Year: 1874

| From the st Louis Republican,


A Cannelton Und.) justic of the peace


has lately performed matrimonial feat


which entities him to the kind regard
| and business consideration of every pair


of closely pursued and hotly pressed


lovers in the world Cannelton is one
of kentucy's convenient Gretna Greens
much the better and safer for being
| in another State, with the sweet-towing
Ohio between.


A pretty little Kentucky girl was loved


by two brothers. She was not able to
decide between them, and left the ques-
tion with themselves to settle. They
met one day on the way to the house OF


the lady, and commenced the argument


Of which was the best man in the old


Kentucky style of of, with your coat
and at itn While they were thus dis
Cussing their relative merits, and both
getting very tired of the debate, another
young fellow who had no fraternal rival,
slipped into the house, told OF the dis
graceful scene in progress between the
brothers, and asked the young lady to
split the difference and get rid OF the
ruttians by taking him. The picture ne
him at his word and both hastened to





to the river, and on the way engaged a
holy man Of Hawville to come over as
quick as he could and bring his wedding
ceremonial outfit for their everlasting
benefit. He agreed to skitf over the
river in a short time, and told them to go
and be as happy as they could until ne
came. They crossed over to Cannelton
and fastened to procure the necessary
wedding document by the laws of lndi-
ana made and provided for such ventures.
They gOtit and were walking hand III
hand Just outside the gates OF Eden,
waiting for them to swing open with
silver music and. admit them to still
forbidden joys.
to make lively for their young hearts,
and to cause them to tremble little on
the brink of blessedness. They came to
Castlebery bridge over ripping stream
which was too wide to jump and too
deep to wade. The bridge was under
going repairs, and large portion OF the
floor was torn up. They stopped and
looked into the gulf below through the
bare beams. They gazed over to the
Kentucky shore and saw boat full OF
men rowing across with steady stroke.
Pursued! That was the first thought;
What was to be done? They would
perish together rather than be torn
asunder. Hand in hand they advanced
one step nearer the gulf, tbetore taking
the fatal plunge through the g9ping
bridge beams.


A moment more and they would have
been safe from pursuit locked in each
others arms at the pebbly bottom of
the stream. They heard voice cry
Hold, rash, impetuOus children They
looked I'D and saw the smiling face OF
Squire Patterson like rising sun on
the other side of the bridge. They knew
him in their calmer, happier days. The
young lady WAS on the most intimate
footing with the Squire, and she very
naturally took the position OF spokesman.
She hallOOed across, Squire, marry us
quick At the same time pointing to
the boat advancing with now audlbly
splashing oars. The Sqnire took in the
" All right, send on your papers, The
young man picked up handy stone and
tying the license to it with his hand
kerchief, flung it across, while the young
woman was crying at the top of her
voice, Here they come! They are ready
to land! Do it quick, Squirrel The
Squire did it quick, and shouted the mar
riage ceremony across the water, and
bridged the yawning chasm with
safety for those two willing hearts
and young lives so very near the
brink. He ended, pronounce you man
and wife. Go and tell 'em what God
hath joined together let no man burst
Young man, tie dollar to
another stone and heave it over


That little matter was all settled nice
ly, and the young couple breathed again;


They were married and proclaimed
man and wife so quick that it make their
heads swim. They could now dare life,
and brave all the world, especially the
eager pursuers who had landed from the
boat. They turned toward the skifpass-
with proud defiance, and sud
denly came to their sober senses. The
boat brought over the holy man of
whom they had engaged to
marry them, and his party and theyoung
couple felt a slight color of shame in
their faces.


ROMANCE AND REALITY.-A lady read