The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-02-04
AN ODD WEDDING,
BY ROCKFORD KING.


In and asked me to marry them.
dislike very much to marry persons
thus hurriedly about whom | know
nothing. and in this case especially
hesitated. The man, though refined
looking. was dressed in clothes more
befitting 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, l 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 were 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 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.
Hes an escaped convict" said the
man who had been speaking.
is that a 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.
Il 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.
ITS rum co." said the other, but
If the young lady insists on throwing
herself away on convict | don't see
do itS any VI Jul IL wv y
got him safe enough. and two or three
minutes won't 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 ans
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 | expect
she's the one that did it,"
do go on" said the girl pleadingly.
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
a twenty dollar bill. Then she threw
her arms about her felOn husbands
neck and said cheerily: "Itl be all
right nc~v, dearie. we're married. |
can now tell the whole story. | 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 on
to Il handculf the prisoner wore about
his wrists. After they had gone |
gave the lady a certificate of marriage.
she was going away without it, but /
detained her.
would you mind explaining this
II. oh. oh ant n
leave me.
"Not yet she replied. Thank you
ever so much. You don't know how
far you have been instrumental in I'M
tying a knot by tying one. Couldn't
you date the certificate back year?'
II couldn't do that" | 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 tina, 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 l had married. Then one day a
gentleman called on me whom | failed
to recognize.
You don't remember me-" he said.
II confess | do not" | replied.
That's Ut remarkable. The last
and only time saw you | was an es-
capped convict in borrowed, or, rather.
stolen. clothes. You married me be
fore l was returned to the peniten-
d, tiary."
"And may ! ask how you have Sc
cured your freedom?"
by pardon from the governor
You see. it was 4 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.
| courted my wife clandestinely, she
being engaged at the time to her IA
TIERS partrer in business. l persuade
ed her to elope with me. The nigh;
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 to the hous1