Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-10-28
CHAPTER III.

very sorry, because l presume-forglVe
me If ] offend you, sir-that (as you did
not care to announce your marriage to
your late father Lady Ewell is not, per-
haps, quite in the same position as your
self"
''She is not" replied the young man,
eurtiy.
81 an very sorry" repeated the lawyer;
very sorry, indeed"
LOOK here, Mr.. Parftt," said Sir Will
frid, 'Syou were my fathers and my cous-
ms friend, and will make clean breast
20 you You know where have been liv'
ing for the last three years, down at Chel-
sea, at place called Wolsey Cottage,
kept by lady named Warner and her
daughter? It's the daughter-you under
stand married her two years ago."
''But, my dear sir, ''you were not of
age" exclaimed Mr. Parftt, with aroused
interest Il think 1 am right in saying
yon are two-and-tWenty at the present
moment"
"Of course 1 wasn't of age. If had
been l would have married Miss Warner
openly. But l was only 20, and she II,
10 we took French leave.'
"And how, then, did you procure the
hcenseT' inquired the lawyer.
At this question the new baronet grew
very red.
THAT was the most awkward part of
the business, NJ Parfitt You see, l was
quite ignorant of such matters, and when
applied for a license, 1 found had to
declare we were both of age. There was
no other way of getting it. l had already
1na lx,R 40 1n VI 4 h,,,e,
tian names only, of NVilfrid Stanley, so
that my father might not get wind of it,;
30 the license was made out according
~. 1t was very foolish and very wrong.
I see that now; but at the time I was so
much in love that I would have sworn to
anything in order to obtain my own way"
lyon took a false oath, in fact, Sir
WilfridF'
Il did. I feel very much ashamed to
confess it, but looked upon the whole
matter as a mere form, and of no coDse-
auence to any one but ourselves. And no
more, l suppose, it is"
Not from a moral point of view, sir,
certainly; but looked at legally"
What of it, looked at legally?"
Simply this; that it is no marriage at
ALL"
''Whatr' cried Wilfrid Ewell, with the
almost establishment.
Il repeat it, sir. A marriage entered in.
TO by minors, without the consent of par
ents or guardians, and under an assumed
name, is invalid"
Il ana extremely sorry to hear it, but
it was not done willfully, and, rs l said
before, no one has right to dispute my
hor ni.o il.
frid
Except yourself, sir"
What do you mean?"
'.That you could set aside this marriag e
without the slightest trouble-in fact, you
are as free to marry as if you had never
seen the lady under discussion. You
would not even have need to appeal to he
law; you are at this moment absolutely
free"
'Do you think I am a villain?" ex-
claimed Sir Wilfrid, starting in mis- chair.
my dear Sir Wilfrid, pray be reason
able. am your legal adviser, and it is
my business to tell you what is the law,
and what is not. You might lis we'll find
fault with your doctor for attempting to
direct your regimen"
'sTTre! You must forgive my hastiness,
Mr.. Parfitt, but this intelligence has up
set me. Well, l suppose the only thing to
be done is for me to marry Lady EWell
Miss Warner, Sir Wilfrid,' interposed
the lawyer, blandly.
Sir Wilfrid laughed.
Miss Warner, then, if you will have
it SO, over again. 1t can be done without
any fuss or publicity, can't it? I mean,
without letting the world know it has
been done before"
Certainly, sir-if you are determined
30 renew the contract"
''Of course I am determined What
else could do?'
.sWer, under the circumstances, consid-
ering the lady's position in life, and that
you have, in fact, never been married to
her, / think most men would find plenty
of other things to do. However, that is
not my business, Sir Wilfrid. No doubt,
your heart is set upon the matter, and Of
course you are the best judge of your own
actions. But l cannot help feeling sorry
for your fathers sake, as we'll as your
ewn A lodging house-keeper's daughter
Is not the wife for Sir Wilfrid Ewell, nor
the mistress for Lambscote Hall. You
should have looked higher, my dear young
sriena-if you will permit ME to call YOU
se-mnch, much higher"
IAN right, Parftt; we will speak Of this
again 10 morrow"
Good morning, Sir Wilfrid-good-
morning. said the lawyer, as he accom-
panied the new baronet to the outer of
ace, and opened the door for him with
ais own hands.
1t vas false pride, but Wilfrd Ewell
could rot help feeling proud as he walked
shroagh it, with the clerks bowling to him
Oh every side. Which of them would
have bowed to him month ago, if he had
Been seat to Mr. Partitt with a message
from Somerset House? But to be bar
enet with 4 fine estate, and rent-roll of
seven thousand dollars year, was very
different thing!
Tim man waS inst tho Same huf nohcdy