Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-19
The Daily Story
A Scotch Marriage-By F. A. Mitchell
-,v-,1b,sa 1914 by Associated Literary Bureau

said further that you objected to yous
grounds being overrun by young con-
pies who come here
HE spoke correctly" interrupted tn
other. Il am quite willing that any
other class should enjoy my groupds
Are you a married coupler"
Certainly" said Mr.. sbackelford
Perhaps there was something 9,
Miss Maryweathers reception Of this
statement that excited the owners
suspicion.
do you vouch for the gentlemsn,s
statementT he asked, looking at her
searchingly.
Miss Maryweather looked at her
| companion and saw an appeal tbsrs
that she would do her part to relieve
them from the embarrassing position
they were in. She yielded with faint
yes"
"A change at once came over the
owners treatment of them. He pluck.
ed a number OF roses and handed them
to Miss Maryweather and bestowed a
boutonnfere 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 din there?"
I'm obliged to confess" be 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 was forced to
confirm what you said"
The remark put a new idea into Mr
Shackelford's head. He had acknowI.
edged her as his wife, and she had ac.
knowledged him as her husband before
a witness. They were married
"By Jover' he exclaimed
well, what now?"
did you ever hear of a Scotch mar.
riage?'
NO"
"A Scotch marriage IS one where a
man and a woman acknowledge each
other as husband or wife in presence
of witness"
"Oh, my goodness graciousT
But don't concern yourself Such
marriage will not hold in America. At
least don't think 1t would"
You don't think 1t would? Do you
mean to tell me that there Is a proba-
bilty that we are married?"
mot probability, only possibility.
I'll see my lawyer about 1t as soon as
I 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. Mr..
got on, too, and there was
a continued quarrel between them, he
defending himself as 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 Il
represented. She learned that he was
'ich, prominent socially, a member of
he best clubs and considered by his
friends very good fellow. Miss Mary
Weather was in moderate circum-
tances and not in the social swim.
from being very angry with Mr..
she began to think that il
would be very nice to be his wife. he
allied the next day to say that his at
orney was Of opinion that a marriage
o be good in law must be intentional.
heirs had not been intentional, there
ore was not valid
Miss Maryweather tried to appear re-
eyed She apologized for her harsh
tment of Mr. Shackelfopd and hoped
q would forget and forgive it. In
eed, she was SO amiable that Mr..
was very much pleased
18th her. He went straight from her
} a flower shop, where he ordered
lg box of flowers to be sent her. This
course, necessitated note OF thanks.
which the lady said that she would
ke to see the donor about their sup
osed marriage and from that time for
ard kept speaking of it as such TIL
r. Shackelford began to wish il was
real marriage. Finally Miss Mary
Gather admitted to him that she had
1t there was singular bond between
en- ever since he had $50 adroitly re-
wed her from q very embarrassing
sition."
BY this time Mr.. Shackelford. whose
stes were all for bacheiorhood began
see that be bad been caught in bis
IN trap. He remained away from the
1y Till she wrote him a note TO say
at she had confided the matter Of
cir marriage to a lawyer friend. who
q told her that there need be no
'uble about IT provided neither was
posed to make trouble for the other
claiming that 1t was real mar
&c. She hoped Mr.. Shackelford
uld never do that. This brought him
see her. and again under her inhu-
&c. He never escaped from It
s