The Press., 1914-11-11
A TASTY
 MARRIAGE
Shortly Before the Wedding the Groom Had Not Seen the Bride
By F. A. MTTCHEL

SAA~ margin of a lake in the heart of Yer mont. His costume was a pair of soiled trousers and a flannel shirt What occupied him on the roof was replacing routed shingles. A woman in an autO which she was driving herself saw him from the road, which ran a hundred feet from the house. She stopped her machine and called to him
 ''I say-you thereon the rOOf!'
 The shingler looked up.
 Are you married?'
 "No."
 "Pll give you a thousand dollars if you'll marry me right off,"
 The man was about to drive nail but suspended his work and looked al the woman for a moment, then said:
 "Wait bit. I'll come down and have a look at you. If you're not Gorgon don't know but I'll take you up.''
 He slid down to ladder, descended by it to the ground and walked leisure ly toward the woman who was SC anxious for husband.
 Hurry up!" she called.
 The man hastened his steps and soon stood beside the auto In it was young woman between twenty and twenty five years old and comedy.
 What I have to Say must be said ill a hurry. I have property which was left me in care of those who will ip- herit it in case l don't comply with @ condition of the will, which is that shall be married by the time I am twenty-twO. I shall be twenty-twO in three days. Those who will inherit if I don't are after me to shut me up on the ground of Iunacy. Oh, heavensw
 She paused. listened, then went on.
 q thought I heard them coming. have only half an hours start''-
 "I'll get in and you can tell me the rest on the way"
 "Oh, dO!'
 He got in beside her, and she start ed on.
 II understand your case" he said You wish me to marry you to comply with the provision in the will" r
 II do."
 And l as your husband will have a prior right to those who are after you to. your care?"
 'T didn't think of that"
 Turn to the left here. Do you see that spire over there? The parsOn lives in that little white house with green blinds beside it."
 She turned as directed, and the man continued:
 iSh tn hnfnPohOn not to claim any marital rights, the marriage being one of form solely, ex- cept as shall aid you in your legal contest, and to consent to an annul- ment when you desire one"
 "How nice to have you say it all in stead of having to do 1t myself! I have always considered you cOug&r people stupid. You surprise me-"
 ''This agreement must be verbal and a secret between us or it might defeat its purpose. You'll have to trust me. If go back on my pledge you can't hold me since there is neither writ ten contract nor witnesses to a verbal one."
 The only reply to this was a gasp.
 Suddenly there was a sound coming from behind which both knew to be from an autOcar whose driver was gaining power for his machine by cut ting off the muff1er.
 The woman. yielding unconsciously to the instinct of relying on man for protection, was about to relinquish her grasp on the wheel to throw her arms around her companion when, see ing her design and not being in posi- tiOn to steer the car himself, he ad- mopished her sharply.
 Hold on for your life!'
 This steadied her, and she kept the machine in the road while the man, reaching over to the wheel, turned on all the speed of which the car was ca. pable,
 The road was tortuOus: the machine rocked and skidded. But fortune fla vored the fugitives and, although sev- eraI times they came near going oyer they kept right side up till they struck a straight level, at the end of which was the church and beside it their goal. Here we are," he continued as they dashed up to the white house with green blinds. There was honk be- hind them, and, looking back, they saw cloud of dust. "All depends on our finding the parson at home" He jump ed from the car, ran to the house and hammered on the door. The sum- mons was answered by the parson himself.
 twill you marry us?' asked the lady, who had come up. .@'." "Got license?'
 "Oh, heavens! Must we have that? The groom expectant explained in a few words the situation, and the clergyman consented. The pair went inside. gave their names and were married
 Got gun in the house?" asked the groom.
 "A fowling piece shoot birds with" "Lct me have it."
 The clergyman brought his gun and gave 1t to the man who had asked for 1t. There was no reason why he should not do so, for 1t was not load ed. At the same moment an auto WtkA tTN A1EH II 4t NdSucU up %O LuS parsonage. They were both we'll dress ed, and one of them was an attorney. The clergyman responded tQ their knock, opening the door,
 "I have 2 warrant for the person of Lucille Havens," said the lawyer.
 No such person lere," responded the groom.
 There she is! l demand that she be given up to me peaceably."
 'That lady is my wife, Mrs. Charles Cummings
 Both the newcomers started.
 Are you clergyman?' the lawyer asked of the parson.
 q am'
 The men who were after the girl consulted apart from the others; then the lawyer advanced and said: "There are doubts as to the legality of this marriage. Fhe groom being