Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-16

On Thursday, the day before my mar |
riage, had o telegram from Mac and
George to meet them in Calais, and to |
Calais had to go. arrived there at |
midnight, just before the Dover steamer
got in, and was ON the pier to meet |
them. We exchanged warm greetings.
As We did SO Mac placed small but
very heavy bag in my hand, and they
began laughing over my surprise. It
81 600 in sovereigns. We went
to hotel near by, and there they count
cd ont to me the very nice sum Of $780,
900 in gold, bonds and French money.
As they were going back ON the same
steamer and was to return to Paris
by the train carrying the passengers Of
the steamer just arrived, we only had a
brief half hours talk. After giving me
the money We went ont and sat down
on the pier, and that conversation and
scene are forever impressed ON my men,
DRY. Ishall make no attempt to describe
either, but could both be put ON the
stage with the audience in possession of
q full knowledge of the enterprise we
were embarked in there would be seen
q picture Of human life such as the nov
elist or playwright never had the imag
inatiOn OF the daring to depict. To the
earnest student Of human life it would
have been revelation.
There we were, three earnest, ambi-
tious young men, enthusiastio for all
that was good and noble, about to wed
pure souled woman, who thought me
an angel Of goodness, and about to fly
with my plumber and bride to Mexico.
Ny two companions were returning to
London to continue carrying out giant
scheme Of fraud against great money
institution, but there we were with
500, 900 at our feet, sitting under the
stars listening to the dash of the waves
and talking not Mt all like pirates and
robbers, but much more like crusaders
setting out on q crusade or Hike pill
grims going on n pilgrimage.
told my friends I should 60 to the
City of Mexico for a year or two and
then meet them somewhere in America,
where we would unite our wealth to
inaugurate some scheme that would
benefit thousands in our own generation
and millions in the generations to come.
We would hedge ourselves about with
kindly deeds, SO live as to win the re-
spect of all, and when under the sod
live in the eyes and mouths of men.
TOo.soon the whistle sounded, and we
had to say goodby, which we did in an
enthusiasm that told how we felt. We
! were walking in the Primrose Way; its
flowers and songs were sweet. We knew
it not, but it was fast leading us into o
chilling gloom in whose deadly blight
the flowers were all to wither and the
siren songs to be hushed and still
Iagain arrived in Paris at daylight,
but early rs it was my sweetheart, es-
corted by my servant, was waiting my
arrival. It was our wedding morning
During our drive to the hotel, radiant
with joy shs told me the separation had
been cruel one and she was SO happy
to know We should never be separated
again!
At 4 O'Clock that afternoon we wert
married at the American embassy.
My purpose was to sail by the Lope,
g. Co. steamer Ell Rey Felipe, from
Cadiz to Mexico, which was advertised
to sail ten days later.
| We were married very quietly ON Fri
day, and our friends, wisely recognizing
the fact that young married people ik
to be alone, the next day said goodb,
and returned to Brittany. We spent
quiet and happy Saturday and Sunday
and ON Sunday night We left-my wife
servant and self-for Cadiz, via Madrid
My wife, like all English people, knew
: little Of geography, and had such haz
, notions Of America that she thought
quite the thing to 60 to such an outland
, ish and faroff quarter of the globe a
America via q Spanish port. Columbu
: had gone that way, and why should nc
! We?
We had IN all night ride to Bayonn
in one Of those antiquated compartment
used in railway carriages all over Ell
! rope, but the ride was not tedious {
the night long. This little earth had n
: happier couple, and talking of the happ
years that lay before us the night rusl
ed by like u fairy dream.
. Where was my conscience? Why, m
o dear reader, had sung it such a son
!, that it was delighted with the musi
i and had, ! was going to say, gone
4 sleep, but it had not. 1t was wit
awake, and we were good chums. "
+ both-consciencc and had persuade
{ ourselves it was virtuous deed to {
: evil that good might come. My CO..
0 science was perhaps as old as the SUI
: but myself was young and too inc
{ perienced to see the fallacy Of the arg
r ment, since myself was the doer of Il
r wrong, but Of course I should have he
:. " denounced any other such philosoph
Z rs villain and a rogue.
= The night few by, and to our surpri
@ we found 24O miles had slipped ava
IS and we were in Bayonne. Thirty mi
y utes more, and We were speeding sou
s. and soon crossed the Bidassoa, {
n boundary between France and Spai
g Then my wife, saying, "Now I W
Sleep" lay her head ON the shoulder
% the happiest man in or out of Spai
and in ten minutes her regular breat
70 ing told mo she was in the land