Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1911-07-28
An ODD WEDDING,

- and asked me 20 marry them.
dislits very much TO marry pesSona
thus burr'sdly about whom l know
nothing. and In this case especially
hesitatcd The man. though refined
looking. was dressed In clothes mort
bsnttiny q workinEman than q gen
tjeman. He was pale faced eithes
from III health or because he had MOI
boon accustomed TO the sunlight; 9th
eewiss ~ seemed 70 be In good health
However. since there seemed to b<
- oo5setion to my uniting them. botl
being OF age. I told them to come into
my study and 1 would accommodate
them. We had barely got inside and
the couple taken position before me
whom quick footsteps were heard with
out.
The man lost what color he had be
fore.
go on" said the lady to me impa-
tientiy.
But before 1 could do SO two men
rushed in. One Of them, glancing al
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 abouty' asked.
Hes IN escaped convict" said thu
man who had been speaking.
rs that Il factT I asked OF the man
I had expected to marry.
"Ycs," 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 a Jan
bird. do your he replied.
II wish to marry this man. 1t VIII
delay you only a few moments. Come;
let the clergyman proceed"
What do you say. TomT' he asked
Of bis companion.
"Tts a rum CO." said the other. "but
II the young lady insists on throwing
herself away ON a convict l don't see
% its any business of our'n. We've
got him safe enough. and two or tire"
minutes won't make any difference.
"All right" said the other go
ahead, parson."
It was my turn to demur, not liking
the business OF uniting lady to any
man under such circumstances.
II reckon she's with him." said the
oGcial called Tom. Some one sent
him saw In cake. and expect
she's tho one that did It,"
do 60 on" said the girl pleadingly.
felt constrained to take the same
view about the matter the men did
that 1t was none Of my business, so
yielded and married them. The girl
took out portemonnaie and gave me
. twenty dollar bill Then she threw
her arms about her felon husband g
neck and said cheerily: "It'n be all
right now, dearie. we're married.
can now tell the whole story. ! would
have done It before only you wouldn'.
let me. 1t won't be long now. assure
you. won't say goodby. but only
adieu." And with several more kisse.
she released him, and he went away
between his captors, each holding on
70 a hsndcur the prisoner wore abou
his wrists. After they had gone
gave the lady a certificate Of marriage
She was going away without 1t, but
detained her
would lou mind explaining Thu
to mei" asked a. she was about t.
leave me-
mot yet" abe replied. Thank yos
ever 30 much. You don't know how
far you have been instrumental in IN
tying a knot BY tying one. Couldn't
you date the certificate back q Year,
II couldn't do that" I said.
well. don't know that 1t 10 neces
cary. though it might make the RES
Of It easier. Goodby. Some day you'll
hear from u.s."
With that shc went away, looking
tar happier than when she had entered
Six months passed, during which
hard nothing from either Of the cot
pie l had married. Then one day ,
gentleman called on me whom l failed
" AcSOkuALc
"You don remember me-" he said.
II confess 7 do not" replied.
That's not remarkable. The laSt
and only time saw you l was an %
capped convict In borrowed. or. rather
stolen. clothes. You married me be
fore I was returned to the peniten
1axy."
And may l ask how you have se
sured your freedomT'
by a pardon from the governor
You see. 1t was case OF conviction
under a Misunderstanding"
"Please be seated" said to him
and make your explanation"
'"Ths matter which has puzzled you 4
very simple when you get the facts
courted my wife ciandesthely, sh'
being engaged at the time to her IN
Tiers partner in business. persuad
Cd her to elope with me. The nigh
We were to make the elopement wen
to her house and met her at rea
| door. At the moment our egress va
cut OF she admitted me to the hous
| and closed the door. To escape de
lection We went upstairs and into
bedroom. We heard some one coming
and the girl told me to so into an ad
| Joining room. Her father came Int
the room l had entered and. supposin
ne to be burglar. called the police.
II must either be content to comics
ayself q thief or the girls reputation
would be ruined l chose the forme