The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-05-15

| couple were left alone he told his
bride to be the story of his arrest. She
listened eagerly and at his conclusion
seemed much detected. Her parents
had not ceased to hold up to her the
risk she ran In marrying man she
knew so little about, who had no fam
| lily connections and whose childhood
he had failed to account for. She
dreaded lest they would now refuse to
permit the wedding to come off as had
been arranged.
The pair, after consultation, Joined
Mr.. and Mrs. Denton and made clean
breast of what had occurred. 1t was
evident that both the father and moth
err regarded the matter as cOnfirma-
informed that the wedding day must
be put off indefinitely, by which he
understood that it would not take place
mt all with Mr.. and Mrs. Denton's con-
sent. After further consultation be-
tween the lovers. they agreed that the
wedding as arranged must be abandon
ed. Leona was too distressed to talk
about the future, but she surely would
not go back on her lover without the
best of reasons.
The next morning MacKnight went
to the Office of his lawyer and was
much surprised and disheartened to
learn that it would be difficult to prove
that he was not the man he was sup
posed to be. True, If he were the
criminal, MacKnight must be account
ed for. But might not MacKnight be
both himself and the criminal? Per-
sons had been known to lead double
lives before, and why not in this case?
At any rate. there must be trial.
which would attract great deal OF
attention. and. even if the prisoner
were acquitted, many persons would
believe him guilty.
LeOna had an interview with her
parents, in which her father expressed
the opinion that there was something
wrong about her lover and that his
arrest was fortunate in that it had
saved her from a union with GRIM
inal. The girl came from this inter-
view feeling that no matter what YER
dict jury might give with respect to
the charge against her lover her father
would believe him guilty.
Such was the situation of this young
couple on the eve of the wedding day
that had been set. with all the attend
ant expected happiness. But three
days interviewed before the intended
nuptials. A compromise had been eff
fected between Leona and her parents
that the invitations should be recalled
the next day. The lovers went for a
final conference with the lawyer. He
advised his client to jump his bail, go
to foreign country under an assumed
name and begin life anew.
MacKnight, heartsick over the affair,
dreading trial and his inability to
account for his past childhood. decided
to act on this advice. 1t therefore re-
NAMED with Leona whether she would
share his fate or endure a lifelong
separation from the man she loved.
1t was a question which suffered the
more, MacKnight or the girl. whose
life would be wrecked if she stood by
him and would be blighted if she gave
him up. A few hours of deliberation
were sufficient for a decision. She
agreed to marry her lover secretly and
to go into oblivion with him.
MacKnight was leaving her home
after receiving this decision when he
met a man coming up the steps. The
cyDi1 I.A III
Arthur MacKnight. 81 am Arthur Mac
Knight" 81 desire to confer with you"
The two went back into the house. and |
The man said:
II am John Eldredge of Barker,
Smith & Eldredge. attorneys. of your
lily. A few years ago q matter con-
.erning you was left with us, you not |
p be Informed of it till yon came to be |
years old But this charge
against you which we have seen print
I'd In the newspapers has seemed to
our communicating with you
earlier. You were born in wedlock.
)ut your father and mother are dead.
stood in the way Of |
'our mother acknowledging you. Short
y before she died she left q will in our
are leaving you her property, you to
,e paid part on reaching the age of
and the rest at thirty. II
vou need money for your defense of
his charge against you l think we can
enable you to borrow on your pros
'ects."
Leona. who had heard her lover re-
urn to the house, at this juncture en-
cred the room. curious to know what
'rought him back. MacKnight sprang
oward her, folded her in his arms and
overed her with kisses.
"The tide has turned" he cried. GAIL
Will yet come out as we wish. This
Gentleman has solved the mystery Of
ny childhood"
1t appeared that MacKnight was the
on OF persons Of refinement and that
e was heir to an estate of some $780,
90. The mystery of his birth having
cen solved. Mr.. Denton's suspicious
vere allayed. and he sympathized sin
erely with the young couple Consid-
rable money was spent on detectives
pr the purpose of hunting down the
cal criminal, and he wa efound before
ne date fixed for the trial.
But long before this the lovers were