Bricks Without Straw by Albion Winegar Tourgée
page 46 of 579 (07%)
page 46 of 579 (07%)
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The clerk, knowing it to be the quickest way to get rid of them, read rapidly over the certificate that Nimbus and Lugena Desmit had been duly registered as husband and wife, under the provisions of an ordinance of the Convention ratified on the---day of---, 1865. "So you's done put in dat name--Desmit?" "Oh, I just had to, Nimbus. The fact is, a man can't be married according to law without two names." "So hit appears; but ain't it quare dat I should hev ole Mahs'r's name widout his gibbin' it ter me, ner my axin' fer it, Mister?" "It may be, but that's the way, you see." "So hit seems. 'Pears like I'm boun' ter hev mo' names 'n I knows what ter do wid, jes' kase I's free. But de chillen--yer hain't sed nary word about dem, Mister." "Oh, I've nothing to do with them." "But, see h'yer, Mister, ain't de law a doin dis ter make dem lawful chillen?" "Certainly." "An' how's de law ter know which is de lawful chillen ef hit ain't on dat ar paper?" |
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