San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-10

that | was dressing, and he is waiting
down stairs. When l read the name on
your card-a newspaper mani con-
ceived this plan: Will you be my hus-
band for half an hour?"
| started up like scared jack rabbit.
Good gracious. madam" exclaimed,
Il don't know enough about you to do
the thing successfully"
''Oh, try" pleaded the brown eyed
fugitive, ''please try"
''Pll do it," l said desperately, and the
next instant there was crash. The
door flew back, and in burst an old gen.
tleman with very red face, from which
couple of small eyes snapped angrily
as he dashed his hat and cane down on
the center table. Using the latter as a
sort of rostrum, he glared straight at the
girl and began to rave, ignoring me en-
tirely.
well, madame" in tone of concen-
tTated fury, what the devil doyou mean
by this disgraceful escapade?"
My temporary wife glanced hopefully
toward where | sat, within easy reach of
the old gentleman's cane. Summoning
all my fortitude l arose and looked the
irate parent straight in the eye.
81 shall have to request, sir" said,
"that in addressing this lady you will
remember that respect is due her as my
wife and your daughter. You must show
her that respect, sir. Do you under
stand" raising my voice little on the
last few words.
"Oh," shrieked the venerable pater,
literally dancing with rage. 80 you
are the blackguard who has inveigled my
daughter into this ID idiocy. By
CAD, sir I've good mind to thrash you"
and the cane was raised threateningly.
Il hope you will change your mind and
improve your language" l went on as
calmly as possible. "Your present con-
duct will result in a scandal"
Scandal be ID, sir! What could
be more scandalous than the present state
of affairs?" he cried.
Things went on III this way for 10 min
utes, until the old man howled himself
hoarse, and l could hear the bell boys tit
tering in the hall outside. Then he grad
ually Gained down, and as a last resort
tried the sympathetic dodge on the ter
rified young woman. The latter had
hardly spoken word throughout the
scene She was too badly frightened,
think
There were tears in the old gentle
mans voice as he turned toward my sup
posed wife. Had she not always been
well treated? Was not her mother the
best of mothers? Had he not been the
most indulgent Of fathers?' Was not her
home one Of luxury? etc. Yes, she adj
mitted every charge in the indictment 20
it was checked off.
But, father" she sobbed, 81 loved
him so very much, and-oh! could not
marry that other"
''Where was this wretched marriage
performed?' he inquired savagely.
milwaukee" answered the girl in a
great hurry.
"Tll have it dissolved, by CAD, l will"
swore the enraged pater, getting noisy
again.
LET me remind you, sir" l said delib-
erately that your daughter is of age Il
was not sure about it); that we are legal
lN
will not alter the fact. must also sug-
gest that as our train leaves for the south
at o'clock we have very little time to
devote to this sort of thing"
"Eh? What! Adding insult to injury"
he roared Well, I'll leave you here for
the present, but you will hear from me,
sir" shaking the cane in my face. I'm
not the man to submit tamely to a ras-
cally abduction of this character. You're
a scoundrel, sir. a id scoundrel," re-
iterated my angelic father-in-law, and
with this choice parting shot he retired,
slamming the door after him.
How did manage it?' inquired,
turning to where the future Mrs. Ire
hume was sitting. She had tainted. Just
like woman! She had the nerve to go
through a scene like this undisturbed to
all appearance, and then. when the dan
ger was over. she must spoil it all by an
exhibition of weakness. rushed to the
water. poured a glass of it out and APP
preached the young woman. She was
recovering, though. before reached her,
and in an instant sat up
How can ever repay you" she asked.
you did it superbly, and George will
soon be here now (glancing at her
watch). My dear sir" she went on, Il
cannot tell you how grateful l am. l
shall make Mr.. Trehune call at your Of
fee this evening and thank you person
ally"
My engagement as Miss Talbot's hus-
band was evidently at an end; so, pro-
testing that would willingly have
done twice as much for her, withdrew.