The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-07-18

marked Rio de Janeiro. They opened
It and from its contents discovered that
the affair was in q very satisfactory
condition.. D., from their standpoint.
They at once applied for an annulment
Of their daughters marriage on the
ground that both she and her husband
were under age when they were mar
ried.
Smith was offered q position on q
coffee plantation in the interior and
accepted 1t. This led him out Of the
world for many years. Legal docu-
ments concerning the dissolution of his
marriage tie were sent to him, but new
er reached him. His object at first
was to make money enough to get back
to New York and secure possession Of
his wife. But he wat a long while &C.
cumulating the necessary funds. He
met with setbacks and advances that
eve seemed to get to a point where
he could break away and 60 home.
And 50 he drifted on and, not hearing
from his wife, at last concluded that
her parents had dominated her and
had probably secured an annulment of
her marriage. Finally the connection
became like a troubled dream. In his
sleep he would dream that he had been
reunited to his love. but when he
awoke it was with a sense Of relief that
the experience was not real.
In the meanwhile Smith accumulat-
ed wealth. He had opportunities to
marry. but did not know whether he
had a legal right to marry and in any
event did not care to mate with any
of the Spanish women he met in South
America. At last. after twenty years
s~ojourn there. he sold out his posses
sions and returned to the land Of his
birth.
Such was the early experience Of
Mr.. Smith, who when past middle life
family and with no other home than a
hotel. He had made some inquiries
concerning his girl wife and her peo-
pie, but had learned nothing. He en-
deavored to find evidence that his mar
rage had been annulled. but had fail
ed. Indeed, an annulment could hard
~ be within the law, since he had not
received any papers in the case.
Mr.. Smith and Miss Jones were
drawn together by a similarity Of po-
sition. Both needed a home. Smith
decided to ask her to marry him.
Should he tell her Of the uncertainty
hanging over him? If he did she
would, should she become his wife,
live under that uncertainty, whereas
Il che knew nothing Of the matter she
would have nothing to worry about.
Twenty years had passed without his
hearing Of his girl wife. and he
thought It probable that L she we're
living she had married again.
When Mr.. Smith proposed Miss
Jones told him that she had had an
attachment In her youth that she had
never entirely recovered from. and she
thought be should know that there
wal I bit Of her affections that she
could give him. He replied that
he, too, had had an affair of the heart,
and on this point they were quits. His
conscience smote him for not telling
the whole story, but he felt it rather q
kindness than an injustice to her to
refrain.
They were married as persons of
their age usually prefer to be married
did the groom pay to preparations that
when he stood up to be married and
the clergyman asked for the wedding
ring Mr.. Smith was thrown into con-
fusion by the discovery that he had
neglected to provide a ring. But the
bride came to the rescue. Slipping a
ring OF her finger. she handed 1t to
the clergyman, and the services pro-
ceeded without any further Interrupt
ton.
From the church the couple were
driven to the station and from there
started on a wedding journey. Seated
side by side in their private compart-
ment, Mr.. Smith reverted to the only
co%ntretemps that occurred in the mar
riage ceremony.
What a stupid blunder | made in
not providing a wedding ring! When
I gave you the solitaire at u engage
ment l supposed it was all that was
required of me. had forgotten that
when I was
He stopped short.
Forgotten what?" asked the bride.
Still there vas no answer. Instead
be asked to see the ring with which
he had married her. She refused. say.
Ing It was connected with the early
affair Of which she had spoken when
be proposed to her and he must con-
tent himselfsalways tosseeeit on hsr
finger without an inspection.
IT'S not an engagement ring" hs
said. 'for It IL a plain gold circlet with
out a stone. It's like q wedding
ring
The blood mounted to the lady's
cheek. She showed signs Of collapse.
What troubles your asked the
groom ~anxionsly.
II should have told you. l have been
married. The ring II tho n used at
my first marriage"
As she spoke she drew It from her