The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-28

pray you 10 shower your pIeSSluBS.
This intelligence was received, first,
in silent establishment, for only the
few we have mentioned had had the
least inkling of the secret, but after
the establishment was recovered from
it was greeted with a storm Of APP
plause.
What F'risker had done in his few
words he had intended Spriggs to
make the subject of a splendid speech.
But, alas Spriggs had failed him in
his hour of need and he was forced
thus to be his own speechmaker, but
it is our belief that the great Spriggs,
mad he been in fit condition, with all
his polish and ready command Of Ian
guage, could not have delivered
speech with better effect than had the
farmer in his few blunt words.
Then all became silent, and the
parson, rising, entered upon his happy
duty of joining together two loving
| hearts.
Keep Spriggs out! Don't let him
I'M" said Frisker, to one of his friends
before the marriage service began, for
he had looked around the company and
found, to his great relief, that Spriggs
was missing, for the tipsy bachelor
was at that moment in the bar-room
of the hotel below, replenishing his
little brown flask.
The bride and bridegroom, with their
attendants, took their places, the par
son rose, and the ceremony began.
But when nearly through, and just
arrived at that highly critical part of
the ceremony when the couple are
questioned as to whether they accept
each other as husband and wife, sud
denly out went the gas, and the room
was left in total darkness.
This created some CONSERVATION
Blame the luck!" cried Frisker and
he beloved for a match.
Then every man began to fish in
his vest pocket; but, of course, no one
had match about him.
'I'll go downstairs for one" cried
the man on guard at the door, and he
opened the door to go; but at the same
moment the bridegroom, Stephen OAR
rell, called out that ne had a match in
his pocket.
There was no use then OF the guard
going for one, so he shut the door
again; but before he did so a dark
figure passed into the room unnoticed
in the gloom.
Stephen Darrell was intensely
hurried by the interruption, and rushed
to light the gas himself. But when
he got to the jet he found that he had
no match as he had supposed, and that
it was only toothpick he had felt in
his pocket Then, desperate with
rage, and = simple fellow! quite
frightened, it must be admitted at the
sudden extinguishment Of the light,
which he superstitiously took to be a
bad omen for his wedding, he rushed
out of the room and downstairs to get
light himself.
No one knew who it was that went
out, but thought it some one OF the
young men gone on the errand.
"Confound the thing!" cried Fris-
ker. There amt much more jobbing
to do, is there, parson? Well, then,
let the wedding go on in the dark.
Darn it! I've heard that it's bad luck
to stop in the middle of a marriage;
and if that's the case, the dark amt
going to stop my daughters"
Eyes, let it go on in the dark"
cried Farmer Darrell 1--WE heard that
it's bad luck to stop, too"
The parson attempted to expostulate;
but both the farmers ordered the mar
riage to go on in the dark. So the
bride took her place beside figure
which she supposed to be that of her
husband, and the service went on.
DO you accept this woman as your
welded wife?'
| No answer was heard. Everyone
supposed that the bridegroom had
spoken it, but that, owing to nervous
ness which sometimes does affect
bridegrooms to a great degree, he had
spoken inaudibly.
do you accept this man for your
welded husbapd?"
Il do" replied the BRIDE in firm
voice. Gracious, Stephen, how you are
trembling[" she was then heard to
whisper.
"Then | declare you man and wife!"
said the parson, "and the blessing OF
God, and of everyone, be upon this
union"
AS he said these words the figure OF
the husband bent toward the bride.
She thought he wished to kiss her, and
presented her lips for the purpose OF
being so treated.
Her lips met something, but 1t was
not the lips of her husband 1t was
something very cold, and strange,
shivering sensation passed over her as
she felt it's touch.
"His-want some-hic?" asked a