The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-06-21
A PECULIAR STORY
In Which Steve John and Steve
Mikell are Reunited.
Father After Greek Bride Who Sold
Her "For Keep" for $3.50 Duugh-
ter Will Remain With Groom.

Ter VIII kcNnain With Groom.
A party of a dozen or more lab
bering Greeks wearing boots of gor-
geous tops and adorned with much
glittering jcwclry, blew into police
headquarters at Columbia, S. c.. OK
cltcdly gcst culating and dancing,
about in fear of some impending
danger, the nature of which Chief
DAILY finally discovered through re-
peatcd showers Of punctuation
marks, to be that the father of a
bride in the "Gypsy" came near the
city was about to arrive here from
Norfolk and take her away.
The father Of the groom. whose
lucious Hungarian bride of a few
months, was threatened with kidnap-
ping. by her father, has the martial
carriage and grace of an Arab as he
strobe into police headquarters, ev-
cry muscle in his seven feet of
height cvidencing his splendid physi-
que acquired in camp life, his swar-
thy complexion blending with his
strong cigar. He wore a picturesque
silk vest, the buttons of which were
80 gold pieces, while his elaborate
gold watch and chain would have
furnished 81 excellent stage Drop.
erty" for a count Of Monte Cristo
ShoW.-
This wasStcve John, and he eXhib-
tied papers to the police which seem
to cntitlc him and his party to pro
lection, and which incidentally re-
veal some curious coStums which are
allowed to prevail even in this coun-
try among people Of his nationality.
Steve Mikcll, the faddcr Of my
son Teardo's bride. is coming on next
train to run away with his daughter
Iowa, my sons wife. But We hav
been too smart for him. We got pa
persfrom Boston showing his consent
to marriage. gif him Twelve hun
der and fcefty dollar for her, and he
has sign coontrack with me to pay
me back twenty-five hunder dollar
if he take her back. He can't trade
her off any more under America
law"
And the tall man pulled out the
documents, which conclusively con
firmcd his story. There was a con
tract signed by both fathcrs--Stcvc
Mikcll and Steve John--giving their
consent to the marriage, Gin consid-
GRAFTON of the sun of $l,250, receipt
of which is hereby acknowledged"
the said Steve Mikcil agreeing if
he ever did anything to scpcratc the
two that he would pay Steve John
$1,000. The paper binds him spccifi-
cally not to run away with or in any
manner induce her to leave young
Theodore John. The paper is signed
by both Stoves, duly witnessed and
bears the signature Of the Boston
lawyer drawing it up.
Steve John also exhibited the mar
riage license and registers certilica-
ton that both parents consented to
the marriage.
Another treasure which Steve fish
ed out of his inside pocket, and
which he still more jealousy guard
ed against going out of his posses
sion, was a newspaper clipping from
a Boston paper giving a picture of
the bride who was married to hisson
last fall, and which sets forth how
she was adorned with 81, 900 worth
of jewels.
Steve Mikcll, he tink he made
lots Of mon out of my Louva," said
Theodore the groom, "by sell from
one to oddcr, get lota mon from
each, but we bind him on Coontrack
now. He sell no NOR"
How many times has he sold her
like thiS?' asked the desk man, his
eyes gliStcning with interest.
"Fom time alrcad."
mo, no, no. said steve John,
rising and gloWering down on his son
in indignation, 'only two time"
at which the privatcs in the room
joined the desk man in a hearty
laugh.
l., ."Oh, but he no do it no more; we
bnda him in a contract" came the
reinsurance from the groom.
Will you be satisfied to let her 90
back to her father if he pays the So
500?" Wlckcdly asked the ncwspapcY
man Tor the purpose of provoking
another explosion in the hope that
something else interesting and novel
would be blown out Of the curious
soul of the groom.
oh, yes; we all satisfy if he pay
the $500. He got plenty of mon"
At which there was more laughter