The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-06
YOUNG KANSAS COUPLE
Elope on the Blind Baggage to Topeka
Then to Denver and Are Married.


Denver, Dec. Ga runaway couple,
! accompanied by a sIeuthing father, ap-
peared at the office of the county clerk
Saturday afternoon and secured a mar
riage license Three minutes later JUS
tice of the Peace Pickens, who has an
Office in the basement of the court
house, pronounced the youthful pair man
and wife thus ending one of the most
interesting of love romances. Justice
Pickens was busy in a civil case at the
time, and owing to his failure to ask
questions relative to the match, was
unaware OF the fact that he was fOrg-
ing the final link in a fin de steele kan
sas elOpement. The story of loves ad-
venture is told as follows:
Joseph F. ATehle is a prosperous mer-
chant of Burlingame, Kan, a town sit
uated q miles this side of Topeka. He
has son 16 years Of age, who wears
his hair very long because he is a. de-
voice of the chalked bridiron. Omar
H. MehIe, this young mans name, is
quite bright for his age and looks three
years older than he really is.
Miss Gertrude L. Brock also lives in
Burlingame, Kan, with her step-moth-
err. Her father is now working in
mine in a Colorado town. About the
middle of last week, Omar and Gertrude
who have been SweetheartS for several
months, decided to spend the evening
skating on a lake near the town limits.
Omar wore a blue bicycle cap, a long
gray GOvercOat, blue and white striped
sweater. a brown coat and a pair of
OK blood tan shoes. Gertrude was at
tired in a blue dress reaching to her
ankles a light tan Jacket and a red
Tam O'Shanter hat
Time sped quickly while the couple
glided over the noOnlit surface of the
lake, and before they knew it the hour
of u had arrived. Gertrude's step
mother had assured her that she could
not get in the house If she remained
away after 9 o'clock, hence there was a
consultation to the best plan to pur-
sue. Gertrude, who had no use for her
step-mother, frankly admitted to Omar
that she would rather commit suicide
than return home at that hour. Omar
didn't want to see his sweetheart in
trouble, and while turning the subject
over in his mind, hit upon a happy
thought. Why not skip out? They
were all in all to each other. The step
mother Of the girl objected to the
match. No one would know about the
elOpement until too late. Why not
take the train? To make a long story
short, the couple decided to skip out as
they were. But they had no money;
not a dollar. Gertrude is a spunxy girl.
full of grit. She had no objection to
riding on the blind baggage to Topeka;
not bit of it. So she and Omar sneak
ed on board the baggage and rode the
p miles during a bitter cold night to
Topeka, where Omar is we'll known, ard
he had no difficulty in drawing upon his
father for money. He only drew
way to the Pacific coast It was Omar's
intention to stop over in Denver for a
few days and wire his uncle in Seattle
that he desired money with which he
could get to Seattle. But Mehle, ST.,
checkmsted these plans by wiring the
uncle ahead, hence the money was not
forthcoming. He also sent a telegram
to Chief Farley asking that official to
keep 4 sharp lookout for the clipping
couple and to notify him of any ar
rests.
Omar, in the meantime arrived in
Denver last Sunday and registered at
the Victor hotel as Mr.. Omar MehIe
and wife, Burlingame, Kan" He wait
ed for several days for the money that
didn't come, and then concluded to send
a letter to the old man asking for his
clothes. In reply. Mehle sent mes
sage saying. ''Will send clothes tomor-
row" So far so good.
But instead of the clothes materially
ing. it was the father. The latter came
in Thursday night and looked over the
various hotel registers. When he ar
rived at the Victor ne saw his sons ia
niliar handwriting.