The Washburn leader., 1910-07-15

the old lady contemptuously. do you
call that marriage? shall telephone
for our own rector at once. If you
can't be married respectfully you shall
at least be married religiously."
She was making for the telephone.
We both clutched her.
Madam" cried. permit me to say
a word. beg of you to leave me and
my-your niece alone together for
awhile that we may talk this matter
| over. These unconventional marriages
are liable to bring stain upon the
parties concerned. You certainly don't
wish your niece to suffer in that way.
do you? Give us an hour to decide as
to when and how we shall publish our
union to the world"
With sniff the old lady bounced out
Of the room.
The girl and looked at each other.
We would have laughed. but the affair
was far too serious for mirth.t
you've got me into terrible pic
kle." said Lois. much irritated.
II? l ask Il thousand"-
"Why did you say we were married? ?
I only said we were engaged. There
was retreat from that. There is none
from marriage"
can engagement doesn't warrant a
girl having a lover in a closet"
II don't suppose it does"
"Marriage is the only thing that will
excuse that"
/ Qyvf v1oV nrf,H ofV,rp tH mt ~
it,"
Cant you confess the whole thing?
It's splendid joke. awfully funny.
Hasn't your aunt any sense of hu-
mor?'
about as much as cat has of
poetry"
"What do you suggest"
Il can't think of anything unless I
do as you say-confess-but that would
be the same thing as acknowledging
criminality. Aunt Jane would never
believe anything else." @4
"Then you can't get out of it with
out being smirched. at least to your
aunty'
mo. and she can never keep the Sc.
cret. Others will know it. It will go
everywhere. What shall I do:" She
wrung her hands.
'There's another trouble in the way"
I said "She asked each of us If we
admitted we were married. That in
the presence Of witness makes US
man and wife,"
"Oh. my goodness gracious"
There was silence. at the end of
which said:
I'm responsible for all this. Now
let me make an admission. have seen
and admired you before. and have
said to myself. That's girl would
like for my wife, heard your aunt
refer to me as IL person you had"-she
hung her head-"had admired. Now.
suppose we let the matter rest. pledg-
ing your aunt to keep our secret till
we can determine what we wish to be
the outcome of this singular adventure.
| will keep my home: you can keep
yours If we decide not to be man and
wife we can find some way out of it
with your aunt. If we wish to be mar
ried we can have more pretentious
ceremony than the one just perform
ed"
We filled up the hour deliberating.
but found no better plan than this.
Then we rejoined Aunt Jane. and l
acted as spokesman.
Aunt Jane" said-"1 presume l
may now call you aunt-I admit that !
have done very wrong in hurrying
your niece into a secret marriage. es-
pecially since my affairs are not just
now in a condition that will enable me
| to take care of wife in the style to
which she has been accustomed. ask
a short time in which to get them in
such condition. and l shall then ac
knowledge the marriage As for my
self. would be willing to do this now.
| but Lois. whom we both love aud
whose reputation we are both bound to
protect. thinks that we had better wait
awhile. then announce an engagement
4 and after brief one celebrate a mar
riage without saying anything about
the one that has occurred. Meanwhile
l ask permission to visit my wife just
as l would visit her with your permis-
sion to win her. should have taken
this course before. The strength vi
my love for her is my only excuse for
not doing 80. l am convinced that II
she turns out to be as eshmable u lady
as her aunt shall have won a treas
ure''
Aunt Jane gave me reason TO be
proud Of myself for this speech by
saying that It was never too late to do
the right thing and she hoped l would
prove myself as worthy as my words
indicated.
] kissed the old lady at my depar-
ture. and my wife followed me to the
door for the ostensible purpose Of re-
ceiving a marital salute. offered to
avail myself Of the opportunity. but
Lois drew back.
/ then returned to my own home.
having been in the wrong house an
hour and u half. during which ] had
married wife to whom had never