Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-05-07
By J. H. CONNOLLY.
CHAPTER XVII
Copyright aot-r. Bssr. sons ran rights reserved,

great disgust that it would not be prac-
ticable TO get a marriage license before
nine o'clock. Hitherto he had cared moth
ing for politics, but now he saw an i'm
perative need for Reform-with big r.
one so great as to be worth fighting for
at the polls 1t was shameful, outrageous
he said to himself-that the sloth of
public servant, a mere clerk, should be
permitted to keep up the bars on the road
to Hymen until so prepOsterous an hour.
Marriage licenses should be procurable
at daybreak. 1t would do no harm if the
clerks office were kept open all night,
ike the watch houses, and would doubt
less be a great convenience for citizens.
He wondered if he could not get the AS
semblyman from his district to introduce
IN the Legislature a bill to that effect.
And hours later, when he realized that
what had been at the first seeming but
an annoying delay, had, through the evo-
luton of consequent events. developed
into overwhelming disaster to his most
cherished plans, his rage grew with his
knowledge, and he swore by the Devils
Backbone that never would he vote for
a candidate unpledged to antag0nism to
chat exasperating and baneful system of
eenses to the hours between nine a. N.
and four p. m. Well, why not? Have
not party platforms" contained less de-
sirable ''planks," and has not every
American citizen an inherent right to
construct a plank for himself and to jam
Il into a platform, too, if he can get help
enough to do so?
Now that thee has thy license, John"
said Landlord Robinson to him, there
Is but one minister in Pittsburg VINO
should marry thee, and that is the Rev.
AIr. Laidlaw. He filled the pulpit at
Candor eleven years ago; is a brother-in-
law Of the Rev. Mr.. Mcleod, the pres
ent incumbent-who got the best of me
once in horse trade, even if he is a min
lister of the gospel, and | give him credit
for it as | do any man who is smart
enough to best me in a dicker-and is
personally known to everybody in the
northern half and middle of Washington
County. Believe me, John, thou canst
not take too many precautions in this
matter. Forget it not, that a Cameron
is wedding a Mulveil, and instead of it's
being an occasion to fan the flame of the
old feud, it should bring about peace and
good will. Which it doth, dependent in
greatest measure upon thee"
Il don't see how"
Through the degree of respect thou
shOwest, by every detail of thy marriage,
for the Mulveil thou hast chosen to take
to wife. Do naught that an enemy might
cOnstrue into slight or even thought
less lack of consideration for her"
Mrs. Robinson used like arguments
Nth nv ba
imagining that marriage celebrated by
anybody else than the Rev. Mr.. Laid
law would be no marriage at all worthy
of the name, and John went in haste to
secure at once the services of that neces-
sary functionary. Alas. for the hours
lost in getting the license. The minis
ter's wife said that her husband had,
about nine o'clock that morning, gone
over to Allegheny to confer with some
ministerial brother over something they
proposed to bring before the next pres
bytery, and he was not at all likely to
return before dark. But by six o'clock
they would certainly find him at home.
Could they not wait until then? Waltz
Oh. yes, John could wait and would, if
it were absolutely necessary, until even
ing but no more. He said to himself
that he would see Mr.. Laidlaw and the
whole presbytery in Halifax before he
would wait until the next day.
The weather was altogether too Wiley
bad for any sightseeing, to kill time
with; and. indeed. there was not much
worth seeing in the town in those days;
certainly nothing so attractive for John
and Hetty as sitting together before the
glowing fire in the cosy sitting room of
the Farmers Inn, building their castles
in the air. They took up that delightful
occupation just about where they had
left off the night before, and the enchant-
ed land of their mutual dream was far
from the dull, cold, gray reality of driving
rain and bowling wind and FLASHING mud
beneath frowning leaden skies. With his
arm about her waist, her head upon his
shoulder and their voices murmuring low
and tenderly, their souls tioated in uni
son through Il realm warmed and illum-
ined by the rOSeate sun of love.
Furnishing the castle in the air was
now the order of business. John rather
thought they would not need to buy Il
single stick" The great loft of the old
homestead was literally filled with bed
steadS, tables chairs, chests of drawers
and such like stuff, the Accommodations of
three or four generations of systematic
gathererS; and it was no common, cheap
furniture. but solid mahogany; old-fash-
ioned, perhaps, but none the less service
able
But, will your mother consent to our
taking what we want?'
She would gladly give us as much
more for taking it away out of her road. 8"
Neither of them noticed the door
opening behind them, ana both start
ed to their feet surprised. red and
confused, as 4 duet of EXPLANATIONS burst
Rpou their ears. One. in a big. deep. mas
euline voice, was simply: Gosh" The
other, sharply, shrilly feminine, was:
@SakeS alive
Uncle David Henderson ana Miss Mary
Elder confronted the lovers.
Why, Mehitable Mulveil.' continued
:he spinster, eXcitedly. How on earth
did You come here?"
In Johns cutter. Mary" answered
the girl demurely. with roguish little
smile. F.... ..s,
Are you married yset?" demanded I IN
Gle David.
No: not yet" replied John.
Uncle David frowned severely.
HOW 10 you come 10 De nSESs 1eICN
asked her friend.
Il had lot Of dry goods and fxiu' :
70 set, and as Uncle David was coming
to town to-day with his big sleigh. be
kindly brought me along"
Are YOU married yet2" demanded
John, sravely. with a very good imita-
ton Of the older mans Sternly magiSte-
rial manner
Uncle David fairly jumped in surprise.
Mary gasped. Why. John Cameron
And then there was a general roar OF
laughter.
Come" said Uncle David, in 4 tone Of
remonstrance, interrupting the hilarity
";his is no laughing matter. Sou chill
dren may think il is quite joke. bat
before you get through you viii ind il
- serious piece Of business, I an
afraid"
How did you leave motherE" Hetty in
-