A MAN HIRED TO MARRY WITH A LADY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 63, 11 February 1884, Page 3

A MAN HIRED TO MARRY WITH A LADY.

(Cincinnati Times-Star,) Buffalo, N. Y., December B.—The story of a strange marriage is told in a despatch from Eric, Pa. In brief form it is as follows : — Saturday morning, when Justice Freeman, of Eric, opened court, there sat on one of the benches a well-dressed and beautiful young woman. When the cases on hand were disposed of, she arose and asked his Honor if he was duly qualified by law to perform the marriage rite. Receiving an affirmative reply she beckoned to an exceedingly uncouth middle-aged man, sitting at the back of the room, and said to the Judge ; “ I want you to marry me to this man.” The man went forward and stood before the desk, looking the picture of sheepishness, “ Is this the husband of your choice, madame inquired the justice, looking at the couple with intense surprise, ’• I believe so. Are you the husband of my choice, Mr. Traynor?” “ Yes, m’m, I am,” replied the man, with a sly grin. Justice Freeman informed the woman that it was customary to hand in the names and addresses of the contracting parties. The couple then stepped back a few paces and conferred for a moment; then they sat down at a table, and the woman handed the man a sheet of paper. He made a move which the justice interpreted to mean that he was not acquainted with the art of writing; A contemptuous smile passed over the woman’s face, and taking the pen she scrawled with aristocratic regularity the names of Amelia A. Boyse, Cincinnati, and Charley Traynor, New York. Then the couple stood up and were made man and wife according to the law« of Pennsylvania. The husband stood as if bewildered. When the ceremony was completed Justice Freeman produced a marriage-certiflcate, but the bridge begged him to desist. “ You will make a record of this marriage, sir, and that will be of more value than this sentimental but silly picturecard,” said she. Then she turned to the groom and intimated that he would lose his train if he wasted too much time*

He smirked and remarked that it would not distress him to miss the train, He was coldly informed that his absence was preferred to his company, and that he was to go about his business as quickly as possible. Some papers were handed him, and, after a few words, uttered in a low tone, the man took his hat, bid the bride good-bye, and left the courtroom; The bride remained. “ I think you think some explanation is due you,” she said to the Justice; “ There is nothing wrong in all this | no crime, no despair, no broken hearts, nothing tragic* lam simply putting it out of my power to say ‘ yes’ to the only man on earth it would please and hurt me to marry, the only man on earth I care for. For reasons I have no desire to tell, I cannot marry this gentleman without bringing great sorrow upon him and L me in the future; and as lam only a woman, capable of being tempted to marry the man I love, I have married a stranger and placed myself beyond the reach of temptation. This is all there is in it, I shall go home and live as I have always lived, and love as I have always loved. It is not likely that I shall see this man Traynor again. He perfectly understands that he was hired to marry me and then go about his business. She seemed particularly anxious that her marriage should be made public; also the the fact that she remained in the room after her husband had left to catch the train. Justice Freeman’s theory is that insanity is the trouble she feared bringing on herself and the man she loved.