The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-01-10
How He Got A Bride.
From the Chicago Tribune.


tions, has changed greatly from the typ
of that day or the day long before it, whe'
marriage was made by capture, may rea'
and change your views.
With that as a preface, here is tn
proof of the proposition:
In Oregon there lived young girl witt
three large strapping brothers and he
father and mother. The brothers, it wa
current opinion in the locality, could whiE
their weight in grizzly bears. AS they
were called "chips of the old block, y ii
was to be assumed that the father was Of
the same type.
In this family the daughter, Margaret
Black, was regarded as the idol-also the
slave. Margaret was to be worshipped SC
long as she obeyed When she wanted to
disobey then she was to be ruled. 1t was
another case of Lorna Doone.
Margarets obedience was not matter
of dispute until one day when she hap
pened to walk further than usual into the
great woods around the Black home and
lost her way. She walked and ran through
the underbrush without finding familiar
path until she was thoroughly frightened
little girl. Then she wofully sat down
facing the prospects of night in the
woods.
In this predicament she was found by a
young man who carried a rife under his
arm. He was not lost That was evil
dent. 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.
II am Roland Lee" he said. "Why,
I 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 Ore
gon.
After that disobedience Of Margaret be-
gan. 1t would have been something
wonderful the way they managed to meet
in the woods if that were not as old way
as the story itself is old.
When the three large brothers and the
father who claimed Margaret discovered
this they found that they had not been
consulted, and that was reason enough to
oppose it. They found they did not like
Roland Lee They discovered an unlm-
aginable number of reasons why he would
not do. all of which were communicated
to Margaret, only to be received in the
usual fashion. The more they uged 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 explains how such
course of action does not bring the desired
results. 1t is not necessary to read IT..
You may be able to imagine that 1t would
not.
Lee walked about the woods for some
time without finding Margaret before he
learned that she was prisoner. lie also
learned that he was the cause OF 1t. Be
inc young man Of decided convictions,
upon which he was accustomed to act
promptly, he followed his usual custom IN
this case. He went to the nearest town
and secured a minister.
II want you to marry me-" he said.
''With pleasure, - said the clergyman,
tsbut where is the bride p
"Wen have to get her. Can you
stand long drive ?
The minister said he could Lee got
his rife 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 to get 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 Mar
garet saw him appear suddenly in the
doorway she jumped from the chair, ex-
pecting to see her lover set upon by her
fighting brothers and put into a condition
for the undertaken
Nothing of that sort happened. Lee
was too quick for them. Before one
could move he had his rifle in position
where it could be used rapidly and effec-
lively.
Just stand where you are please, he
said "Mr Black will you sit down
again. Thank you, Miss Black, will you
come out doors? Now, if any one moves
toward gun there Il be trouble
II Just want moments talk with
the house so | had to come here to see
her. | understand that you were looking
for me. So | thought l would avoid
trouble
Margaret, just wanted to ask if you
will marry me?
''Yes,' said the disobedient Margaret.
~ will, | won be prisoner any longer.
I won't stay in this house, and will mar
ry you.
''Then if your brothers and father will
just step outside, said Lee, and pointed the
rifle toward each in succession. In GER
tain parts of the West a gun play usually
means business and not bluff. So the
three brothers and the father came out
side
CHOW, if you will just move about fifty
feet away" said Lee, and they moved.
The minister had been standing through
this proceeding, a rather startled man, but
one who was beginning to see the part he
had to play.
II secured license before I 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
rife pointed in the direction of the wit
nesses.
Under these conditions the marriage
ceremony was performed. When it had
been concluded Lee kissed his wife hastily,
as the rifle had to be kept on the rest of
the family. and then beoan TO plan re-