The Washburn leader., 1910-07-15
Married by
Accident
A Man Wins a Wife by Getting Into
the Wrong House.
BY REGINALD o. HAVEN
By REGINALD 0. HAVEN
1910. by American Press
Association.

houses. every house eXacLIy IKE every
other house. l once lived in one of
these houses, and l never went home
but ran risk Of getting into the
wrong house.
In the fourth house was 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," l used to say when I
saw her going into or coming out of
her home
One afternoon l went home, and.
finding the front door ajar, walked
In. put my hat and overcoat in the hall
closet and went upstairs to a 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
~. hearing fOotstep and looking up.
l saw 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 button beside the door. and a
bright electric light showed me the
girl who lived two doors from me.
How is this?' stammered. Have
l got into the wrong house?'
II expect you have" replied the girl.
"Pardon me. l assure you had no
idea Pm very careless"
AT that moment l heard the front
door close. The girl heard it. too. and
changed countenance.
Good gracious. my aunt" she ex-
claimed.
"Well?"
"lt 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
her?"
mo. Go in there"
She shut ne up in large closet. and
the next minute heard the harsh
voice of an old woman in the adjofn-
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 ut 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 i haven't
eyes: Oh. heavens. Lois! Can it be
possible that you are-are wicked.
bad girl: Upon my word. ! believe
you are hiding Il lover. I'm going to
have Il look"
She made for the only place sin the
room possible for concealment-the
closet-and had her hand on the door,
knob when heard u slight scuff1e. and
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. 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, L declare" exclaimed the old
lady.
MY 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
it's 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 him?
A faint "Yes" came from under the
girls hands.
.Well. 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.
II should think so.' said the aunt
impressively. .'How long have you
been married =
didn't dare risk an answer to this
question. fearing to be caught IN
trap. threw the burden on my bride.
.sLois, DEAR" said. tell your aunt
all about 1t. She will 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
ever with herr"
II think I would like to have q little
time. :" stammered Lois family.
"And / think l want the whole story
IAa.a.