Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-09

Madam" cried. permit me TO say
word. ! beg Of you TO leave me and
my--your aIecc alone together for
awhile that we may talk this matter
over These unconventional marriages
are liable 10 bring q 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 a snlff 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 mlrth.
you've got me into terrible pic
klc." said Lois. much lrrltated.
1T ask thousand
why did you say we were married.
only said we were engaged. There
was retreat from that. There Is none
from marriage"
IAN engagement doesn't warrant
girl having Il lover In n closet"
Il don't suppose 1t does"
Marriage is the only thing that win
excuse that"
But how are we going to get out of
IT."
Cant you confess the whole thing?
It's a splendid joke. awfully funny.
Hasn't your aunt any sense Of hui
morf'
about as much as cat has Of
poetry"
What do you suggest"
Il can't think Of anything unless
do as you say-confcss-bu that would
be the same thing as acknowledging
crlmlnallty. Aunt Jane would never
believe anything else"
''rhen you can't get out Of 1t with
out being smirched. at least to your
auntT'
"No. and she can never keep the Sc
creL Others will know II. II will go
everywhere What shall dor She
wrung her hands
There's another trouble In the way"
said. "She asked each Of us II we
admitted we were married. That in
the presence OF n witness makes us
man and wife,"
"0h. my goodness graciouSw
There was a silence. nj the end of
which ! said:
Pm responsible for all this. Now
let me make nm admission. ! have seen
and admired you before. and | have
said TO myself. That's u girl would
like for my wife heard your aunt
refer to me as person you had"-she
hung her hcad-"ha admired Now.
suppose we let the matter rest. plcdg-
lug 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. II we decide not to he nlan and
wife we can lind some way out Of IL
with your aunt. II we wish to be mar
ried we can have more pretentious
ceremony than the one just perform
cd"
We filled up the hour celebrating.
but found DO better plan than this.
Then we rejolncd Aunt Jane. and
acted as spokesman.
"Aunt Jane" | said-"l presume l
may now call you annt--l admit that
have done very wrong In hurrying
your niece into secret marriage, es-
pecially since my affairs are not Just
now In n condition that will enable me
10 take care of wife Ia the style to
which she has been accustomed. ask
short time IN which 10 get them In
such condition. aud shall then &C.
knowledge the marriage As for my
self. ! would be willing to do this now.
but Lois. whom we both love and
whose reputation we are both bound TO
protect. thinks that we had better wait
awhile. then announce an engagement
aud after brief one celebrate a mar
rlage without saying anything about
the one that has occurred. Meanwhile
l ask permission 10 visit my wife Just
as ! would visit her with your permits
sion TO win her. | should have taken
this course before The strength Of
my love for her Is my only excuse for
not doing SO. I ain convinced that II
she turns out 10 be- as estimable lady
as her aunt shall have won treas
ure."
Aunt Jane gave me reason 10 be
proud OF myself for this speech by
saying that II was never too late to do
the right thing and she hoped | 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 n marital salute. offered to
avail myself Of the opportunity. but
Lois drew back
then returned 20 my own home.
having been IN the wrong house an
hour and a half. during which I had
married wife to whom | had never
before spoken word and had concll-
.Ated her guardian.
was not long winning my wife's
consent 20 public engagement and
soon got my affairs IN shape for pub
lie wedding. When We entered the
church there was not a person present
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