The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-19

ing the Squire The pair were
very nervous, and the girl
kept twisting handkerchief round
and round her fingers. 1t was
evident that she was having a
hard time to refrain from bursting
into tears. She was evidently from one
OF the mill settlements in the vicinity
OF Charlotte. Her dress was of plain
ginghan,, and small black velvet cape
was tied over her shoulders. The boy
was a manly looking young fellow, and
when it came to answering the ques-
tions they both spoke up promptly. The
Squire lost no time in proceeding to
business.
You all want to get married, / sup
Tose?" he said, addressing the couple.
The young man replied that they did.
Then the Squire made a little address
in which he said that the company was
met together "fot the purpose Of joining
this mal and women in the holy bonds
OF matrimony, which is an honorable
estate and is commended CT St. Paul to
be honorable among all men" Then the
Squire told them to clasp each others
right hand, and addressing the youth
he said: Young man, will you have
this woman whom you hold by the right
hand to be your lawful and welded
wife, to love, cherish and comfort her
liz sickness and in health, forsaking all
others and cleave unto her only so long
as you both shall live, SO help you God;
VIII your" The young man answered 81
will" And then a somewhat similar
question was propounded to the young
woman. The Squire subsequently ex-
planned to me that he never makes
woman promise to love, serve and obey
He said that he considered that to be
altogether too hard promise to exact
from woman in these enlightened days.
After the promises were given the
Squire formally pronounced the couple
man and wife, and il was not until he
sat down or the sofa to make out the
marriage certificate that he thought it
proper to ask thefcouple's names. Meth
er did he think it worth while to ask
their ages He said in regard to this
that they We're old enough to know what
they were doing. While he was making
out the certificate the Squire kept UP a
running conversation. Il always have
something lively or funny to say he
contded to me, 'in order to make things
agreeable The marriage certificate
made out and handed over, the bride
groom asked ''How much do / owe
you Mr. Bailes?" well" responded the
Squire, cautiously, 81 dunno; l reckon
oughtn't charge you anything There
was a brief pause, but the young man
didn't improve it by making voluntary
Offering, and finally the Squire said:
"Well, l reckon about a dollar'll do"
Despite the Squire's urgent invitation
to stay awhile the couple said they would
have to start right away on their. IL
mile drive back to Charlotte. Well"
said the Squire, "Good-by, then, and
come again both of you With which
CHEEKY invitation the young people hur-
ried out and into their hired buggy,
which was standing in the yard
After they had gone the Squire showed
me by the stub of his certificate book
that he had me down as a witness to
the ceremony. The certificate which the
Squire gives is an original production.
Among other innovations it has printed on
it:
worth My Weight in Cold"
As to the sequel to his great marriage
business the Squire said that his house
being located in South Carolina and the
rest of his estate in North Carolina
made his place an ideal spot so far as
the laws OF both States were concerned
Again, no license to marry was required
in South Carolina. while in North Caro-
lin, not only was a license necessary,
but a So fee went with the license. Re-
garding the story that his wife had mar
riod couple ard complications had
subsequently arisen, the Squire said
that he couldn't recall the incident, and
that his wife had been dead about six
months. When asked if Mrs Bales had
ever performed a marriage ceremony
he said. why, yes; | couldn't be here
all the time, you know" Later on in
going through the certificate book
came across a stub filled out in hand
from the others. Mrs. Bales
evidently married this couple, Squire"
said. Yes. he replied, after looking at
the stub. II reckon she did" He then
went on to explain that common law
marriages were legal in South Carolina