The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-09-05
T HE autocracy Of love is in
disputable; it breaks down all
barriers when Il asserts itself.

The wonder is that any one
who has felt its power should attempt
to dispute its supremacy or lessen it'
obligations. From the remotest ages
love has laughed at locksmiths, hipped
giddy fingers at parents and guardians
evading safe conventional trammels
TO throw It's future on that providence
which extends its protection TO chill
dren and fools. To which type Fred
Marmon and Lillian Wickes belonged
Is uncertain, but circumstances would
indicate that a fair blending Of each
type united in their ensemble.
1t Is safe 10 assume that the pair
had no intention of being married
when they took Sunday trip 10 ST.
Joe. They were not even engaged,
but lovers they certainly were, and
had been since their earliest years.
Let no synic smile when their ages
are given. Fred was twenty-One and
Lillian eighteen, old enough 10 know
better, and young enough 10 stake all
on fund OF love that must last n
lifetime. So far they played to win.
With the details of their marriage cs-
capade this cbronicler has naught to
do. They telegraphed the disagree.
able truth TO their respective families
said IL was the result Of n dare--and
received all their belongings by ca
press, comprising the hurried contents
OF six or seven trunks, five of them be.
longing to Lillian. They were opened
in their room at the hotel and Lillian
broke down and wept.
"My family of dolls that ! played
with when / was happy child" she
sobbed II think 1t was real mean for
mamma TO put them in"
And my tops and marbles. and
Robinson Crusoe,' and all my old
school books" whimpered Fred.
"Never mind" said Mrs. Fred with
brave determination, "we'll show them
we can live without them"
81 don't know how" retortcd Fred.
Haven't we got each otherw she
asked tenderly.
Eyes, darling, but this Is not n cannl.
bal age. You are sweet, but | do not
want to eat you. though | may live TO
be sorry | did not"
81 hope I'll disagree with you IL You
do" pOuted Lillian. but now let us
empty our trunks and hang up our
wardrobe"
How long do you think we can live
nj this hostelry" asked Fred
did you dare me to marry you with
out dollar in your pockets, Fred Har.
monT
''It looks that way, sweetheart"
"Oh. well, Wen come out all right
They'll kill the fatted calf in a week
or two and beg us to come home. Wait
and you'll see"
They waited, but the welcoming veal
seemed TO have gone into the meat
trust; no hint of II came their way.
Fred drew a little money he had in
bank in his home city, and they left
St Joe, which was perilously near Chi
cago, and went TO Petoskey, n point In
Michigan. where none of their friends
lived and where they had heard In
dians roved the streets in blankets and
moccasins, and they did not get very
far from the truth, either.
They stopped at Cushman's. but saw
their little stock Of money going and
began 20 look for humber lodging. and
Fred was willing to 60 to work at any
thing he could find ready TO his hand.
Like all college graduates, he thought
he would confer n favor on any en-
ployer by working for him. Now this
was the time for providential help, and
II came. They went out in n thunder
storm and reached the door of n pretty
cottage just as bolt Of lightning shot
from the skies, striking a tree in the
vicinity and frightening them badly.
The cottage was remote from other
dwellings and uninhabited. The win.
dows were boarded up and the outside
Lillian picked with a hairpin as easily
as if it had been n prearranged feat.
Fred managed to open the inside door,
and they found themselves I'm the COZ.
lest of summer homes, prettily fur
nlshed, with mating on the floors. any
bb"hA'N VI biiN-d-bldN Ou sltlNtS, lIh'
phies from Indian camps and an en-.
tourage of housekeeping articles in ex.
cess OF what they needed. A clock on
the mantel ticked merrily as if giving
the young couple welcome They
fell into each others arms in an ecs.
tacy of delight
But when the storm was over and
the blue sky appeared their spirits
sunk 10 zero. What If they were ar
rested for breaking into a house,
"The people have just left for q few
hours, for the clock is still going" said
Lillian.
Perhaps IL is an eight-day clock ant
they left II to run down" suggested
Fred; I'VE must stay until they com,
and pay for any damage
At dusk no one had appeared ant
they went to the hotel for their dinner
and learned that the family ownin,
the cottage had been suddenly calle,
away. They were wealthy New Yorl
people These inquiries were mad,
surreptitiously. not at the desk or II
the Office. The next day the Harmon
paid their reckoning and left the no
fel. IL was supposed for some dstan
point. but night found them occupyint
The pretty cottage. They had slmpl,
pre-empted the property on O dare