Mrs. Ransome (Eagerly). Oh, Mr. Tanner, do you mean it? Do you mean that the disgrace of it means nothin’?
Tanner. Well—not exactly nothing—but nothing to the principle of the thing.
Mrs. Ransome. An’ would you save her from the disgrace of it, if you could, Mr. Tanner, if it don’t mean nothin’?
Tanner. I’ll do anything I can to help you, within reason, Mrs. Ransome, but how can I save her?
Mrs. Ransome (Eagerly pleading). Mr. Tanner, if she has a child, as she expects, you know that respectable people won’t look at us any more. We’ll have to move away from here. We’ll be the laughing stock of the place. It’ll break her father’s heart, as sure as can be. But if you could fill in the marriage register as though they’d bin married, Mr. Tanner, why, nobody’s to know that it isn’t all respectable and proper. They had their license, and ring, and everything else, sir, as you know.
Tanner (Astounded). Me fill in the marriage register? Do you mean that you want me to make a fictitious entry in the marriage register?
Mrs. Ransome. It wouldn’t be so very fictitious, Mr. Tanner. They’d have bin married regular if you’d only come half an hour earlier. Couldn’t you fill it in that they was married before he died, sir?
Tanner. But that would be forgery.
Mrs. Ransome. It would be a good action, Mr. Tanner—indeed, it would. Her father an’ me haven’t done nothing to deserve it, but we’ll be blamed for it just the same. It wouldn’t take you a minute to write it in the register, Mr. Tanner. Look at all the years we’ve bin goin’ to your church, and never asked you a favor before.
Tanner. My good woman, I’m sorry; I’d like to help you, but I don’t see how I can. In the first place, don’t you see that you’re asking me to commit forgery? But what’s more important, you’re asking me to act against my own principles. I’ve been preaching sermons for years, and making a public stand too, against these hasty marriages that break up homes and lead to the divorce court—or worse. The church is trying to make marriage a thing sacred and apart, instead of the mockery it is in this country today. I sympathize with you. I know how hard it is. But for all I know, you may be asking me to help you thwart the will of God.