The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-27
Two Fights
For a Bride
Also Two Wedding
Journeys
BY OSCAR cox

Journeys
By OSCAR COX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
John Murdoch, landlord of the Ant
lers inn, was standing on his porch
ready to welcome the first summer
visitor when the first summer visitor
came down upon him with a rush She
was young lady about twenty years
of age mounted on a horse whose eyes
were afiame, nostrils wide open and
sides covered with foam Dashing up
to where Murdoch stood, she looked at
the open door of the inn as if expecting
some one to come out to meet her.
Not seeing any one, she fred a volley
of questions at the landlord:
Us there gentleman here waiting
for mef"
Nom"
HAS he been hereY
Nom"
Have you had any word from him p
Nom"
"Then l am undone."
Murdoch stood gaping at her. Pres
emily she spoke to him again:
Are you marriedY'
Nom"
Would you have any objection to
marry me?'
II wouldn't be fit"
''Never mind that. Answer my Ques-
ton"
Really married?"
Eyes, really married, but not to live
with me. No; you won't do. Go find
me husband"
She gave him her hand that he might
help her off her horse, threw the rein
over hitching post and directed him
to bring any man in the place who
was not married, together with a par
son, If he could find one, and be quick
about it. She would give the groom
$500. While speaking she kept looking
up the road in the direction from which
she had come, and when she had fin
ished she listened
The landlord put on his hat to go
across lots to a house where he knew
of a single man that needed money
badly. Those were the days when
everybody ''biked.' and a young fell
low got up in short coat, knicker-
bockers and wooden stockings came
pedaling along the road.
II say, young fellow" said the land
lord, "are you married."
mo"
ey that way?"
"What way?
''By marrying girl"
what grip
"She's right over there at my house
Come and have look at her."
81 don't mind"
The landlord went back by the short
cut to the house. and the biker ped
aled there by the road The young
lady was out on the porch staring up
the road. Turning, she saw the land
lord and the bicycist coming.
"Hurry upY' she called.
This young man. the landlord be.
gan.
Eyes. l know Where's the parson?'
"I'll get him as soon as''-
"Get him now. Don't waste a mo-
ment. Oh, dearI I'm afraid well be
too late"
The landlord hurried away again.
The girl turned toward the young man.
you're going to marry me. and I'll
pay you $500 for doing it."
Not without some show of an ex-
PLANTATION"
I'VE can't be married till the parson
comes. so I'll give you what you ask.
Pm an orphan My guardian managed
to get hold of me after fathers death
and tried to persuade me to marry
him. I've been his prisoner for
months I have been told that as a
married woman I'll have better
chance to fight him under the law,
and | want husband to protect me-
that is. wanted one and expected to
meet one here. but he has disappointed
me. Ny guardian has doubtless dis.
covered my escape and is liable to be
here at any moment Hist. Is that
wheels? No When he comes I wish
to be a wife. and I hope you'll have
the pluck to prevent his dragging me
back to that horrid''-
She stopped short, seeing the land.
lord coming with man in white neck.
tie.
Come inside" she added
The four of them went inside. Ther
the groom to be said:
I'm ready to help you out of ?
scrape. but not for pay. And / insist
on signing away any claim to what
you possess before the marriage"
'Well hurry up
"Give me writing materials"
The landlord pointed to the Office
counter. where there were pens anG
paper. and the young man signed away
the girls fortune Then he/stood u
beside her. and they were married. The
groom lifted his brides hand to hi.
lips in courtly manner and kissed it
Are you gentleman" she asked
with some surprise
Don't | look like oneY'
Not in those clothes You under
stood. Didn't you. before the ceremony
that all | want of you is to get rid OF
my guardian? We are not to live to
gether'
Certainly not"
"Oh, heavens, Here he comes"
A galloping horse came clatterins
down the road, dragging a buggy after
it. In the buggy was man somewhat
past middle age. He drove up to the
hotel door and called out for the land
lord
"a young woman-a lunatic-has es-
capped Seen anything of herr"
There's young lady here. She's
just been married"
II