Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-03-04
AN ODD WEDDING,
BY ROCKFORD KING.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press Assoc


thus hurriedly about whom know
nothing, and in this case especially
hesitated. The man, though refined
looking, was dressed in clothes more
BETTING a workingman than gen.
tleman. He was pale faced either
from i'll health or because he had not
been accustomed to the sunlight; 9TH
erwise he seemed to be in good health.
However, since there seemed to be,
no objection to my uniting them, both
being Of age, told them to come into.
my study and l would accommodate.
them. We had barely got inside and
the couple taken position before me
when quick footsteps were heard with.
out.
The man lost what color he had be-
fore.
"Go on" said the lady to me impa-.
tiently.
But before 1 could do so two men.
rushed in. One Of them, glancing at
the groom expectant, said, "All right;
we've got him." Then to the man to
whom he referred he said, ''You come
along with me-"
whats all this about?" l asked.
"He's an escaped convict" said the
man who had been speaking.
us that fact?" asked Of the man
had expected to marry.
"Yes," he said; II am"
He spoke, without the slightest ap-
pearance of shame or regret. The
lady went up to the men, who were.
prison officials, and begged them to.
permit the ceremony to proceed before
taking her lover back to prison.
"But you don't wish to marry Jail
bird, do you?' he replied.
II wish to marry this man. 1t will
delay you only few moments. Come,
let the clergyman proceed"
"What do you say, Tom?' he asked
Of his companion.
otis rum CO." said the other, "but
II the young lady insists on throwing
herself away on convict don't see
as its any business of our'n. We've
got him safe enough, and two or three
minutes wont make any difference.
"All right" said the other. Go
ahead, parson."
1t was my turn to demur, not liking
the business of uniting lady to any
man under such circumstances.
Il reckon she's with him." said the
official called Tom. "Some one sent
him a saw in cake, and l expect
she's the one that did it,
'Do go on," said the girl pleadingly.
l felt constrained to take the same
view about the matter the men did
that it was none of my business, so
yielded and married them. The girl
took out a portemonnaie and gave me
twenty dollar bill. Then she threw
her arms about her felon husbands
neck and said cheerily: It'll be all
right now, dearie, we're married.
can now tell the whole story. l would
have done it before only you wouldn't
let me. 1t won't be long now, assure
you. ! won't say goodby, but only
adieu." And with several more kisses
she released him, and he went away
between his captors. each holding OH
to handcuff the prisoner wore about
his wrists. After they had gone
gave the lady certificate of marriage.
She was going away without it, but I
detained her.
would You mind explaining this
to me:" asked as she was about to-
leave me.
mot yet" she replied. THANK YOU
ever so much. You don't know how
far you have been instrumental in un.
tying knot 10y tying one. Couldn't
you date the certificate back year?'
Il couldn't do that" said.
"Well, ! don't know that it is neces-.
sary, though it might make the rest
OF 1t easier Goodby. Some day you'll
hear from u.s."
With that she went away, looking
far happier than when she had entered.
Six months passed, during which l
heard nothing from either of the cou-
pie had married. Then one day a
gentleman called on me whom I failed
to recognize
you don't remember me-" he said.
II confess do not" replied.
THAT'S not remarkable. The last
and only time saw you 1 was an es-
capped convict in borrowed. or, rather.
fore l was returned to the peniten
tiary."
"And may l ask how you have Sc
cured your freedom:"
by pardon from the governor.
You see. it was a case of conviction
under a misunderstanding
please be seated" said to him,
'and make Your explanation
THE matter which has puzzled YOU is
very simple when you get the facts.
l courted my wife clandestinely, she
being engaged at the time to her IA
theirs partner in business. l persuad-
ed her to elope with me. The night
We We're to make the elopement l went
to her house and met her at a rear
door. At the moment our cgress was
cut off she admitted me to the house
and closed the door. To escape de-
lection we went upstairs and into a
bedroom. We heard some one coming