A MAGISTRATE'S MARRIAGE FEE. BY JONAS JUTTON.
«CQUIRE," I remarked to Justice Mori3 gan a few days ago, "I am certain that you have had many strange experiences in uniting couples in the holy bonds of matri mony, for you have been on the bench many years, during which time you have bound together hundreds with Hymen's silken cord. I know that you have often received no com pensation for your services, and again have been presented with bags of beans, turnips and what not for making two souls happy. But what I wish you to tell me is of the most interesting incident in connection with your marrying people, and also about the largest fee you have ever received. I am satisfied that you must have something interesting, so be accommodating and talk. "Well," began the justice, "the most inter esting incident in the marrying line that I ever ran up against, as well as regards the facts as to the largest fee I ever received, makes one and the same story. "Several years ago, I was awakened one morning about four o'clock by a young run away couple from the Blue-grass State, the line of which was but fifteen miles from the Tennessee town in which I then resided. The young couple were in a buggy, and were welldressed, intelligent young people. The would-be groom told me his business, and re quested me to go and arouse the county court clerk in order to get the license, stating that they would drive on to the Court House and await our arrival. "I hurriedly slipped into my clothes, and .going to the clerk's home awoke him and told him of the situation. He soon dressed and joined me, and we hastened to the Court House, where we found the young couple anxiously awaiting us. We entered the tem ple of justice, and after the clerk had lighted a lamp, he turned to the young lady with :
"'How old are you, Miss?' "'I am fifteen,' was the reply. "'I am very sorry to inform you, then,' said the clerk, sympathetically, 'that I cannot issue the license. The laws of this State re quire that you shall be sixteen years and a day.' "The young man's face paled, and I saw a great disappointment creep into the eyes of the girl who was willing to trust her hap piness to his keeping. "'I will be sixteen to-morrow,' suggested the girl, pleadingly. "'I am sorry, but that will do you no good,' commented the dispenser of marriage papers. 'The laws of Tennessee are very strict in re gard to such matters.' "Tears sprang into the eyes of the would-be bride, while a light of happiness flashed into the face of her companion. "'If she were sixteen and a day then you could give us the license?' quickly spoke the young man. "'Yes.' "'Then issue it at once, and give it to the Squire, and instruct him to perform the cere mony, when we can both make oath that Nellie is of lawful age. He can swear us day after to-morrow, and as he will have the papers we could not use them until he gives his permission.' ' 'That is a little out of the regular order of things,' said the clerk, as much to himself as to us, 'but I do not know that it would be a breach of the law to grant your request, so I will do it.' "The license was issued and handed to me with instructions not to marry the couple un til the girl would swear she was sixteen years and one day old. I promised, and we left the Court House. 'Now, Squire,' said the prospective
