The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-19
/ Owe LAUGHS
Il MMLOCKSMITHS
BY MARTHA
McULLOCH-WILLIAMS
Copyright. 1901, by NJ. Mcc.-williar

q
"Wellm Garcia answered without
looking up from her book.
Its 10 o'clock-high time you were
dressing" came back, the tone more
acid than ever.
why, / thought you had set the
wedding for 4 O'clock" Garcia said,
turning leaf and not raising her eyes.
Aunt Sarah stamped her foot. "As IL
you didn't know what folks arer' she
protested. you know they'll begin
piling in here around u, or / at the
latest. The last one Of 'em is crazy to
see what'll happen"
How stranger Garcia commented,
apparently to the book. Aunt Sarah
darted through the door, caught the
book, flung 1t across the room and
clutched Carola's shoulder. Angry
tears stood I'm her eyes. but still they
snapped viciously. you'll be the death
of me yetr she gasped out. Lord,
Lord, If only had known what trou-
BILE you'd be never would have had
you here, never In this worldw
You mean really that you brought
me here SO you could make trouble for
both Of u.s." Garcia said, standing up
and edging away from her aunt's
grasp. You know you would find
heaven dull IL you had not a griev-
ance."
'Stopi / won't hear such sacrilegew
Aunt Sarah cried, shaking Garcia hard.
81 thought I knew what ingratitude
was-after. all I've done for you-but
this caps the climaxw
You have done-many things" Ca
rola said, setting her teeth hard First
you gave me a name hate and shall
hate till die. You thought 1t sounded
finer than the name Of any other baby
around. Right there you struck the
keynote-of everything. You are SO
tyranically vain you want to show
everybody how much better you can
do everything. That is why you have
pitched on Johnson Blakely for my
most as sorry for him as for myself II
he had not a mans strength and
mans chance to run away. He does
not really want me. Peggy McMann
suits him ever and ever SO much better.
But you got him under your thumb be-
fore he left Off roustabouts. He's
worse afraid of you than death or the
Judgment, IL he is six feet two and big
as an OK
johnson loves me like a mother.
He's good looking. as moral as-as a
baby-and will have $780, 900 when his
old uncle dies" Aunt Sarah broke in,
her eyes swapping harder. And any
yes, every-other girl around would
jump at the chance Of him. while
you
Have had to be locked up for two
months to keep me from marrying
somebody else" Garcia supplemented
as Aunt Sarah, otherwise Mrs. Wilson,
paused for breath. johnson knows all
about it," she ran on. Mice, chivai-
rous johnson, to want q wife who says
to his face: Il hate you. l agree to
have the wedding day set only because
am tired of prison life.' If there was
one grain of manliness in all his hulk
ing height, he would not take me-he
knows how helpless I am-with you
for guardian and not a penny of my
own"
"Yet you want to turn your back on
good husband and a rich one and
throw yourself away on a beggarly
lawyer who has never had case since
he hung out his shingle a year ago."
Aunt Sarah snapped. Garcia laughed
a short, hard laugh.
Mrs. Wilson knew her neighbors.
They did come piling In before the
clock struck /. Carola's love affairs
had been the gossip Of the countryside
for six months past. Naturally there
was edged expectation of some uncom-
mon climax to what had been SO
strange. To the bucolic mind Ii was
wholly unheard Of that Johnson Blake
ly had been cut out by a sprig Of a
lawyer with hardly second coat to
his back. The most part stanchly up
held Mrs. Wilson's strenuousness In
keeping her niece from SO throwing
herself away. Still there were a few
softer souls who shook the head, say
ing girl. as you might say, driven in.
to double harness would be mighty apt
before long to kick over the traces and
small blame to her II she did.
Everybody wondered at the setting
out OF a wedding feast and calling In
wedding guests. A simple marriage
with only legal witnesses, seemed to
fit the cases complications better.
few understood. but wisely held their
peace. The wedding was Mrs. VII
sons triumph. She would not foregc
showing to her world that In this her
hardest battle she had prevailed. But
even this wise few were something
amazed at one thing-she had invited
| among the rest Jack Harrison, the
| lawyer lover whom two months ear
i lier she had forbidden the place.
He would not come, of course, but
by 3 o'clock everybody else was Oh
| hand. minister and bridegroom includ
| ed. Aunt Sarah was for setting for
| ward the wedding ceremony. Their,
| was not the least use in waiting al
hour. with everything ready. Thai
brought on a very pretty quarrel witt
| Garcia. You'll come to the judgment
bar an hour ahead OF time" she sait
to Aunt Sarah. but you won't be abb,
to hurry ST. Peter. and for once | meal
| to act the saint"
| Storming did no good. Garcia wal
recklessly gay. She had grown Yer,
white. but her hands did not trembl,
as she put on her veil and set kno