The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-06-28


feet
The highvayman shufiing OF down
the road looked over his shoulder.
Going to the wedding?" he called.
Cause If you be. you might as well
come along with me-"
In silence he walked by the highway
mans side until they reached the front
door of Uncle Nathan's abode. Then
the highwayman. throwing the door
open with a certain nonchalance, rath-
er amazing under the circumstances.
said:
Walk right IL mister" and then
called more loudly, MARY Anne!
Here's Mr. Grimsbyi"
Before he had time to reflect on
these proceedings Grimsby was enfold-
ed in his buxom cousins loving arms.
Nightly bewildered. he had not time
to puzzle over the explanation OF the
matter, for a whisper ran about that
the fatal moment had arrived and he
found himself huddled up against the
wall with the other guests and waiting
In hushed expectancy, while Mary
Anne's sister began to drawl a we'd
ding march on the organ and every
body kept still and breathed hard.
After an age, and strung out about
three rods apart. the wedding party
appeared and took places before the
gray-haired clergyman in the corner.
The bridegrooms turn came, and he
made an awkward. siding entrance
through a narrow door.
"Hah!" exclaimed Grimsby. then
coughed confusedly and blushed.
The bridegroom was the highway
man of the wooded curve In the road.
why on earth?" thought Grimsby.
and What on earth?" and who on
earth?"
Then he lapsed into semi-uncon-
sciousness as the wedding march came
to the end and the clergyman cleared
his throat.
The preliminary parts OF the cere-
monNwere soon gone through.
Martin" said the minister, turning
to the bridegroom, wilt thou have this
woman to be thy welded wife. to live
together after Gods ordinance In the
holy estate Of matrimony? Wilt thou
love her comfort her. honor and keep
her. in sickness and in health; and for
saking all other. keep thee only unto
her, so long as ye both shall liver"
Il wilt" responded the bridegroom.
distinctly. but he didn't look like It.
Mary Anne" resumed the clergy
man, turning to-the bride, r'Wilt thou
have this man to be thy welded hus-
band to live together after Gods
ordinance in the holy estate Of matri-
mony? Wilt thou love. honor, and
keep him, in sickness and in health;
and. forsaking all other. keep thee only
unto him. SC long as ye both shall
live?"
Il wilt not" said Mary Anne. and
the emphasis was on the not.
There was sensation. but It wasn't
as much Of a sensation as It would
have been If the assembly had not
been composed wholly of Mary Anne's
lifelong friends and acquaintances. 1t
was not CONSERVATION. but restrained
hilarity. which made the guests
breathe deeply and sway to and fro.
The clergyman paused. closed the
book over his thumb. pushed his spec
tacles back on his forehead and looked
reprovlngly at the refractory bride.
The bridegroom did not seem either
surprised nor annoyed.
MARY Anne" began the clergyman
sternly. did ! understand you to say
that you wouldnt?"
"You did" affirmed Mary Anne en-
phatically, with flashing eyes.
"But she will Just the same" declar-
ed the bridegroom with confidence.
81 will not" reiterated Mary Anne.
Nov, Mary Anne. my dear young
woman" expostulated the clergyman
What does this mean2 How does It
come that when we have all assembled
here to witness your marriage to Mar
tin. that you fatty refuse him? You
must explain yourself or I'll go right
ahead and pronounce you man and
wife anyway"
'Ill explain. Mr. Outright" declared
Mary Anne proudly. 'I1l explain glad
ly. have been the victim OF an i'm
position. When Martin asked me to
marry him told him that ] had only
one objection. and that was that he
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