A BRIDE WHO FAILED TO APPEAR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

A BRIDE WHO FAILED TO APPEAR.

BRIDESMAID TAKES HER PLACE

A correspondent at Boness, Firth of Form, writes that a great sensation was created among tne members of the congregation of the parish church there recently by the proclamation of banns of marriage lor the first and only time between an exprivate of the Royal Scots and a young lady living in the neighbourhood The novelty of the announc-.'-iiient lay in the tact that just cv,o Sundays previously, from tiie same pulpit, this same soldier was announced as the intended husband of anotner girl, a domestic servant who had recently returned from Inquiry showed that the announcement was not an error, but aros-j under remarkable circumstances. When the domestic servant arrived lu lio'ness from England s.i- w a s met on the platform by her soldier lover, who had survived the retreat from Mons and taken part :ii the battles or the Marne, the Aistn*. aud the Yser, and had been invalided home with frost-bite. He had been discharged on pension, and is now working as a miner, and is au\ious to setlie down. He proposed to .uui was accepted by the girl. The wiy was bought, a House was neatly h>rnished, and invitations were issued to ;i largo company for tiie marriage, which was fixed to take pla'/t: one Friday evening last month. Cabs and motors conveyed the guests to the Albert Hall, but tie bride failed to appear at the appointed Jiour. Messengers despatched to her homo returned with an announcement ironi the mother that her daughter "wasn't coming, as she was too young to marry." rndeterred, the soldier ordered tlu> festivities to proceed, observing tliat there were as good risn in the sea as ever came out of it. These sentiments were heartily applauded by the best bridesmaid and her companion maid, who rather than see a .Mons hero left in the lurch offered to lill the vacancy. A toss-up took place between tliem, and the second bridesmaid won. If it had been possible the marriage with her would have been gone en with without lurther delay, but, as one of the guests explained, it was not possible, even in .-Scotland, lor a minister to marry one girl under another girl's banns. Accordingly it was arranged that the marriage should take place the following week. The festivities in the hall were proceeded with, and the groom and his new bride-elect received the hearty congratulations of the assembled guests, numbering about 2'J couples. The new bride, it is stated. Is an old sweetheart of the man she is about to marry.