Evening journal., 1910-05-27
AN ODD WEDDING,
nx RockFol,p kINo.

One day rs I was about to leave ms
study a young coupls came hurryins
in and asked me to marry them
dislike very much TO marry persons
thus hurriedly about. whom 1 know
nothing. and in this ease I especially
hesitated The man, though refined
looking, was dressed in clothes more
betting workingman than gem
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 thera seemed to be
no objection to my uniting them. both
being Of age told them to come into
my study and would accommodate
them. We had barely got inside and
the couple taken position before me
when quick footsteps we're heard with
out
The man lost what color he had be-
fore
"Go on said the lady to me impa-
tiently
But before could do so two men
rushed in. one Of them, glancing az
the groom cxpectant said, "All rights
we've got him. Then TO the man to
whom he referred he said, You come
along with me-"
whats all this aboutY ! asked.
"Hes an escaped convict" said the
man who had been speaking.
us that a factg' asked Of the man
l had expected 70 marry.
"Yes," he said; Il 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 your he replied.
II wish TO marry this man. It viii
delay you only few moments. Comet
let the clergyman proceed"
what do you say, Tomf' he asked
Of his companion.
Its rum CO. said the other, but
IL the young lady insists on throwine
herself away on a convict I don't see
as its any business OF our'n. We've
got him safe enough, and two OF three
"All right" said the other. Go
ahead, parson.'
1t was my turn to,demur, not liking
the business Of uniting a 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 a cake. and I expect
she's the one that did IT,"
"Do 60 on said the girl pleadingly
I felt constrained to take the same
view about the matter tho n'~~ 80
rnar lr was none or my business. so
yielded and married them. The gir
took out a portemonnaie and gave ms
twenty dollar bill. Then she threw
her arms about her reion husband''
neck and said cheerily: "Itn be al
right now. dearie, we're married.
can now tell the whole story. I woul'
have done it before only you wouldn'
let me- It won be long now, assur
you won't say goodbys-but onl
adieu." And with several morS
she released him. and he went ,--
between his captors. each holdh\
TO a handcufr the prisoner wore
HIS wrists. After they had gon
gave the lady a certificate of maria,
She was going away without it, but
detained her.
would you mind explaining this
to mey' ! asked as she was about to
leave me.
"Not yet" she replied. Thank you
ever so much. You don't know how
far you have been instrumental in un-
tying a knot by tying one Couldn'
you date the certificate back a yeary'
Il couldn't do that" I said.
"Well. don't know that it is neces-
sary. though it might make the rest
Of it 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 I
heard nothing from either Of the cou-
pie I had married.. Then one day a
gentleman called on me whom failed
to recognize.
You don't remember me-" he said
Il confess I do not" replied.
That's not remarkable. The last
and oDly time I saw you I was an es-
capped convict in borrowed. or, rather
stolen. clothes You married me be-
fore I was returned to the peniten-
tiary."
And may I ask how you have Sc
cured your freedom
"By a pardon from the governor.
You see. it was a case OF conviction
under a misunderstanding"
please be seated" ] said 70 him.
'and make your explanation"
''The matter which has puzzled you Is
very simple when you get the facts.
I courted my wife clandestinely, shs
being engaged at the time to her Ia
Tiers partner in business. persuad-
ed her to elope with me- The night
we were to make the elopement / went
to her house and met her at a rear
door. At the moment our egress was
cut off she admitted me 70 the hour
and closed the door. To escape
lection we went upstairs and 10
bedroom. We heard some one con
and the girl told me to go into an \
Joining room. . Her father came IN
the room / had entered and. supposiA