The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-06-03
Married by
Accident
A Man Wins Wife by Getting Into
the Wrong House.
By REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


but | ran risk of getting into the
wrong house.
In the fourth house was young
lady whose appearance l especially adj
mired. considered her very pretty,
and she was certainly very stylish.
"Now, that's just the girl l would
like for n wife," used to say when
saw her going into or coming out of
her home.
One afternoon l 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, l 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.
i saw woman's figure standing in the
doorway. There was not enough light
to distinguish who she was. but l was
not long kept in ignorance. She press
ed q button beside the door, and a
bright electric light showed me the
girl who lived two doors from me.
How is this?" l stammered. Have
l got into the wrong house,"
II expect you have" replied the girl.
Pardon me. i assure you l had no
idea Pm very careless"
At that moment I heard the front
door close. The girl heard it. too. and
changed countenance.
Good gracious, my auntw she ex-
claimed.
"Well?"
lit Is very unfortunate your being
here. She is very suspicious wo-
man."
II see. 1t would grieve me terribly
to have her think"-
Dear me. she's coming up here!
"Can get out without meeting
herY
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. l 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 onT"
"Why, Aunt Jane, you must be mis-
taken"
Mistaken. Do you think l haven't
eyes? Oh, heavens, Lois. Can it be
possible that you are-are wicked.
bad girl? Upon my word. l believe
you are hiding a lover. I'm going to
have a look"
She made for the only place in the
room possible for concealment-the
closet-and had her hand on the door
the young lady said:
Aunt Jane, before you open that
door wish to say something to you. ]
have been deceiving you. l 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
ity. l flung open the door. put my arm
around the girl who had been driven tc
this falsehood, threw back my head
proudly and said dramatically:
mo power on earth shall separate
me from my WIFE"
well. l declarew exclaimed the ole
lady.
My reputed wife buried her face II
her hands. whether because the seri
BUSINESS Of the matter had occurred tt
her or whether to conceal laughter a
its absurdity l did not know.
do you mean to say" continued tn,
old lady to me. shat you are married
to my niecew
There would be no use in mincin,
matters. l swore that was her niece
husband.
And you, Lois" continued the aun
-"are you really married to him?'
A faint EYES, came from under tn
girls hands.
well, well, well! How you tw
young people could have done you
counting without my finding you GU
Is remarkable. How did you manas
itT
Love laughs at locksmiths." l sal
knowingly. not having any explanation
ready.
II should think so," said the aun
impressively. How long have 70
been married?"
1 didn't dare risk an answer to thi
question. fearing to be caught in
trap. l threw the burden on my brid
Lois. DEAR" l said. tell your aur
all about it. She will be more forgi,
ing at getting the story from one sh
loves. Or would you prefer sittin
down with her alone and talking it a
over with herr"
II think l would like to have lit
time" stainmered Lois family.
"And think l want the whole stor
this minute" cried the aunt
''Had not better withdraw" su
gested. / was beginning to get vel
hot In the face. Confound these hous,
built in blocks. I'll never live In OF