The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-18
A Real Lottery
Of Marriage
By MARY 7. BRYCE

the great risks attending marriage.
wished that husband might be select
ed for me, as marriages are made In
foreign countries, especially among
princes. IL, however, / had left the
matter to my parents both Of then
would have died leaving me an ole
maid.
And being an old maid was horror
to me. / wished to be a wife, the moth
| er OF children, the feminine head OF a
| home. My trouble was to make Sc.
| lection Of the man to be the masculine
head. This may sound amiss, but the
truth Is there were several men who
had proposed to me. They were all
good men, but | dared not risk matri.
mony with any of them.
II know what's the matter with you,"
said my friend, Mrs. Seamon. You
caliber-one who, the moment you saw
him, you would wish to possess"
1T wouldn't make any difference"
replied. II would not marry him. The
only way for me to marry is not to
know who the bridegroom is to be and
be married IN the dark. Once tied /
would have to get used to it, / sup
pose"
II am not sure but you are right. /
know such o man as | have described
10 you. You might be married to him,
just as you say, in the dark without
10. hoe
seen you and was only yesterday max.
ing the same plant you have made"
To make long story short, be.
came engaged to John Chesborough,
knowing only his name and what Mrs.
Seamon had said about him. We were
TO be married in a dark room with not
ray of light in it. As soon as the
knot was tied the lights (electric) were
70 be all turned on at once, and after
few moments conversation we and
few relatives who would be present
were to adjourn to another room and
partake of a wedding breakfast Then
we were to part not to come together
again until mutually agreed. 1t might
be a month, year or never
Had / been about to marry man l
knew and was to live with him from
the day of our marriage / should have
during the engagement been on the |
border of nervous collapse, especially |
on standing up to be married. AS 1t
was, 1t seemed to me that l was wait
ing to make trip or sign deed to
MI ~
that. And when went into that dark
room and my father led me to the spot
where | was to be married was per
fectly Indifferent as to what | was
about to do.
Perhaps this does not correctly ex-
akin to gambling, ! was like one who
expects to draw prize or blank.
How / did hope would draw prize!
And, If / should draw blank, what
then? Simply this: If didn't fancy
him l would not live with him. The
advantage in the plan was that there
was something strong enough to bind
rs together till we might begin weld.
ng process.
Having been put In position, the cler
yyman began the services. At that
,art where he placed my hand in that
# the groom knew that should like
him. How? There Is something In the .
lasp of hand that draws US to an
'ther or repels us. felt that the hand {
lasping mine was hand of vigor and /
enderness combined, and the moment ,
clasped 1t l felt current passing Q
through 1t and up my arm. distributing 7
tself through my being.
From that moment | was so absorb. I
that | forgot to make the responses, r
nd the clergyman was obliged to wait 8
III / had done so before proceeding. g
When the end came and | heard the c
lords man and wife" pronounced / .
las in a delirium of anxiety. For the,
rst time dreaded disappointment. +,
ut had no time to indulge my emo g
ons. In an instant every light was 4
irned on at once. / turned and look. n
up into a handsome, manly, kindly =
ice that looked down upon mine with .
\ encouraging smile. A clapping of a.
anus sounded IN my earS, out Since VI
y whole being was engrossed in what A
believed to be prize | had drawn :,
the lottery of marriage it seemed to ;,
e in some PARKWAY theater.
Ny husband offered me his arm, and a,
e led the little procession of attend a,
its to the adjoining room, where the 70
eakfast was served 1t had been h,
reed that there should be no con :.
atuations. since they might be pain \,
l. But we were no sooner seated at
e table than some one proposed
asst to "the first and second prize.
e former drawn by the groom. the
ter by the bride" / tried not to n
ow my relief and happiness, but in b'
lite OF all my efforts continual to
lille lowered on my lips and a blush &C