01-11

w nut oiu you run away lOrt
"'Cause her folks were not willin' for
us to marry"
''Have you got airy pair OF license2''
eyes, sir, have the license. We ex-
pected Preacher Gray to marry us, but
he wasn't at home, so we came to you.
Here, sir, is the license"
keep 'em, young man, keep 'em.
don't want 'eml / only axed 20 see IL
you had EN-; for it's agin the laws
of the United States to marry In this
State without pair of license. The
law only axes If you paid for 'em, and
how much"
AS he said this, Squire Bentley opened
his book very wide and assumed stern,
judicial air.
"Yes, sir, the license is paid for, and
cost one dollar"
"Where did you get emf"
sat the courthouse, of course. II
you please, sir, will you proceed?"
"You bet l will Hold up your right
handsl"
The young couple exchanged glances.
If the truth must be told, the require
ments of etiquette during the perform
ance of the ceremony had formed an i'm
portant factor in their conversation
since leaving the paternal roof. After a
little hesitation both hands went up.
'You solemnly swear that you will live
together as man and wife, sick or well,
and that you will tell the truth, the
whole truth and nothin' but the truth,
so help you God Answer, Il do"
81 do" was the faint response.
"1pronounce you husband and wife, and
may the Lord have mercy on your souls ~
The astonished couple still sat with
uplifted hands, gazing at the Magistrate
with open-mouthed wonder.
"That'll dol" said he in less severe
tone.
as it over2' asked the bride, with a
sigh of relief, as she lowered her hand.
II reckon so ~ was the rather doubtful
response of the groom.
Eyes, certainly. You're hitched as
hard and as fast as if the Guv'nor had
done it."
"Hyw much do owe you"
''Not cent. young man, not cent"
and then he added, in semi-confiden-
tial tone, "You see, I'm q sorter new
beginner, and l hain't sot my prices yet.
Where are We goin' to stay till mornin'"
1--WE expected to go from Mr.. Gray's
back to Uncle Bill Wrights, on Cane
Creek; but that's ten or twelve miles
from here. Isn't there tavern in town."
"Yes-but why not stay hereG 1t
won't cost you cent, and / 'drother
you'd stay"
With a little more urging, they con-
sented; and while the groom and the
Squire were out stabling the horses, Mrs.
Bently had arisen and prepared room
for the bride and groom. After slight
repast which the young people really
needed Though both stoutly protested
against the extra trouble), they were left
in possession of the spare room, which
had twice served as law Office that
night.
An hour had passed, and most of the
inmates had fallen asleep, when there
was another loud "hellop at the gate.
"Who is it now" asked the master of
the house, as he opened the door.
'It's me-here's your prisoner" sang
out voice in reply, that evidently be-
longed to Special Constable Graham.
"Who else is with your"
"Jim Hall, and brother Tom"
''All right-come in"
While our hard-worked Magistrate was
again dressing himself, his wife sudden
ly inquired,
"Where will you take 'em, George9"
This was poser. The spare room was
already occupied, and, worse than oil,
his lawbook was in there too!
Meeting the Constable in the yard he
brify explained the situation.
1--WE can build up fire out here" he
suggested ut last, and the others assent
ing, the fire was accordingly kindled,
and then Squire Bently realized that he
could proceed no further without his law
book. Going to the door of the guest
chamber, he softly knocked.
"What is it2' inquired the groom.
II want to get my book"
So the young man unfastened the
door, and held it open till the officer
went inside and "felt around" till he laid
hands on the coveted volume. Returning
to the yard, he opened court by admins
tering an oath to all present Including
the constable and the prisoner) to tell
just how it was.
The day had been warm one. As
the night wore on, the clouds began to
threaten rain, and before the testimony
was all in, heavy shower came up.
This necessitated an adjournment to
shelter--and as the smokehouse was the
nearest building, thither all hands re-
paired. While waiting for the shower
to cease, another horseman came gallop-
ing up.
SIS Squire Bently at homer"
f'Yes; that's mel" was the reply.
"They want you at Sims Mill. There's
a dead woman there, and they want you
to hold an inquest"
Further questioning elected the fact
that negro woman had died very sud
denly, and the physician who had been
called, deeming the circumstances sus-
picious, desired an inquest. 1t was now
past midnight, but our officer, feeling
that he ought to act promptly in the
matter, decided to go at once. But, I'M
fortunately, the two Grahams and Jim
Hall all felt called upon to go, too.
What to do with the prisoner was the
question. Somebody proposed taking him
along with them, but the prisoner him
self stoutly opposed that plan, but of
fered to pledge himself to be on hand
whenever wanted.
Our Magistrate, acting on the principle
that zone bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush, resolved to make sure of
Jake Jones. So, after bringing few
bundles of fodder from stack near
by, and two or three quilts from the
house, he prepared bed for his pris
oner, and locked him up in the smoke