The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-07-24
A FLYING MARRIAGE,

SAID. leaning over the back OF the seat De-
fore me and grnsping my hand heartily.
"Glad toknow you," replied. Indeed
I've been longing for some one to talk to.
for IL seems to me that this journey is in
terminable."
"Slow train-bad road" said my new
made friend, throwing his high hat on the
back of his head and biting tho end of
a cigar. "Oh. see you smoke. Don't I'LL
your pipe. Take one Of these-exoellent-
made by member Of my congregation"
Even had not experience taught me to
refuse cigars offered by olergymen, and In
particular clergymen with solid white ties,
I would have declined the moldy looking
weed that the doctor held toward me.
AZ only smoke pipe" said, stretch
ing the truth q little that he might not
feel offended. Then pressed my face
against the window and peered out into
the dismal country through which we were
running. Now we were plunging through
lonely stretches OF dark woods. now run.
ming across wide reaches Of newly cleared
fields with here and there log house ris-
ing above the waste. Of fallen trees, just
visible In the half light Of the moon which
was rising above the mountains q few
miles away. Following us as we spun
along was white, smooth road that glis-
tened In the moonlight close to the track.
Onoe IN awhile we lost II In the darkness
of the woods, but as quickly as we emerged
into the more open country we could see IL
at our side again. hugging us close, which.
reflected, was but natural In such q
dreary land.
Zine country. eh''' said DR.. Buckle,
IT don't think, as my third son, clever
Lad, II there ever was one. says. It just
happens that I know this region pretty
we'll. Therei Did you see that place
where the road CROSSED creek on q wooden
bridget That was where they dropped
me-"
Dropped your" ventured inquiringly.
"Pardon me. thought that had been
telling you about It," returned the min
lister, tilting his tile still further back on
his head. What memories the sight Of
that place engsndersl You see, sir, some
ten years ago had q charge In this very
locaiity-at Poievilie, five miles down the
road. There were two churches, one at the
village and the other back in the country
some six miles, and I alternated between
them. The charge was indeed a poor one,
but was a struggling young divine then.
with wife and four little ones to sup
port, and I was glad enough to have q
snug parsonage. a SALARY OF $500 per year
and an average Of three donation parties
per annum. II was the salary question
that eventually drove me away from the
plaoe-a change for the better. to be sure
as have now splendid church In Punk.
ington. BY the bye, wish, II you ever stop
there, you would give as o call and SEQ our
new pulpit furniture"
''But your storyY, interrupted, for
saw that he was prone to wander from the
subject of his discourse.
"Ahi There was forgetting my tale to
speak Of pulpit trsppings. Your pardon.
The trouble was that fully four-fifths Of
my salary was paid by two families. both
wealthy farmers. the Bunders and the
Springhouses. Unfortunately for me these
families had been at odds for years over q
matter Of line fence. In the west there
would have been some lead exchanged, but
this is a peaceable country, and 50 they
contented themselves by quarreling in
court and never passing word elsewhere
To the rule, however, there was one excep-
ton Henry Bunder and Kate Spring
house."
The doctor was evincing such garrulity
that I felt little uneasy and broke again
the thread OF his story.
. "See here. I think know the rest.
They sang in the Same choir; they loved |;
you married them olandestinely; salary
out of; left you parsonage, $500 per year
and three donation parties"
True, true" said the divine, stroking
his long beard, ''but that was not what
was going to tell you about. proposed to
relate the events as they affected me and
not the young couple--to tell you how the
wedding ended where the road crossed the
bridge. May I go ons"
"By all means. Your pardon. I be.
lieved that had OWNED your tale"
'In general, yes; In detail. no. But to
continue. was not aware OF this excep-
ton until one October night just about
ten years ago, when loud banging at the
parsonage door awakened my wife and me
nom our sleep. At my request Mrs. Buckle
went down stairs to see what 1t was.
"'who IL therer she called through the
keyhole.
he wants Preacher Buckle pretty quick
too
"Belieying II a matter Of Importance,
my wife rashly called mo down stairs to
attend to the matter In hand, while she re-
yIr6u. Anu etiii inOho EoSnAyp 4 ORohoo tho
door q crack and demanded TO know what
was wanted ct such On hour.
C",lt's John Bunder and Kate Spring
house wants you marry EN-. preacher
said the big fellow whom saw stamping
TO and fro on the porch. And you'll have
10 do it quick
"'Indeed, says I, and this Is a nice
hour to wake an honest preacher for such
purpose.
And thsn, my curiosity getting the bet
ter of my discretion, unclaimed the door
and opened wider tho crack that might
obtain q good view Of the party A. the gate.
There were three Of them sitting In light
sprina wagon. to which were attached two
lively mules. In the moonlight could
/ 1ust d Iscern the small form OF Kate Spring
house, Glad In white and seated In front
beside her burly lover, young Bunder.
realized at once that this wedding was
frauRht with not q little danger 10 me, and
hsnce decided TO act cautiously.
".I would prefer that you and your
friends would go elsewhere, ! said TO the
nan euNslde. For instance, over the
mountains 10 Brother
"psfoss had finished my objection the :
airi screamed, They 're comingr Tho big
follow on the porch threw bis weight
against the door with such violence that I,
ANAL man a. / am, few backward to the
door with such force a. 20 partially stun
me. when-f recovered my senses, found
myself on tho hind seat Of ths wagon, with /
man at either aide. and Henry Bunder.
bis sweetheart clinRing TO him before me-
madly lashinR the m ules.
"'He has come 90, one of the men whis-
pered.