El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-03

Claude Beck, aged years, of 2S4
Wyoming street, and little Miss Grac;
E. Fry, aged years, of 41O1a Marke
street, applied to Clerk Augustus Fill
ley Thursday for a marriage license
says st. Louis paper. The austere
and unsympathetic clerk declined tt
issue the document, but he couldn't
prevent them from establishing a rec.
ora as the youngest couple that ever
MADE formal application to the re-
coroer OF deeds of st. Louis for per-
mission to wed. Claude and Grace
nave Deen playmates since they were
olo enough to walk. Their parents are
TRENDS and the earliest memory of the
cnlidren is of days spent in playing
housekeeping and other games in
winch children delight. In all these
sports Claude assumed the role of
lover and said sweet things and i'm
agined he performed noble deeds for
trace, who was his contented little
sweetheart. This arrangement at play
Pleased Claude SO well that he vowed
ne would nave no wife but Grace, and
ne asked her to promise to marry him
"nen they were old enough to get a
marriage license. Grace was willing
and said only Claude could have her
heart and hand. The babies informed
tnelr parents of their childish be-
trotnal, and were much chagrined
Wnen their papas and mammas de-
ciareo 1t to be great joke and laughed
heartily at them. We'll fool them"
said Claude. Grace will have no
sweetheart but me, and 1 will have no
sweetheart but her, and we'll marry.
Maybe they'll think then we are not
Joking Claude and Grace were not
bashful about acknowledging their
engagement" and 1t was soon a sub
1ect OF much amusement among the
friends of their families. Claude
dressed himself in his best suit OF
clothes Thursday and went to Grace's
nome to spend the day. She knew he
was coming and was wearing her pref
test dress in honor of the occasion.
He saluted her with a kiss and they
were soon romping and playing about
the yard. They discussed the kind of
house they would live in when they
were married and criticised the ar
'angement of the furniture in Grace's |
home. Suddenly Claude declared it |
vas high time they be married. 81
hink We are plenty old enough, and |
: am tired of waiting. 1 want a home |
II my own, where l can do as 1 want /
o, and 1 want you to live with me.
;an't we be married today?" Grace
aid she thought she was cid enough |
mo declared she knew Claude was.
3ne wanted to marry, too. just then
Lnomas Hand, a friend of the family,
walked into the house and INQUIRED
bout their love affairs. They told him
hoy had just decided to be married.
Tut didn't know what to do. Mr.. Hand
aid he would help them, and re-
uested them to take a walk with him.
lie led them to the court house and
resented them to his friends as the
oungest couple that ever visited the
larriage-license bureau on business
urposes. Each wore rosette, fur
1shed by Hand. The boy explained
Is errand, and Gus Filley, with a SOL
mn look on his countenance. drew
'Ward him a block of application
tanks, and began to ask the usual
uest1ons. The boy gave the necessary
nswers that he and Grace were sin
e and unmarried" and were not re-
ted. He then signed the application :
a large hand, peculiar to one who 7
as just learned how to form letters in
riting. The writing was very plain
Id unusually good for boy of his age.
race was not able to write her name I
Id her intended husband signed for
er F1lley omitted the preliminary
regard to collecting 81, and informed
e couple that that was all that was
'cessary. "You must keep that, mis-
r, said Claude, as he and his fiancee =
ere about to leave, until 1 am 21
ars old, and then 1 will come and get
and we will be married" They
1lled as they went home and
uckled in glee as they contemplated
surprise which they would cause
their respective homes. Il am glad 7
are to be married. said Claude.
race is good little woman, and I
,e her. She has a nice little piano
d a stove, and 1 think we can do
usekeeping if they will let u.s."
ace was too modest to say anything.
i'd you go on a wedding tour?" she -
Is asked. She nodded her head in
sent. Where did you go?" ITO the
ug store" What did you get there b
soda water?" mo, we got ice
'am." Grace is a pretty child, and n
is the dignity Of her position.