The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-27
WON BRIDE WITH RIFLE.
Unwilling Father and Brothers For
ccd to Be Witnesses.
From the Chicago Chronicle.

kind. You who think that mankind tn
day, in respect to certain elementary
emotions, has changed greatly from
the type of that day or the day long
before it, when marriage was made nv
capture, may read and change your
views.
With that as a preface, here is the
proof of the proposition:
In Oregon there lived a young girl
with three large, strapping brothers
and her father and mother. The
brothers, it was current opinion in the
locality, could whip their weight in
grizzly bear. As they were called
'chips off the old block it was to be
assumed the father was of the same
type.
In this family the daughter, Marga-
ret Black. was regarded as the idol
also the slave. Margaret was TO be
worshipped so long as she obeyed.
When she wanted to disobey, then she
was to be ruled. 1t was another case of
Lorna Doone.
Margaret's obedience was not a mat
ter of dispute until one day when she
happened to walk farther than usual
into the great woods around the Black
home and lost her way. She walked
and ran through the underbrush with
out finding familiar path until she
was thoroughly frightened little girl.
Then. she woefully sat down facing the
prospects of night in the woods.
In this predicament she was found
by young man who carried a rifle
under his arm. He was not lost. That
was evident. He smiled when the girl
confessed that she was. OF course he
would take her home. Then they both
laughed, and the work which forms the
basis of this story was done.
81 am Roland Lee" he said. why, 1
live within ten miles of your home
To walk ten miles and more out of
the way just to see that a pretty girl
found her way home was nothing-not
in Oregon.
After that the disobedience of Mar
garet began. 1t would have been
something wonderful the way they
managed to meet in. the woods II that
were not as old a way as the story it
self is old.
When the three large brothers and
the father who claimed Margaret dis
covered this they found that they had
not been consulted, and that was rea-
son enough to oppose it. They found
they did not like Roland Lee. They
discovered an unimaginable number of
reasons why he would not do all of
which were communicated to Mar
garet, only to be received in the usual
fashion. The more they argued the
more the girl decided that he would
do.
Finally the family brought matters
to a crisis, by locking Margaret in her
room. You may have read Dorothy
Vernon of Haddon Hall" That ex-
plains how such a coure of action does
not bring the desired results. 1t is
not necessary to read it. You may be
able, to imagine that it would not.
Lee walked about the woods for some
time without finding Margaret before
he learned that she was a prisoner.
He also learned that he was the cause
of ii. Being a young man of adecided
conviction, upon which he was accus-
toned to act promptly, he followed his
usual custom in this case. RE went
to the nearest town and secured min
lister.
II want you to marry me-" he said.
with pleasure" said the clergyman;
but where is the bride ?"
We'll have to get her. Can. you
stand long driver" t}15
The minister said he could. Lee got
+, his rifle and they set out for the Black
home,
Lee and his Clergyman walked up
to the door and knocked. The eldest
brother threw open the door, revealing
the whole family seated at the table.
Margaret had been allowed out of her
room to eat dinner, and she had been
sitting silently, refusing to discuss her
love affair with her jailers.
The three large brothers and the
father had threatened to thrash Lee
on sight if he came near the house,
and when Margaret saw him appear
suddenly in the doorway she jumped
from her chair expecting to see her
lover set upon by the fighting brothers
and put in a condition for the under
taker.
Nothing of that sort happened. Lee
was too quick for them. Before one
could move he had his rife in position
where it could be used rapidly and
effectively.
NJ Just stand where you are, please,
he said. Mr.. Black, will you sit down
again? Thank you. Miss Black, will
you come outdoors? Now, if any one
moves toward a gun therell be trouble
= Il just wanted a moments talk with
Margaret. 1 heard that she was keep
ing the house, so / had to come here
to see her. 1 understood that you were
looking for me, so l thought 1 would
/. avoid trouble.
Margaret, just wanted to ask If
you Will marry me?'
Yes" said the disobedient Margaret
II will. l won't be a prisoner any
longer i won't stay in this house and
/ will marry him,"
Then. If your brothers and father
will just step outside said Lee, and
pointed the rifle toward each in sue
cessien. In certain parts of the West
a gun play usually means business and
not bluff. So the three brothers and
the father came outside.
Nov, if you will just move about so
feet away, said Lee, and they moved.
The minister had been standing
through this proceeding, a rather star
tied man, but one who was beginning
to see the part he had to play.
81 secured license before / spoke
to you," said Lee to the clergyman
Here it is. Now, Margaret, if you
are ready. The witnesses will please
keep quiet and remain standing"
Margaret came out of the house and
stood before the minister hand in
hand with Lee who used his left to
keep the ri1a pointed in the direction
of the witnesses.
Under these conditions the marriage
ceremony was performed. When it h ad
been conclud ID Lee kissed his wife
hastily, as the rife had to be kept on
the rest of the family, and then be-
gan to pIal d retreat. The minister
was told to drive the carriage to the
door and Mrs. Lee was handed in
Then Lee entered and advised the wit
nesses to march down the road hun
dred yards IN front of the bridal pro
cession.
When he considered that sufficient
start had been secured and that with
a little active work ION the part of
his horse would make it impossible
for the hrofhe TO return for their