Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1913-01-24

It. that q pickpocket passing through
the train before it rolled out Of the
station, seeing what he supposed to be
q bridal couple starting on wedding
journey, saw his opportunity and
when the shoe and rice throwing was
in progress deftly slipped his hand In
Georges pocket and relieved him of
the poeketbook..
'1Tickets!" repeated the conductor in
what seemed to the couple an unsym
pathetic, cold, harsh voice.
George wildly went through his
pockets again, though he was sure
what he wanted was not there. Not
finding it, he told the conductor Of his
loss. He suspected, he said, that some
thief had taken it,
1.-THE horrid wretch!'' exclaimed
fat lady in the next seat behind, re
ferring to the pickpocket
My orders are" said the conductor
Ito collect all fares"
"But have no money to pay WITH
George gasped,
Sorry, but ] can't help it. You'll
have to get of at the next station
The conductor passed on. A sympa
thetic murmur passed through the car.
The fat lady arose in her seat and ad
dressed the passengers, saying:
Some good for nothing, Contempt
BILE creature has robbed this young
couple, taking their money and their
tickets. It's a pity that they should
make so unfortunate a start ON life's
journey together. They must be help
ed out. / have only SIS with me, which
I'll give them II you'll make up the
rest"
"HOW much Is neededT' cried one.
"HellO, CONDUCTOR called another
Whats the price Of two tickets to
where these pigeons are goingT'
Upon inquiry as to the couples desti-
nation the conductor said the fare
would be $12.40.
A hat was passed around and money
dropped in it till the requisite amount
was collected and poured into the lap
OF the supposed bride. No one present
except George knew the real cause Of
the scarlet Gag that was unfurled in
Myra's face. 10 was embarrassing to
be thought q bride when she was not
even engaged, but to accept Of this bit
OF wedding gift from strangers under
the circumstances was crucifying to
her sensitive nature. Turning to the
fat lady who had befriended her she
said:
"Oh, dear! We're not a bridal couple
at all; we're not even engaged. The
rice throwing and all that was q joke. !"
my goodness graciousg' exclaimed
the fat lady loud enough to be heard
all over the car.
whats the matterY called voice.
The real facts of the case gradually
became known to the passengers. Some
laughed: sOme-who had not contrib
uted-grunted that there was a swim
die in the case-cOnf1dence game. The
young couple were In agony. Some
one called out:
'There's just one way to fix it. Let's
have weddingr
Bring a clergyman"
There's one! That man with his
collar buttoned on the back of his
neck"
''Let him step forward"
The clergyman advanced. George
looked at Myra with sickly smile.
Myra says she doesn't believe she
was married at ALL All she remem-
bers was a buzzing In her ears, her
cheeks hot as a fiery furnace. a lot of
excited passengers swimming before
her eyes, man in clerical dress stand
ing before her reading something out
of book and George putting ring on
her finger. though where he got it she
didn't know.
The ring was loaned by the fat lady
and was needed to complete the cere-
mony, according to the ritual
As soon as the knot was tied and the
couple had submitted to the congratu
latiOns OF every passenger in the car
the couple held a brief consultation, In
which it was decided to leave the train
at the next station, returning the con
tribution, except a small loan from the
fat lady for immediate expenses. They
would then telephone the fact of theil
marriage and ask for funds with which
to make a real wedding tour. They
had scarcely agreed upon this and tax
en- the fat lady's address when they
reached the station and made their ext
amid the cheers of those they left be
hind
Such is the account of the marriage
of George Guernsey and Myra Pulver
It is needless to say that when thu
news of their sudden union reached
their home and their friends it created
profound sensation A few weeks
later they returned and found room
full of wedding presents awaiting
them. Indeed. they were more liberal
~ favored than If they had been mar
ried in the usual conventional way.
But it must not be expected that thu
friends who had brought about thu
marriage by their pointed attentions
Mt the station would be satisfied witt
a ceremony to which they had not beer
I