PLEDGING A WIFE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 197, 19 August 1881, Page 1

PLEDGING A WIFE.

: Many strange articles have, been pledged, says a writer in the Standard, by persons finding themselves with -an empty purse and an inexorable creditors but to few newly married men Would: it occur to leave their bride behind as a guarantee of payment for the wedding feast. This, however, was, according to a French contemporary, the means taken by a bridegroom who, after the mayor and priest had pronounced him a Benedict, repaired with the wedding guests and his wife to St. Mand<s, near Paris, to wind up the day with a fitting repast Justice having been done to the dinner the guests bid adieu to the married couple after the customary hopes for their future domestic felicity had been duly expressed. Then came the restaurateur with his little bill^ainoUntiu"to something over an hundred and.twenfcy francs. The sum was not a large one, but, moderate though^ thecaU made upoti his resources was, the bridegFpbin found , hiinaelf unable to meet it. Taking the innkeeper aside, he explained that he had '* left, his purse at home, " a.circumstance he regretted, sinceat obliged Jiim to leave a "precious article " with his - creditor for a few hours; wjnile he went ; to fetch it. The latter .naturally ex^ pected that a watch, a flag, or something of that, description Jwduid bel placed in his hand as a guarantee of payment ; but to his surprise his debtor, pointing to,, his young wife,' told" him, that be confided her to liis keeping, jpromising to return and liberate her fn a short time/ The offer was excepted, and the bride was left in pawn. The hour of midnight struck, and found the anxious bride still awaiting -the return of her lord. The f qstaorant Was closed, its owner grew : uneasy, tnen angry, and ultimately, findjugrit weary : work sitting up with a young woman '• in tears , he ordered her tip to a garret ' j bedroom, the door of which he 1 carefiilly locked upon his prisoner. 'The "followdng day passed, and the bride was not I jredeemed. The innkeeper-: Inquired' | jwhether she had any relative" s^'arid on jbeing answered in the negative, the ex:asperated creditor informed her that ;sh'o must don a cook's apron, lay aside her orange flowers, and set to work W ■earn her daily food, until suca time as jher faithless husband reappeared to jclaim her and pay him. This was a :sad sequel to the wedding day, but per-' limps ere now. the police, aiding, 'the poot ; Iforlorn bride, have succeeeded in dis- . the whereabouts of her heartless and ill-mannered spouse.