A CASE OF COERCION.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4454, 14 April 1883, Page 4

A CASE OF COERCION.

A motherly old woman, considerably troubled with the asthma, and also lame, called at (he Twentiety street station the other afternoon to slate her case. She made the Sergeant place his hand on a copy of 'Brown's grammar, which happened to be there, and swear that he would never tell anybody, and then she began : " I have a daughter." •* Yes." •'^nd my daughter haa a beau." " Perfectly natural." " They are engaged, and the wedding day has been set three time?. The first time he claimed that his father was dead ; the second time he was afraid he had the small-pox, and the third time, which was yesterday, he said it would bring bad luck to marry when a comet was visible. Now, then, I don't like this fooling around. When me and the old man were ready to marry we.walked over to the minister's, withoutany backingoutor beating round." "Well?" " Well, I want to bring this young man to time. He's either got to come up the rack or jump the fence." " Yes, he must." " I wanted to Bsk you how far I could go. Suppose, after he arrives to-mdrrow evening, I walk into the room with a pistol in one hand, and a minister of the gospel in the-olher ? Wouldn't that pre-" cipitate a climax ?" " I think so." ""If he really loves Susie I think be would stand up and be married. If he is only fooling around he'd jump through the window, wouldn't Jbe ?" " Looks that way to me." " Well, I'll try it. I shant indulge in no threats, you know." I'll hold the pistol carelessly in my left hand, and hang to the minister carelessly with the other, and I'll simply remark that there's either going to be a marriage or a skip. I think that William will marry. It's my opinion that he is waiting for a little coercion, and I'm pretty good on the coerce when I get started." ;'• " Well, don't break the law." " Oh, no, no ! If he skips I shan't do any Bhooting. I'll let the dog run him across the commons and send the minister home. I shall be as cool as ice, and it will be all over in five minutes." Yesterday William and Susie were taking their bridal tour on the elegant new Michigan Avenue two horse street cars. The young man had been coerced. —Detroit Free Press.