The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-07-24

/ The sentence was not finished, for
ut that moment a door OF the house
opened and the real owner Of the place
came out and made straight for the
couple in the garden.
I'm not the owner Of this place.
said Miss Maryweather's companion.
land have no more right here than
you have. But don't be troubled. I'll
make up a story. and all You need do
is to assent to anything l say"
Miss Mary weather vas by no means
pleased by this avowal. She bit her
lip. but said nothing. The young
man might stand in the breach. When
the owner came up he said:
BEG pardon, sir, but these grounds
are not open to the public"
80 the gardener told us, but he
said further that you objected to your
grounds being Overrun by young cou-
pies who come here
He spoke correctly interrupted the
other. Il am quite willing that any
other class should enjoy my grounds.
Are you a married coupler"
Certainly" said Mr.. S~hackelford.
Perhaps there was something in
Miss Maryweather's reception Of this
statement that excited the owners
suspicion.
DC you vOuch for the gentleman's
statement?" he asked, looking at her
searchingly.
Miss Mary weather looked at her
companion and saw an appeal there
that she would do her part to relieve
them from the embarrassing position
they were in. She yielded with a faint
Eyes"
A change at once came Over the
owners treatment Of them. He pluck
ed Il number of roses and handed them
to Miss Maryweather and bestowed a
bOutonniere on her companion. Then
when they had thanked him for his
kindness they departed in company. AS
they passed out Of the front gate Miss
Maryweather was naturally IN no good
humor. But she maintained silence.
I'm very sorry said Bob. ito have
put you in a false position"
"Why did you come in there?"
"I'm obliged to confess he said.
much ratified. that l was-was very
much attracted by your-your appear
ance and He broke down at this
point and got no further.
Leave me-" said Miss Maryweather.
II have no acquaintance with you"
mot till you have forgiven me-"
"FOrgive you! Suppose we meet the
owner Of the place again. what kind Of
a position will we be in? You told him
we were married. and l was forced to
confirm what you said"
The remark put a new idea into Mr..
Shackelford's head. He had acknowl-
edged her rs his wife, and she had ac-
knowledged him as her husband before
a witness. They were married.
by Jove!" he exclaimed.
"WelI. what nOw?"
did you ever hear Of Il Scotch mar
riage"
No"
"A Scotch marriage is one where q
man and Il I'M acknowledge each
other as husband or wife in presence
Of IA Witness"
"Oh, my goodness graciOus!"
But don't concern yourself. Such a
marriage will not hold in America. At
least | don't think it would
You don't think it would? Do you
mean to tell me that there is a proba-
bility that we are married?"
mot a probability. only possibility.
I'll see my lawyer about it, a. as
l return to the city and let you know"
A trolley gong sounded in the dis
lance. and when the car came along
Miss Maryweather got aboard: Mi.
.ShackelfOrd got on, too, and there was
a continued quarrel between them. he
defending himself us best he could
from her attacks. When Miss Mary
weather alighted Mr.. Shackelford
handed her his card and said he would
call with his lawyers opinion as to
whether or no they were bride and
groom. to which she deigned no reply.
Miss Maryweather held on to the card
| and made inquiries as to the man II
represented. She learned that he was
rich, prominent socially, a member of
the best clubs and considered by his
friends a very good fellow. Miss Mary
weather was In moderate circum.
stances and not in the social swim.
From being very angry with Mr..
Shackelford she began to think that it
would be very nice to be his wife. He
called the next day to say that his at.
tOrney was Of opinion that a marriage
to be good in law must be intentional.
Theirs had not been intentional, there.
fore was not valid.
Miss Maryweather tried to appear re-
lieved. She apologized for her harsh
treatment of Mr.. Shackelford and hoped
he would forget and forgive it. In.
deed. she was so amiable that Mr.
Shackelford was very much pleased
with her. He went straight from her
to a flower shop. where he ordered Il
big box of flowers to be sent her. This.
Of course. necessitated a note of thanks.
in which the lady said that she would