Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-13
Stealing a Bride
tOriginal.1

In colonial times there was a curious
custom called bride stealing. Persons
who had not been invited to the we'd
ding would watch for chance after
the ceremony had been performed to
kidnap the BRIDE Placing her on
horse behind one Of their party, they
would gallop to a neighboring tavern
where they had ordered supper. If
they reached the tavern before the
bride had been rescued the night was
spent there in feasting and dancing,
and the bridegroom was expected to
foot the bills.
Mary and Helen Harrington, daugh-
tiers OF an old colonial justice of the
peace, were very attractive girls. Mary
was engaged to an officer in the British
army, and her parents being Tories,
were well satisfied with the match, but
Helen's fiance, being outspoken in con-
demnation of the taxes the king lev
led on the colonies, was not acceptable
to her father, who declared that she
should never marry a man tinctured
WILL u La VI ICUClllOu.
On the other hand, preparations for
the marriage of Captain Hinchelwood
and Mary Harrington were being made
with great satisfaction to all, though
Truxell and Helen could not but be
cast down at the contrast between
their own condition and that of the
happy pair. In vain Truxell endeavor-
ed to gain an interview with Helen,
hoping to persuade her to elope with
him. But she was so closely watched
that communication was impossible
Preparations for Marys wedding
having been made and the wedding
day arrived, guests from all the coun-
try roundabout were assembled at Har-
rington Hall to take part in the fes-
t1vities. Captain Hinchelwood wore
his scarlet uniform, Mary a white satin
gown beautifully trimmed with lace.
Her sister was her only bridesmaid.
There was plentiful sprinkling of
redcoats from the grooms regiment,
stationed at Boston, who held their
heads very high among the palmer
young men who were soon to meet
them at Concord, Lexington and Bun
ker Hill. The ceremony had taken
place, the bride and groom were re-
ceiving congratulations, and the negro
cooks in the kitchen were bringing in
the supper. Suddenly every candle was
extinguished, and there was commo-
ton, amid which voices cried:
bride Stealers!"
"The bride has been stolen!"
''MountI'
''They're galloping awayv'
There was a gathering of horses
hoofs, growing fainter in the distance.
Under the sheds horses and vehicles
which had brought the guests were
standing, and number Of the men,
headed by the brides father and her
husband, mounted and dashed away
after the kidnapers. A full moon illu-
minated the landscape, and at every
straight stretch Of road the pursuing
party could see those who were fleeing
before them flashing their horses. At
one point the pursuers came to
branches Of trees piled in the road to
prevent their progress. That the kid
napers were not delayed was because,
having prepared the distractions them
selves, when they came to them they
took bypath around them. Dismount-
ing, the pursuers soon cleared the road
and were off again. Then they ap-
preached a covered bridge which had
been packed with straw and which as
soon as the kidnapers had passed
through it they had set afrA. Indeed,
the pursuers saw the sparks struck
from the flint for the purpose. By the
time they reached the bridge it was
aflame, and they must go to a ford
good mile around. This decided the
race. When the pursuers reached a
tavern where the lady had been taken
and Mr.. Harrington went up on to the
porch his daughter came out to meet
him. But instead Of throwing herselr
into his arms she knelt at his feet.
Then for the first time her father no
ticed that man who followed her was
young TruXell.
"What do you mean by thls? eA-
claimed the old man angrily.
"Father," said the kneeling girl, Tor
give me. | am married"
"Of course you're married and, thank
heaven, to a loyal subject of the king.
What! Helen! Do you mean
cit means, Mr.. Harrington SAID
Truxell, ''that the bride is at home.
This is her sister, whom that clergyman
who is standing within has just united
in wedlock to me- Our wedding supper
is ready. Send for the guests at the
hall, and we will celebrate a double
wedding here"
Helen led her father to room where
they were alone and, winding her arms
about him, besought him to forgive her
and make the occasion merry instead
of a mournful one One circumstance
was of great assistance to her. In the
settlement pertaining to Mary's mar
rage Mr.. Harrington had been Obllgeu