ROMANCE LATE IN LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 17

ROMANCE LATE IN LIFE.

LOVE IX A COTTAGE AT TG. A maiden of 76 was led to the altar from the workhouse the other day by a widower of 77. To 'lie sure he was blind of au eye, but in every other respect he was sound and sane. The old, pair, seeing little but the four walls of the workhous-? before them, agreed to pool their pensions and die in a cottage ot their own. Tho guardians of the -poorliou.se behaved"- handsomely. One gave the cottage, another the ring, aud another the trousseau. The vicar married them rfor nothing, the village butcher provided the wedding meats; the grocer the tea and sugar: the baker the cake. The town subscribed a motor to take them away, and the old cronies of the bride tied a pah- f baby booties to it for luck. The .police had to fight a iwuy up I the aisle for the happy pair, whom everybody wanted to sec. The groom answered in a weak voice like all grooms, but the bride —it was her first experleuce, too, spoke her vows loud and strong. Her bouquet trembled so in her thin, old hands that it left a little pool of petals on the altar steps. The groom had difficulty in getting the ring over her finger knuckle, but rat last, aided by the clergyman, ho drove it home. The couple were covered with confetti, and sped away to their cottage home in the motor with the baby boofo; swinging in .the wind. It was a cruel touch. The wedding breakfast was set out In .the new home. One cold roast chicken, the iced wedding cake, and a bottle of gin j to warm the cockles of their old hearts. The bride was too bashful to cut the cake, so the workhouse master did it for her, and also toasted the pair. The bride responded with: "I am sure that I am delighted to have such an old gentleman for a husband." The old gentleman said nothing. When the had departed the groom went fast asleep, and the bride set about sweeping up tho confetti. Then she tiptoed away and put the baby bootees deep in a drawer ■with the bridal bouquet. Only the late October sun saw the pucker deepen about (her mouth. Poor old girl! Ml her life Dan Cupid had passed her by. only stopping to play a jok? one day when it had nothing better to do! Well, it all goes to show that trie oM proverb is right: It is never too late to-<wetl.—Kit in "Toronto World."