MARRIED IN A HURRY.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1581, 18 March 1887, Page 3

MARRIED IN A HURRY.

The following curious story is all the way from Russia. An English merchant, resident at St Petersburg, desired to marry a Russian lady, which cannot be done without a special edict from the Emperor. He had given up all hopes, when oneeveninpafnend, happening to find the Emperor in a good humour, represented the matter to him and desired his permission. " Let Miss A. and Mr B. be married immediately," was the order given by Nicholas. The ukase was signed at 6 p.m.; by 10 it had passed through the offices of registry, whence, by eleven o'clock, it was in the hands of the synod, and by midnight the police were trotting the streets to put it in execution without delay. Mr B. was fast asleep, when a thundering rap at the door frightened him awake Visions of the knout and the like floated before his half-wakened brain, when the taar-faced soldiers burst into his chamber and ordered him to follow. " In God's name what have 1 done ?" he exclaimed, " where am I to ? Must I be dragged off at this time of night?" " We have a warrant for you which must be executed immediately," said one of tbtm, and he proceeded to rea d—•« By the grac6 of God, the Autocrut of all the Russias, &C, orders the marriage of Mr A. to Miss B , to be solemnised immediately," &c, " You see he admits of no delay;" observed the officer gravely. The astonished merchaut was then hurried off to a priest, and thence in company with this functionary to the house of the lady, who was thundered up in the same way; and ere her eves were fairly opened, or her deshabille half arranged, the twain were one flesh. The cier, jman attested the execution of the sentence, and abruptly left with the officers, leaviug the astonished couple to get over their coufusion.