MARRIED IN HASTE.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 834, 6 July 1871, Page 3

MARRIED IN HASTE.

The other day, in a little town of Marion County Missouri, a young couple were united without meaning it: in truth, both were engaged to be married to other people. The transaction seems to been brought about thus :-- Two young people (Mr Joseph Chap, man and Miss Nannie Hutchison,) being thrown in company, were wiling away the hour by a general talk about matrimony. Previously, they appear to have been indulging in some of the mutual banter which is illustrated by the juvenile game of " Follow my leader." That is to say, when one of a party does a given thing, the other must do likewise, or pay a forfeit. Now, whether fired by a sudden fit of daring, or stimulated by some more occult purpose, Joseph suddenly affirmed that he could " back down " Nannie in getting married that very day. The fair damsel promptly retorted that he could do nothing of the kind. She could and would rush into danger as,far or further than her challenger. Neither would retreat, and each vowed that there would be a wedding that night unless the other withdrew. It is declared that the lady felt sure when the ordeal came the gentleman would retreat; and that the gentleman entertained a similar deep-seated conviction respecting the lady. A. few hours were to show how deeply both were mistaken. It happened that no clergyman lived nearer than Emerson, a town four miles away. The young man proposed to go after this minister and have the nuptials solemnised then and there. The young lady, with a shrewdness, not to say a suspiciousness, that does her honor, said she would go along too. Hence they started together in a buggy, with no real purpose, it is said, even then, of figuring as principals in a wedding, and leaving their- acquaintances laughing at what they deemed a first-rate joke. Arrived at Emerson, neither party would give in. With indomitable resolution, each was determined to " back down " the other. By midnight the clergyman was hunted up, and acquainted with the situation. Even at the last moment, and on the dangerous edge of things, each secretly fancied that the other was about to capitulate. The consequence is already imagined. The daring and inflexible pair were married in the buggy. Hymen thus lighted his torch uuder circumstances probably quite unprecedented, and Joseph and Nannie returned to the circle of their admiring friends mated for life. According to a local journal, " pluck had more to do in this union than mutual attraction." Possibly more " pluck" would have been shown by the contracting parties in adhering to their proper engagements.— New York Times.