Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1874 — A Speedy Wooing. [ARTICLE]

A Speedy Wooing.

Four years ago a bright, intelligent, but not pretty-looking young miss, left a homeless and penniless orphan by the death of her father, came to this city and procured employment as a waiter girl at a well-known second-class hotel, making her home with a family —fifth cousins or something of that sort—then residing on "Second street. One day, at dinner-time, there strode into the dining-room a tall, broad-shouldered, bronzed and bearded man, who was evidently from the far West. There was the unmistakable air of a plainsman about him; evidently one of the better sort. He seated himself at the table served by the girl in question, and watched her movements very closely. At supper on the second day after his arrival he remained at the table until it was nearly deserted, and then, as he was about rising, he addressed the girl in courteous tones, saying that he desired an interview with her as he had information of importance to communicate. She replied that she wouldL ses.-Jiim ..in the. ladies’ parlor at a later hour. She did so, and was not a little surprised at receiving an osier of marriage. He stated that Jie was a resident of the grazing districts of California, owned a large stock ranche and was a wealthy man. He had been out there tfrirteen years, during which time he had mined, prospected for rich -diggings, huntcdgrizzlies,foughClndians,chased greasers, and pursued the usual avocations of an enterprising Californian. He was on his way East to visit his aged parents, who resided in Massachusetts, had stopped in Detroit to see the city 1 had met her as above-described, was pleased with her appearance, and thought it would be for her advantage to quit her present employment and become the wife of a ranchman.

There was an honesty and sincerity in the man’s voice as he made his declaration that convinced the girl that he was in earnest. She replied that she would consider his proposi-' tion and give him an answer at the breakfast table. During the night she thought the matter over seriously, and when in the morning she took her eccentric lover’s order, and he asked in a low tone, “Are you going to California?” she replied “ Yes,” and then went for beefsteak and potatoes. That was the extent of the courtship. As soon as the hungry guests had departed from the dining-room, she repaired to the parlor, where the lover was anxiously awaiting her. By his direction she informed the head-waiter that she should not work any longer, donned her hat and shawl, and the two started out a shopping. Dresses were ordered of nearly all the fashionable modistes in the city, the same to be completed within twenty-four hours. Hats were similarly ordered, and then the retail dealers in all manner of small wearing apparel were visited and large purchases made, the last one being two large Saratoga trunks. The next afternoon the pair were married at the residence of a clergyman, made a call on the bride’s humble friends on Second street, and left for the East by the evening train. Of course the few’acquaintances of the bride who were aware of the circumstances of her marriage were all positive that she had acted rashly, and predicted all manner of troubles and trials for her. From the hour of her departure, however, none of them have ever heard a "word from her; but from the fact that the happiest-looking wife and mother to be seen riding about the city on Saturday, a curly-headed boy in her arms, and the gentleman who “ told her something to her advantage” by her side was the waiter girl who ‘‘married in haste” but did not repent at leisure, it may be safely assured that the prediction did not come true. — Detroit Free Press.