Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-12-06
special to the Regisl

81 GptCldl 10 the REGISTER
MARLINTON, ". VA, December o.
| A very pretty and romantic little story
/ comes from Bcrkman Settlement in the
! lower pant of this county. The romance
/ originated in an election bet and ended to-
I day I'm a wedding, which was celebrated
i'm IL presence Of and with the assistance
Of an the good people of the community.
Chalmers Farthingale is the son of a
well-to-do English merchant and halls
from London. Like many other young
Faglishmcn, he has more taste for wild,
outdoor life than for q business pursuit
such as he would have followed had ne
remained at home. Accordingly. he came
here about two years ago. and became as
sstant manager Of big cattle farm
which q cousin of his father had estab-
lished in this county for a son of his.
Although an Englishman, Farthingale
was a firm believer in the free coinage Of
silver and was always ready to back his
belief with argument or a wager a few
days before the election. he was standing
before the platform of the general store
at the Settlement arguing the silver
question with some by-standers when a
very pretty young woman rode up to the
store She dismouuted and entered the
store. and proceeded TO make some pur-
chases. Farthingale continued his decla-
nations iu favor Of silver, and declared
he would wheel any man in the crowd
twice round the fair grounds track, and
furnish dinner for all the people who
could be packed into the grand stand, if
Bryan was defeated.
The young woman. who was none other
than Mss Gertrude Bcals. a daughter OF
eN-Judge William Boals and as ardent a
gold bug as ever futtered agolden wing.
told the storekeper that she would take
that bet End if Mckinley was defeated.
she would do her part faithfully. The
once proceeded to call on Miss Boals and
Furlhings'e. playfully called Farthingale
into the store and introduced him. repeat
ing Miss Boars offer to t"'se the wager.
The agreement was made and published
10 their friends an over the region. When
Farthingale found that he had lost he at
once proceeded TO call ON Mis- Boals and
to offer to keep his promise. She declar-
cd her intention to hold him to his agree
ment and the day was set, yesterday be-
ing selected.
Both the young people found Mr.. Earth
ingales visit agreeable. and Farthingale
found it convenient TO call again to make
further arrangements for the payment of
the bet This call necessitated another.
and ano her. till it became apparent that
things other than arrangements for q
wheclbarrow ride were under considera-
ton.
A. Loot , ,,.-,1- o,, tt, NOM, AZ, a. o., .
was made that there would not only be a
whee.barrow ride at the fair grounds.
yesterday but that after Farthingale had
paid his bet. and proven himself q man of
nerve and honor there would be "a we'd
ding i'm The main hall of the fair grounds.
and that Judge Boals would furnish the
refreshments although Mr. Farthnsale
had originally agreed to do so.
When two o'clock came. the grand
the grand stand was crowded. and the
quarterstretcL was filed with carriages
from all tho surrounding country. for
Farthingale and the Eoalses are popular
folks. and the judge and the prospective
so1-in-luw had decided TO do the thing up
right.
AT exactly at 2.So. Farthingale came
American flags entwined about his shout
dcrs. and pushing a wheelbarrow. i'm
which sat Miss Boals, wearing the stars
and stripes and "a plentiful decoration of
gold lace ard tinscl.
The cheers that went up were greater
than were ever heard on the fair grounds
before and MS FarthIugale trpped
around the nalf-mile track with his pre-
cious load. there was no diminution Of
enthusiasm.
At the end OF the second round. Miss
Boals leaped from the barrow and kissed
her husbaud-to-be, and they were joined
by the bridal party and the march to the
main hall was begun. Rev. DIT. Jur-
gibson, OF the Episcopal church had wit
messed the winning Of the bride and was
i'm the van Of the procession. il was the
work of but few minutes TO tie the
knot. and Farthingale, the happiest man
I'm the county led the way with the bride.
to the banquet table, where all were made
happy with venison, wild turkey bear
meat and all the delicacies OF the season.
including half dozen roast pigs.
After the banquet, the people again re-
paired to the track, whore there was hur-
die racing. stecple chasing ana n race
among the best fox hounds of this section.
The Publication wound up with a big
dance at the judges where Farthineale
and his pretty wife led the cotillion.
Strange as it may seem. neither Mr.
nor Mrs. Farthingale has admitted any
change of views on the financial question