Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-10-17
marked Rlo dc JaneIro. They opened

ground that both she and her husband
We're under age when they were mar
ried
Smith was offered position on a
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
err 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 was long while ac-
cumulatinG the necessary funds. He
met with setbacks and advances that
never seemed to get to point where
he could break away and go home.
And so he drlfted 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 n troubled dream. In his
sleep he would dream that he had been
reunited to his love, but when he
awoke 1t was with 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 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 yenrs'
sojourn 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
found himself out of business, with no
family and with no other home than
hotel. He had made some inquiries
concerning his girl wife and her peo-
pie, but Ind learned nothing He en-
deavored to find evidence that his mar
rage had been annulled, but had fail
ed. Indeed, an annulment could hard
ly be within the law, since he had not
received any papers in the case.
Mr.. Smith and Miss Jones were
drawn together by similarity Of po-
sition. Both needed home. Smith
utNlutu W uSh IltI W Dilh
Should he tell her OF the uncertainty
hanging over him2 II no did she
would should she become his WIFE
live under that uncertainty, whereas
If she 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 IL she were
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 he should know that there
was n bit of her affections that she
could never give him. He replied that
he, too, had had an affnir 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 n
kindness than an injustice to her to
refrain.
They were married as persons OF
their age usually prefer to BIO married.
privately. Indeed, 80 little attention
did tho 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 ring But the
bride came to the rescue. Slipping n
ring off 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 n wedding journey. Seated
side by side In their private compart-
ment, Mr.. Smith reverted to the only
cOntretemps that occurred In the mar
riage ceremony.
what stupid blunder | made In
not providing n wedding ringi When
gave you the solitaire Mt our engage
ment supposed 1t was all that was
required of me | had forgotten that
when | was'-
He stopped short.
"Forgotten what2" asked the bride.
Still there was no answer. Instead
he asked TO see the ring with which
no had married her. She refused, say
ing It was connected with the early
affair Of which she had spoken when
he proposed to her and he must con
tent himself always to sec 1t on her
finger without an inspection.
tits not an engagement ring" he
said, "for 1t IL plain gold clrclet with
out stone. It's more like wedding
ring"
Tho blood mounted TO the lady's
cheek. She showed signs Of collapse.
what troubles your" asked the
groom anxiously.
II should have told you. have been
married The ring is tho ono used at
my first marriage"
As she spoke she drew II from her
finger and handed II TO him. Inside
were the initials &c. NJ. s. to ]. J."
"Why, E. NJ. s. are my inltlals-Ed-
ward Morgan Smith"
"There are thousands OF Smiths" she
stammered 81 knew your first name,
Edward, which IL common one, too,
but didn't know about tho Morgan"
They were looking into each others
eyes, wondering
Are you Belle Jones" he asked. II
didn't think about the Belle, and sup
posed you were Isabel"
"Henvens Can II be-
"It must be"
"Mnrrlcd twice with the same ringp
he exclaimed, clasping her In his arms
How can we have been married
twice" she snid presently, when we
have been married only b. ench otherT
"You are right" he replied. Though
our original mnrringe was nnnulled, II
WINS not legally annulled We have
Just gone through useless cere-
mony."