Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1912 — Had Marriage License But No Bride [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Had Marriage License But No Bride

Birmingham, ala.— An elderly negro walked Into the forum presided over by Judge H. B. Abernethy the other day and after looking around in a stealthy manner, waddled up to the fudge's desk and said: * ’Cuse me, sah, is yo’ de jedge of dis yere cote?” "I reckon so, uncle. What can Ido lor you J" replied Judge Ab. “Does yo’ marry folkes?” “Sure; do you desire to enter the state of connubial bliss and felicity?” “Jedge, what yo’ says is so, but ah *clar I ain’t done hit. What ah wants is ter get married.” “Have ypu secured the license?” “Yessah, jedge, yere hit are,” said the old man, as he produced the pink envelope that contained the document by authority of which bachelors are changed into benedicts. 7 ’“this seems all right. Where’s the feminine part of'thls contract?” “Sey which, jedge?” "Where is the woman you are to marry?” “Dat’s what Ah wants yo’ ter do, git de ooman. Yo* see, jedge, dat Milindy pusson what has her name writ on dat yere license promises ter marry ipe, ah’ Ah goes ter git de paper. While Ah was gone she done tuk up wid a triflin’ yaller nigger an’

gin me de go by. She did jedge.” “I can’t force the woman to marry you, but you can sue her for breach of promise.” “Breeches o’ de promise, jedge! I don’t reckon she wear ’em. Ain’t dis yere paper what I paid six bits fer no ’count?” “Well, you might sue the woman for the $1.75.” “Dat’s hit, jedge, dat’s hit. What Ah wants is ma money back. Ter tell de trufe, judge, ah would ruther have de money dan de woman, anyhow.” Finally Judge Ab told the old darkey to wait a few days to see if Milindy would not change her mind and carry out her promise, if not to go to the clerk of the court who issued the license and he would refund the money. The old man looked a little crestfallen at not getting either the woman or the money, and left the court evidently disappointed at the refusal of the court to compel the marriage.