The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-30
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
II NEEDED THE AID OF A MINISTER
AND THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY.

The spinsters In the Millinery shop WANT
cd Some Fun-The Preacher Proposed
IN Hour For Thousht-Annie Cried and
Charlie Paid the Fee.
Rev. William a. Luckenbacl, of Hud-
son, N. y, sends the following to the
New York World:
I was once innocently made q party
to an attempted mock marriage episode.
There was millinery establishment in
the place, run by several jolly spinsters
whose chances for matrimonial alliances
had been growing less and less for many
years. It was familiarly known in my
congregation as the "shop," and it had
become rendezvous for the young peo.
pie, who frequently happened in to ex-
change jocular greetings and enjoy the
innocent gossip that constitutes much Of
the pleasure Of intimate acquaintance
ship.
There entered the "shop" one even
ing woman who would have been Of
Tended if we had called her "old," and
Of whom we would not have told the
truth Of we had said that she was
"young." Bolting forward laughingly
toward Amelia, one of the spinsters, she
exclaimed in loosely despairing tone: I:
II am SO tired of waiting for an offer
Of marriage that I'll marry the first
man that comes along and offers his
hand"
"Good for you, ANNIE" said Amelia.
"Who knows but that we may see a
wedding here this evening?"
Several others had dropped in mean
while to enjoy the cheeriness of the
"shop." It SO happened that among
them there came fine young man, who,
Annie had several times learned to her
discomfort, was as witty q practical
joker as herself. Incidental greetings
had scarcely passed among the bevy Of
merry companions before Amelia ex-
claimed, in tone and manner that at
once quieted the salutations of the mo-
ment:
"Charlie, Annie says that she is 30
tired Of waiting for an offer Of marriage
that she will marry the first man who
Will propose to her.
Lifting his hat gracefully, and look
ing at Annie without a blush, apparent
ly unabashed by the unexpected chal-
lenge, he answered.
II am at your disposal, Annie. How
would I suit youf''
Every good" said Annie. "Send for
the minister and we'll be married right
here on the spot
It was not long after that my door
bell rang. Responding to the ring
found there the brother Of the spinsters,
who had sent for me to come down to
the shop" to marry couple who were
looking for minister.
On entering the place and discovering
no strange couple there apparently con-
templating matrimony, at once sus-
pected that was to be made party to
some practical joke involving the mar
riage service-a kind Of merriment or
pastime that could not encourage.
asked, however, for the parties to be
married, intending, if it should further
appear that the company were expecting
only amusement, to give them gently
brief lecture on the impropriety Of play
ing marriage and the risks often in
Cured by the persons doing this.
Immediately up stepped before me
Charlie and Annie. Meanwhile, as if by
preconcerted action, there was no exhi-
bition at all Of merriment by any one Of
the company.
was greatly embarrassed. Charlie,
knew, was engaged to an estimable lady
in Philadelphia.
A happy thought occurred to me- 81
will not marry you now," said, "but
I will return home and leave you an
hour to think of it. If at the end Of the
hour You are still resolved to get mar
ried, come to my house and will mar
ry you"
"Fine," said Charlie "That's fine,"
an expression Of relief as the same mo-
ment overspreading his countenance,
"and whether we come or not" he con-
tinued, "you shall have fee for your
trouble
The hour passed away, but they did |
not come.
Among the callers on the following
day was Annie. She had come to make
explanations. She had not intended to
marry Charlie. She supposed I would
read the marriage service as usual, but
when should come to ask her, "Do you
take g. here for you welded husband3"
etc., she would have answered "No,"
and turning away she would have had
"the laugh" on him.
"Yes, Annie, but suppose he had said
No before you?''
"Then Of course it would have been
on me; but he didn't think Of that.
but another and more important
view of it, Annie, is this: It was not
necessary for me last evening to read
the marriage service at all. Had sim
ply pronounced Charlie and You man
and wife, you would have been married.
in law as effeotually as il I had read the
whole formula from beginning to end.
"Oh, Mr. L." said Annie. bursting |
into tears. twas ! SO nearly married? n
thought that You were obliged to read
the whole ceremony, and when you