The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-05-13
a SCOTCH
MARRIAGE.
Copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso.
citation

Billy and Fan were two New York
was about seven. though there was no
record of the birth of either and no
parents about to testify in the cases.
What had become of their fathers and
mothers does not pertain to the story.
Billy remembered that once when he
was put into the public schools for a
few months he was known as William
Burke. Fan had spelling book in
which was written Fanny Shaw
Billy and Fan met one hot summer
night in City Hall park. where each
had gone for the purpose of sleep
ing on the benches. Billy had a
nickel in his pocket, and Fan was
crying because she was hungry. Billy
took her over to a vender of waffles
on Park row and appeased her hunger.
This was the seed of love-a kindness.
1t was not planted in a gentleman's
garden, but any soil to produce fruit
requires manure
Nv II SulllS ttDoul elIul blIlN anu
became chums. There were societies
organized to take care of stray chill
dren, and Billy and Fan were dread
fully afraid that some Of these socie-
ties would take them and separate
them. Billy confided his fears to his
friend, MacCluney, who drove a cab
MacCluney facetiously told him that
to prevent this they had better get
married. Billy took the advice in ear
nest and asked how the knot could be
tied.
"Oim Il Scautchman meseF," replied
pie stand up before third and says
they marries. that ties en-
"S'pose Fan and stand up before
you and say that?" said Billy.
The cabman laughed, and Billy went
off and called Fan, who was selling
papers at the time The two returned
and asked for "Scautch" marriage
MacCluney, thinking it good joke
asked the necessary questions and,
having received affirmatory answers,
with a guffaw pronounced them man
and wife.
But the "Scautch" marriage didn't
save them from the societies. One
night when they were sleeping in a
coal yard band of summers came
down on them and carried them off
They protested that they were mar
ried. which brought a smile to the
faces of their abductors. but received
no further notice After all. they We're
separated.
Billy was sent off to a community OF
farmer boys. Fan was provided with
parents by adoption. Both grew up
in the west Billy as a tiller of the
soil. Fan as the daughter Of Il store
keeper in country town. Billy.
though he would not have forgotten
his wife. would have forgotten that
her name was Shaw had he not he'd
on to the spelling book with the name
written on the fly leaf. There were
just as many tears shed by both for
months after they We're torn apart as
If they had been children of wealth.
At first both sighed for the parks. the
coal and lumber yards. sheds and 9th
err places where they had slumbered,
not because they had been comforta-
bic, but because they had been to-
gether in these retreats. AS they grew
older they conceived horror Of this
part Of their past, but they did not
forget each other. E::iiy grew to man
hood With one idea. lie would save
uD" to enable him to regain his wife.
Fan grew to womanhood wondering
what had become of her pal. AMI,
remembering the "Scautch marriage"
when she was old enough to under
stand what it meant it made Billy an
object of great Importance to her. She
was continually dreaming Of what he
was like as a youth, wondering where
he was and if she would ever meet
him.
But Fan grew to be twenty -four
years old. and there was no sign OF
Billy. She had several proposals OF
marriage, but answered all suitors
alike-that she was married already
One of them asked lawyer If there
was anything in such marriage. He
received the reply that only the courts
could tell, but so long as neither claim
ed the other there would be nothing
illegal in either marrying some one
(. else.
One day man drove up to Fan:
home in a buggy and asked for
young woman named Frances Shaw
/ Fan was sweeping at the time. with
towel over her hair. She tried to ge
/ upstairs. but was too late. The ma.
approached her and said:
"Fann'
"Are you Billy?"
"Yes.''
"How did you know me-"
Il wouldn't have known you If
hadn't known you were here. AS
is l see resemblance to my little''-
He took her by the hand. She turn
ed her face away, but did not with
draw the hand.
wife" he added.
Billy had bought farm, and a
soon as settled unon II he had write