Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-23

Sunday I found them At the church. A
charming young lady from Manchester
took them under hcr protection with in
finite good nature. and interested NJ In
their behalf.
Dochy. recognising the importance OF
the occasion, wore aat.nc drces on
which twined yellow snakes. their heads
at the hem and the tails reaching her
waist. On her head was a mans straw
hat. such as are to he had 1T country
stores for nickel. It was frightened al
the crown with shocstring, and lie pr'm'
measuring several feet in circumference
hid tho upper part Of her face. she
seemed little conscious, but Bulge was
supremely happy and unembarrassed.
The young minister had on his snrpl'ce.
and was just going TO begin the services
when ] told him that there was couple
that wished to be married. Ills iair
beardlcss face flushed at the delay. put
he accompanied me 10 the church-yard
where Bulge and Dochy stood with the
young lady from Manchester They spoke
10 him cIvilly but seemed to ma nm
curious 10 'ook at when. told them ne
was u merry them they talked together
rapidly for a minute. ;heh Dochy turned
% mo:
TOOK HIM FOR a WOMAN.
"iludee SAYS" she said. "as how We
,,oa't want TO be jiacd h. no 'o2in,a'
Ii won't pear 'xactly sqdar
TIE young minister blushcd paln.u ".
BGdae nudged Dolly and said something
else. 'Budge says she continues L.
Especially when she whars brcecheS IN
dcrneath her coat. an them shown!
When assured OF his sex, they agreed 70
be married by him. and Mr.. Lowell told
them they might come mp 10 the railing
when he had finished his sermon. Be-
fore I took them TO their places on the
front bench the young lady from Man
chester whispered TO Dochy. Now. mind
you and Bulge must 20 up when the
gentleman finishes speaking" The result
OF this advice was disastrous Every
time there was a pause In the services
the two arose and started toward the
minister who had to hurry on at break
neck speed.
KISSED AND SLEPT.
The church was crowded that Sunday:
there were a number OF summer boarders
In the neighborhood, and this being MP.
Lowell's first sermon to us, all the back
numbers were present, as well as the
regular congregation. The day was hot;
some bumblebees had made nest In the
gallery, and droned In mesneric mono
tone: the light through their colored
windows was subdued. and the congre-
CATION dosed. Through the church there
family echoed an unmistakable sibillant
sound. We started to wakefulness. and
saw that the groom, lifting the broad
brIm of her hat. had kissed the bride.
We did not find this funny until after
wards: at the time II seemed natural.
These demonstrations continued at inter-
walls throughout the sermon. until. over
come by the fatigue of their walk, they
fell asleep, her head on his shoulder
and his resting on the crown OF her nat. ;,
When his sermon was over MT. AoVeh
dismissed the congregation. But we felt
responsible for the couple sleeping peace
fully on the front bench, and we intended
seeing the affair well through, so we
kept our seats. The young minister
looked at US appealingly and then came
down into the church. He awoke the
bride and groom and led them TO the
railing.
A RING FOUND.
Dochy did not take off her hat holding
II with gentle persistence when MI
Lowell tried TO remove II. And so the
ceremony began. The groom could not
and the bride would not make the re-
sponses: but they smiled so happily at
each other that fOrmality was unneces-
sary They had brought no ring. ana
when asked for 1t they turned to us for
help. BY this time every soul was in
terested In them, the mans beautiful race
and irresponsible attitude appealing TO us
all We looked anxiously at each other;
a ring must be found. Bulge and Dochy
stood facing the congregation, smiiing
contentedly, while We questioned what
should be done in the emergency. AL
length. the young lady from Manchester
solved the difficulty by unllnking the
little silver ring of her parasol.
THE CEREMONY.
Then the ceremony proceeded happily
until the time came for the two to kneel'
Bulge could not kneel. because Of his
wooden member, so he had TO receive
the blessing standing. And when MI
Lowell pressed Dochy on the shoulder she
would not bend; but. when he Increased
the pressure. she sank fiat on the floor,
her little rough shoes, with their toes
turned in toward each other straight out
in front of her. And in this attitude the
benedictiOn was given.
While the congregation was saying the
prayer | saw that Bulge was spelling
10 DOchy on his fingers As soon as the
anen was pronounced she, still sitting on
the floor. hid her face in her hands, and
said aloud:
HER THANKS.
ooh. Lord, bein' as he carn't talk to
You hisself, Bulge have asked me to say
as he is mighty thankful to You for
gettin' us jined. An he says as how he'll
do anything for You 'cepin' what takes
tallin', nor ken he do no steady
Lord, don't You thing Bulge is bad jest
walkin' (Budge amt strong on his
legs. bein' as he amt but one), an, o,
cause he don't say his prayers; he would.
onliest, o. Lord. he oarnt talk. And
Bulge is the best man in the world; an
amen, .. Lord
She pulled herself to her feet with the
aid of her husbands wooden leg. and
they walked down the aisle. After they
had received our congratulations, and the
young lady from Manchester had thrown
her bright silk scarf over Dochy's ser
pentine dress, they went out into the
church-yard and, sitting on fiat slab,
took of their shoes and stockings. The
last we saw of them they were trudginG
toward their mountain. the midday sun
full on their faces. Bulge limped briskiy
along supported by Dochy's sturdy young
shoulder. NJ u. L.
Buckingham. September 16, 1894