The Oxford Falcon

A Lover's Race for Liberty and License,

Last week in a town not a thousand miles from Columbus, a young man who loved wisely and well, proposed, was accepted, and proceeded to procure the marriage license from the proper official in the county town. He was a little sensitive on the point of publicity, and left home for a horseback ride to said county seat, dressed apparently in his old every-day clothes. Under these, however, he wore his "Sunday go-to-meetins," and on nearing the point of destination, hitched his horse, and off his clothes, and tripped lightly over the bridge into town, a very dandy in unruffled smoothness.

It so happened that he shed his clothes and tied his horse near a stream of considerable depth. Men discovered both, and soon concluded that some reckless young man had been drowned. The subject was thoroughly canvassed, and preparations were made to drag the stream for the body. A large crowd had collected by this time, and the excitement was intense. The proceedings were stopped by an excited individual plunging across the bridge, springing on the horse and galloping away.

The inference at once was, that the young man had stolen the horse, and several farmers started immediately in pursuit. Young man saw them and whipped up to full speed. The race was a close one for several miles, when he dodged them by taking a by-path through the woods. He was again discovered, however, and again the chase commenced, the pursuit being joined in by many new comers with fresh horses. Pell mell, rough and tumble, the pursued and the pursuers went through the country for many miles, creating everywhere excitement.

At last the young man neared the residence of his intended bride. He rode at once to the gate, dismounted and plunged into the house, as the pursuing party dashed up, he declaring that they "couldn't have his license without riding hard for them," and that he wouldn't give them up without a fuss. Explanation succeeded explanation, and there was a hearty laugh at the expense of the unsophisticated youth who had been pursued as a horse thief, but who only labored under the misapprehension that his pursuers wanted to rob him of marrying license.—Ohio Journal.