Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-20
A UNIQUE WEDDING.
The Brides Father. an Unwilling
Spectator, Enii~ens Che Ceremony.

From the St. IOus Globc-DemoCrat.
All the old residents of Montague county,
Texas. remember Upcle Henry Harris, the
preachor-f cry man of Red river during the
latter part of The eighties. There have been
many greater men In this part of Tie state,
and II any more intellectual cnes, but there
have been few who were SO universally
loved or who were so widely mournei for
after their death
Uncle Henry was a OF e-legged man, and
the wooden stump which Supplied the place
of his missing member was very prim-
itivS affair. 1t was Joined to the stump of
his leg by single strap, which could be
removed in a very few moments.
Calvin Dubbs, a half-breed Choctaw In
dian, courtei his daughter. May Harris.
Uncle Henry was opposed to the suit of
Dubb5 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 be ferriei over. The old man and TOhe
started to take him across, but no sooner
had they reached the middle of the river
than their passenger 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 immeiia teiy
SWUNG around in the current and remained
stationary in rlilrver.
What's that for?" cried Uncle Henry in
alarm. ''Doa't you know we can't get
across now?"
Don't know about you. l kin make it
all right mvSelf''
Calvin sprang to the saddle urged his
pony over thu side of the boat into the
water and struck out for shore. The two
captivcs on the boat watched him helplessly
until he gained the shore they had Just
left. As he lid - May came out of the
cabin. arrayed in ler Sunday best. and two
h. 4.
cealnont back OF Ia" bluff. The object of
the strataSem grad Iaiiy dawned on the old
mans mind
THERE'S goir TO be weddn'." yelled
as witness.
''Wb&r's wore license" shric,lel the faith
or. and "hars yorc Preacher"
"Here's the licensc,' yelled Dub5s, wav-
Ing q leral-loCkin:S document: can you read
it from there? And this man here's the
pr II cher"
The couple took their places and the al
legged preacher began the ceremony. Uncle
Henry bean pleading ANA expos tula ting
but all i'll vain. Suddenly he grabbed the
Winchester ie always carried in the bottom
spective son-in-law.
stop that tom-foolishness, or I'll shoot -
shoot and be DID, yelled Calvin
Go on. parson"' This latter remark was
addressed To the preacher on shore. What
ever might he said against Calvins morals
nobody ever doubted his nerve
Crack. sounded the Winchester from
the boat, and with thud a bullet buried
itself in the horn of the bridegroom's sad
die. Calvin made a quick motion toward
bis own gun, but May caught his arm
'Don'tr' she cried. PA amt goin' to
hurt you. II he'd wanted TO, he'd bored you
the first crack
The ceremony was a brief one, but every
few moments Uncle Henry would blaze
away, just close enough to the bridegroom
TO be unpleasant. When il was ali over
the party rode away, with many tanta,iz-
ing anleuX TO the captives on the boat
This was an unusual wedding. 1t was never
customary, even in Texas, to have a we'd
dinS ceremony on river bank while the
father of the bride as a captive on boat
III micstream, hre1 desultory shots from
his Winchester at the bridegroom.