Wanted, a license

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 October 1893, Page 9

Wanted, a license

“THERE’S MANY A SLIP,” &c. A LOCAL ROMANCE. The office of the Colonial Carrying Company in Esk street, usually the scene of such prosaic concerns as the reception and despatch of eases and parcels, was the other day enveloped for a few hours iu an atmosphere of romance —associated for a time with the hopes and fears of nearly a score of human beings. Shortly after it opened for business a number of people, young men and maidens, with a sprinkling of paters and maters, gathered at the enfrai ee. What had brought them there ? They were each and all in holiday attire, and looked happy, although there was an air of repressed excitement, with a tincture of embarrassment, about the group, that betokened the existence of something out of the way. There was, and that something furnished one more proof of the good old adage which declares that “ the course of true love never does run smooth.” The group in question formed the members of a wedding party, but alas! it lacked one essential feature—the bridegroom. The blushing bride —the comely daughter of an old and respected settler—was there, with her bridesmaids in attendance, but nearly a score of miles separated her from the man of her choice on what was to have been her wedding morn. How this untoward state of things happened can soon be told. It had been settled that the marriage was to take place at the office of the registrar at Invercargill, and our heroine and the guests invited to the orthodox breakfast, fixed for the same day, came into town on the Thursday night so as to be on hand betimes on the eventful Friday. By the way, may not Jack Tar have some reason for his aversion to Friday as a day of ill-omen ? The happy bridegroom was to Come from Winton by the morning train, bringing with him the requisite license from the local registrar. Unversed in the law’s sinuosities, he did not call on that official (the wedding day had been fixed some time before) rill witnin ten minutes of the train’s departure, and then learned, to his horror, that the licence could not be issued (the young lady being under age) without the written consent of her father—his verbal consent bad been already obtained. In due course the train left minus our young friend, who naturally became somewhat excited, but was unable, spite of all his solicitations, to move the registrar, who, animated by a stern sense of duty, simply said—“No written consent, no license.” Here, then, was a bridegroom tearing his hair, figuratively speaking, in Winton, while in Invercargill the wedding party waited and wondered. The train had arrived in Invercargill, but what had become of the deserter from the ranks of bachelordom P Happy thought ! someone suggested the telephone, and the party eagerly crowded into the office of the Colonial Carrying Company and invoked the aid of the manager, Air Duthie. Would he ring up Winton P Of course he would —he would do anything to bring together two hearts that, though severed by distance, pulsated as one. It took a long time to strike oil, or rather the right man, in Winton. The policeman and various other residents were captured in succession, but at length communication was got with the missing one. He explained his sorrowful plight. “ Tell him,” said one of the party, “ that written consent will be given to the registrar here, and let Mr , ride down as soon as possible.” The Winton registrar was informed accordingly. •‘Must have the written consent here,” was the response, and the last hope of the waiting party perished. Some of the more determined, however, tackled the telephone ou their own account, and the young ladies who manipulate tlie instruments in the Invercargill exchange, and who bad accidentally become acquainted with the position of affairs, must have had their curiosity, as well as their sympathy, excited by the misfortunes of the young couple between whom and happiness stood that unrelenting registrar. Mingled with the vexation naturally occasioned by the circumstances was a sense of their humourous side, and with jokes not a few the baffled party at length retired from the telephone. T here was no help for it—the ceremony was postponed till next'day. The Invercargill contingent journeyed to Winton by the morning train, and there, amid the good wishes of a wide circle of friends, the young couple were made one—may they live long and prosper and so happily ended the little romance. It of course carries its moral —namely, that expectant bridegrooms should never leave till the last moment the settlement of the formalities which confront all who approach Hymen’s altar.