Smyrna times., 1911-10-11
An Odd Wedding


my study ycung couple came hur-
Hying in and asked me to hurry up
and marry them. 1 dislike very
much to marry persons thus hurried
ly about whom l know nothing. and
in this case l especially hesitated.
The man, though refined looking,
was dressed in clothes more befit-
ting a working man than gentle
man. He was pale faced either
from i'll health or because he had
not been accustomed to the sunlight;
otherwise he seemed in good health.
However, since there seemed to be
no objection to my uniting them,
both being of age, told them to
come into my study and l would ac-
commodate them. We had barely
got inside and the couple taken posi-
tion before me when quick footsteps
were heard without. The man lost
what color he had before.
eco on, said the lady to me
impatiently. But before could do
so two men rushed in. One of
them, glancing at the groom expect
ant, said: "All right; we've get
him. " Then to the man to whom
he referred, he said: "You come
along with me"
"What's all this about?" l
asked.
"He's an escaped convict, " said
the man who had been speaking.
SIS that fact?" l asked of the
man l had expected to marry.
"Yes," he said, 81 am.
He spoke without the slightest
appearance of shame or regret. The
lady went up to the men, who were
prison officials, and begged them to
permit the ceremony to proceed be-
fore taking her lover back to
prison. -
"But you don't wish to marry a
Jail bird, do yOu?" he replied.
"I 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.
"It's a rum CO." said the other,
"but if the young lady insists or
throwing herself away on a convict
l don't see as its any business ot
ourn. We've got him safe enough,
and two or three minutes won
make any difference.
"All right" said the other. "GC
ahead parson.
1t was my turn to demur, no
liking the business of uniting a LADY
to any man under such circum
stances.
"I reckon she's with him. saic
the official called Tom. "Some on,
sent him a saw in a cake, and l ex
pect she's the one that did it. -
edo go on, >" said the girl plead
ingly.
l felt constrained to take tn
same view about the matter tn
men did-that it was none of m
business, so l yielded and marrie
them. The girl took out a porte
monnaie and gave me twenty dol
lar bill. Then she threw her arm
about her felon husbands neck an
said cheerily:
"It'll be all right now, dearie
we're married. l can now tell tn
whole story. | would have done i
before only you wouldn't let me
1t won't be long now, assure you
l won't say goodby, but only adieu.
And with several more kisses sh
released him, and he went ava
without her, but detained her.
!. Would you mind explainin
l this to me?" l asked as she We
about to leave.
"Not yet," she replied. ethan
Z you ever so much. You don't kno
how far you have been Instrument
in untying a knot by tying on,
Couldn't you date the certifica
I back a year?
"I couldn't do that" l said.
"Well, / don't know that it
necessary, though it might NAL
the rest of it easier. Goodb,
Some day you will hear from US.
With that she went away, lookir
far happier than when she hi
entered.
Six months passed, during which
heard nothing from either of Il
couple had married. Then o.
day a gentleman called on me who
failed to recognize.
"You don't remember me,
said.
'I confess / do not, :" 1 replied
"That's not remarkable. T
last and only time l saw you ! W
an escaped convict in borrowed, {