MARRIED IN A HURRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1520, 30 March 1887, Page 2

MARRIED IN A HURRY.

Tho following curious story is all the way from Russia. An Engliah marohant, resident »t St Petersburg, deairod to marry a Russian lady, which canr.nt be done without a Bp3olal edict from the Emperor, fle had given up all hopea, when one evening a friend, happened to find the Emperor m a good humour, represented the matter to him atid deairad his permlcsion " Let Miss A. and Mr B, be married immediately," was the order givoa by Nicholas. The ukase was signed at 6 p.m. ; by 10 it bad passed thro< gh the offices of registry, whenoa, by eleven o'clock, it was In tho hands of the lynrd, and by midnight the polioe 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 floi-ted before his half-wakened brain, when the bear-faced Bodlieru burst Into his ohamber and ordered him to follow. "In God'a name what hare I doie V he exolaimod, " where am Ito go? Mast I be dragged off at this time of night V " vVe have a warrant for you which must be executed Immediately," said one of them, and he proceeded to read — " By the grace of God, the Autocrat of all the Bussias, etc., orders the marriage of Mr A. to Mlas 8. , to be solemnised immediately," ato. "You e«e he admits of no delay ;" obeerved the officer gravely. The aatcnished merchant was then hurried off to a priest, and thence m company with this fuotionavy to the house of the lady, who was thundered up m the same way ; and ere her eyes wer« fairly opt ned, or her deshabille half arranged, the twain were one flesh. The clergyman attested the execution of the sentence and abruptly left with the offioers, leaving the astonished ocuple to get over their confusion.