The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-06
An Eventful
Episode
BY EDWARD T. STEWART

Ing down upon me in wonderment
had often seen her going out of an,
coming into her house and had ad
mired her. She had long known m
by sight, and nothing but the absence
Of an introduction had kept us from
an acquaintance. But what was sh,
doing In my room? From me she
looked about her wildly and, having
had got into the wrong house, was
about to take to flight when, hearing
the front door open and shut, SHE
stopped short.
! "What shall do?" she cried.
/ took In the situation at once. Hel
house and mine were exactly alike
/ She had come into mine thinking that
/ she was In her own. On me depended
! the question as to whether or not she
! should escape the consequences of be
ing caught not only in mans house,
but in his room. My mother had gone
| out, and had been told on my return
that she was expected home any min
ute. When returned In the evening
she invariably came at once to my
room for brief chat. My mother was
an impulsive person, and I knew that
If she had come In and found young
lady in my room she would be very
hard person to manage
Within half minute of the closing
Of the front door my mother stood on
the threshold of my room, looking at
the young lady and me standing like
two guilty creatures before her. The
girl cast an appealing look at me.
IN mother" / stammered, this
young lady has made terrible mis-
take"
81 should say So" snapped my
mother.
What use to stick to the truth-at
any rate, for the moment? ! must
find some way of legitfmatizing the
girls presence In my room and con-
fess the truth later, when | could get
my mother alone and convince her that
there was no criminality in it.
Mother. I said, "let me introduce
my wife"
"Your wife,"
YES, mother. have kept this from
you, expecting soon to put through
deal which would enable me to ac-
knowledge my dear Susie as my wife.
1t was absolutely necessary that she
should see me for a few minutes about
q very important matter, and she ran
In for the purpose. Your coming upon
us thus suddenly has simply resulted
in your obtaining knowledge of our
relationship a trife earlier than you
would have otherwise received it.
Mother, congratulate me-"
I went to her, put my arms about her.
and she suffered me to kiss her.
"Do you mean to tell me-" she said
that you are really married."
There was no escape for the moment
Leaving mother, went to the young
lady, put an arm about her and said,
Yes, | am married to the dearest girl
on earth, one you will be proud, when
you know her, to call your daughter"
"And you have married my sonT'
asked mother of the girl.
My supposed bride, doubtless to es-
cape the gaze of one TO whom she was
constrained to tell lie, hid her face
on my breast, but made no reply.
"Oh, Arthur" said my mother to
me I'm a PANIED voice, sit was bad
enough to introduce this person into
your mothers house Without
- sh. nj ri
NV mother stood looking from one of |
us to the other without speaking.
Backing against my room and not |
twenty feet from 1t was an apartment |
house facing on another street. My |
window and one directly facing mine
In this house were both open, and an
elderly woman was looking in upon this
episode with an expression Of intense
interest. MY mother caught sight of
her. and whatever of discretion there
was m her came to the surface. She
gave me hasty kiss, then went to my
supposed bride and repeated the per-
Torrance.
Better go downstairs TO the library"
she said. And while we obeyed her
command she went to the window and
lrew down the shade.
ooh, heavens 7" cried the girl wAen
We were alone. 1--WE are undone. That
lorrid woman in the other house saw
ind heard the whole thing"
you're right" / replied.
Now we have another to explain to-"
IAN explanation win do no good. /
.ould have explained to my mother, but
his other person hearing me acknowl-
dge you as my wife and you acknowl-
dge me as your husband makes great
Inference"
What difference
1--WE are legally married"
The girl covered her face with her
ands. / went to her and. putting an
rm about her, removed her hands.
Marriage is lottery" I said. How
O we know but that this mistake OF
ours may bring us great happiness?
propose that we let fate work IL out
Or us For the present let us do moth
lg. Your good name. at least, is safe.
What we may do hereafter let us de-
ide hereafter Meantime we have
cen promoted TO an acquaintance and
q engagement at the same time. A
sal simon pure marriage may follow
we both come TO desire it,"
she was quieted with this and went
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