Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-11

do. Perhaps could get situation as
governess. or lady clerkship. or
Don't Gladdiel / can't bear to
think Of such thing for you. I-I-say
(Jim's color heightened, and his eye
sparkled with the sudden brilliancy Of
a fine idea), I-I-say, Gladdie, we've
could face this wrctched world better
in-in-company, couldn't we? Why
why shouldn't we be married at once?"
"Oh, Jim''-what rosy color suf-
fused the brown little face-"it is i'm
possiblev'
"No such thing, Gladdie. We need
only wait week or two to comply with
the legal formalities and then goody
forever to all attempts to sever rs.
Won't you--won't you consent?'
Jim was very persuasive, and Gladys
was very lonely. and love was very
strong. And somehow between the three
il was practically settled by the time
they reached Thurloe square. The awful
imprudence. the desperate faulty of
this sudden step. which good, motherly
Mrs Grecnaway tried to impress upon
them both, they simply lost sight Of in
their ridicuiously childish happiness.
And that tender hearted matron, after
scolding them both soundly for their
folly and prophesying the most miser-
able results from so rash q marriage, en-
forced her lesson by Offering Gadys q
| temporary home and permission to be
married from Thurloe square, il she
really was bent upon that insane step.
1T would look very bad for You, my
dear. circumstanced as You are, to be
| married from lodgings or hotel, Mrs.
Greenaway said And though ! am
strongly opposed TO this most imprudent
union. yet il it is 10 take place, as you
both seem obstinately determined,
should like 70 see it celebrated in n re-
spectacle way"
The good lady further insisted upon |
one condition, which both Jim and
Gladys willingly accepted This was
that each should write, the one TO his
uncle, the other TO the aunt, apprising |
them Of the intended marriage She i'm
pressed upon them-even these foolish |
young people saw the wisdom Of her re-
marks-that any appearance Of secrecy
in the matter would be the worst posi- |
Bile thing for them, and that moreover
it would be entirely useless, since they |
were both Of age, and no one could pos |
sibly stop their marrying Therefore, on !
all accounts, the less concealment the |
better.
So Jim wrote to Uncle Obed and nc.
tually had the nerve TO ask him to the !
wedding. while Gladys wrote to Aunt
Louisa tender, loving little letter
which might have moved M ogress. No
reply, however, was vouchsafed to either
| missive.
The time soon slipped away, and the
day of the wedding-the earliest posi-
bic date allowed by law-arrived. The
marriage was to be solemnized early
at 10 o'clock-and very quietly, no one
being invited except the Greenaway
family and a friend Of Jim's 10 act as
best man. Mr.. Greenaway undertook
the empty formality Of giving away the
bride, who was to be married in simple
travelling dress, and Immediately after
the ceremony the happy couple We're to
proceed TO Victoria, en- route for Brigh-
ton, where they proposed TO spend
weeks honeymoon-the needful for
which was one Of kind Mrs. Green
away's wedding presents-before re-
turning TO the cares OF q penniless exist
encc.
Jim and his best man were tho first
TO arrive at the church. While they |
were waiting in the vcstry, the window
Of which overlooked the approach
through the churchyard, Jim's friend,
watching for the first signs Of the bridal
party, gave vent to a sudden exclama-
ton:
Hello, who's this spruce old John.
ny in the white waistcoat?"
Jim started and turned pale.
Good Lord!' ho cried. Its my
Uncle Obed. He has accepted my invi-
tation, after all, then. hope to good
ness no does not mean to make a useless
disturbance.
Before he had time TO say much more !
Uncle Obed, very smartly attired, his
| white waistcoat contrasting strongly
| with his red face, walked into the yes
try.
.Ha, you reprobate!" he cried, scowl- |
ing at his nephew. II have come to
witness the consummation Of your ruin,
you see. "
"You are very kind, ! am sure, I'M
cle," answered Jim, holding out his
hand. with all the cordiality Of excess
i've happiness. Il
Uncle Obed suddenly changed his
tone
Look here, my lad," said he.
"Theres not much time for explana-
tions. The brides will be here in a min
ute, and we must be moving up to the
altar I may just say this. however:
| Blood is thicker than water, you rogue,
| and loves divine thing, after all
And to show that there's no i'll feeling
and that it is all comfortably settled we
have arranged joint wedding, III
| which Miss Bailey and have agreed to
| assist.
"You-you are going to be married,
uncle?' cried Jim in amazement
"And why the devil not, sir? II I'm
an ass, so are you. And if, as I'm in
clined to think, we arc both playing the
ID idiot the old fool will help to
keep the young fool in countenance.
With these words Uncle Obed caught
his astonished nephew by the arm and
led him away to the altar. Only just III
time, for they had scarcely taken their
places when the brides and their fol
| lowing entered the church. And so it
| fell out that the rich and the poor rela-
| tions were all turned off together
Nothing like testing you young Low.
| ers, Z" said Uncle Obed in the course OF
a subsequent interview with jim "You
were both-pardon my saying so-a
trifle green, and had 1t been known
| that either Of you was heir to q fortane
| Won would nave been marked out as
safe prey by matrimonial speculators.
| Then you went and got engaged to one
| another. We elders were both delighted
at the upshot of events. but we thought
we would Just satisfy ourselves that IT
was q genuine love affair, and SO, my
dear boy, we have. London Truth.
Jerrold's Epigrsms.
Douglas Jerrold was fond Of epigram-
matic sayings, as the following will
show: