Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-06-30
Married by
Accident
A Man Wins a Wife by Getting Into
the Wrong House.
BY REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
ASSnciafiOn
RY REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

houses, every house exactly like every
other house. 1 once lived in one of
these houses, and l never went home
but | ran u risk of getting into the
wrong house.
In the fourth house was a young
lady whose appearance especially ad-
mired. considered her very pretty.
and she was certainly very stylish.
Now. that's just the girl / would
like for wife" used to say when
saw her going into or coming out of
her home
One afternoon / went home, and.
finding the front door ajar, l walked
in. put my hat and overcoat in the hall
closet and went upstairs to sitting
room on the second floor. The room
was shut in by brick walls, and sell
dom sat there without turning on the
light. Being tired, threw myself into
an easy chair and. closing my eyes. sat
thinking on matter of business that
had occurred during the day. Present
ly, hearing a footstep and looking up
saw a woman's figure standing in the
doorway. There was not enough light
TO distinguish who she was, but was
not long kept in ignorance. She press
ed a button beside the door. and
bright electric light showed me the
girl who lived two doors from me.
How is this?" stammered. Have
j got into the wrong house?"
Il expect you have" replied the girl.
Pardon me. | assure you | had no
idea I'm very careless"
At that moment | heard the front
door close. The girl heard it, too. and
changed countenance.
Good gracious, my auntp' she ex-
claimed.
"Wen?"
1T is very unfortunate your being
here. She is a very suspicious wo-
man."
Il see. 1t would grieve me terribly
to have her think"-
Dear me. she's coming up herev'
Can / get out without meeting
herg'
mo. Go in there"
She shut me up in large closet. and
the next minute l heard the harsh
voice of an old woman in the adjoin-
ing room.
Lois" she said severely. "that young
man you admire so much who lives in
this block is in this house. was sit
ting in Mrs Deacon's window. next
door. and saw him come up and walk
in at the front door. What are you
doing in this room with all this light
turned on?"
why. Aunt Jane, you must be mis-
taken"
Mistaken. Do you think haven't
eyes? Oh. heavens, Lois! Can it be
possible that you are-are a wicked,
bad girl? Upon my word, / believe
you are hiding a lover. I'm going to
have look"
She made for the only place In the
room possible for conceaIment-the
closet-and had her hand on the door
knob when 1 heard a slight scufie. and
the young lady said:
Aunt Jane. before you open that
door l wish to say something to you.
have been deceiving you. / have been
wooed and won clandestinely by the
young man you have referred to. He
is in that closet"
/ must hasten to protect the honor Of
one had compromised by my stupid
1ty. flung open the door. put my arm
around the girl who had been driven to
this falsehood. threw back my head
proudly and said dramatically:
mo power on earth shall separate
me from my wife,"
well, | declarew exclaimed the old
lady.
Ny reputed wife buried her face in
her hands, whether because the seri-
BUSINESS Of the matter had occurred to
her or whether to conceal laughter at
its absurdity / did not know.
do you mean to say" continued the
old lady to me. that you are married
TO my niece"
There would be no use in mincing
matters. ! swore that was her niece's
husband
And you. LOIS continued the aunt
ARE you really married to himY'
A faint Yes" came from under the
girls hands.
We'll, well. well! How you two
young people could have done your
courting without my finding you out
is remarkable How did you manage
it,
Love laughs at locksmiths." / said
knowingly. not having any explanation
ready.
Il should think So" said the aunt
impressively. How long have you
been marriedE'
! didn't dare risk an answer to this
question. fearing to be caught in a
trap. threw the burden on my bride.
Lois. dear" I said. tell your aunt
all about it. She viii be more forgiv-
ing at getting the story from one she
loves. Or would you prefer sitting
down with her alone and talking it all
over with herr"
i think I would Ike to have a little
time" stammered Lois family.
And / think I want the whole story !
this minute" cried the aunt.
Had I not better withdraw" I sug- |
rested. ! was beginning TO get very |
hot in the face. ConfOund these houses |
built In blocks. III never live In one
again.
By this time SoIs had thought what