Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-07
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A WOMAN'S
PRIVILEGE.
roriginal.l

Aubrey was n sensible fellow and adj
vOcated delaying the marriage, for
Mr.. Mears asked that before marriage
the bridegroom should have got well
started in the worlds mill and have
some accumulation. Julia thought DIFF
ferently and proposed an elopement.
Aubrey confessed that he saw no rea-
son for such Il course when by the ex-
erclse of little patience all would go
well without the necessity of antago-
nizing her parents. But Julia told him
he had no spunk and if he wanted her
he must show that he had courage-in
other words, he found himself in Il po-
sition TO lose his girl or marry her as
she proposed. After considerable de-
liberation he consented.
One evening the two went for drive.
and. going to neighboring town. Au-
brcy left his bride eXpectant at a bo-
tel and started Off i'm search of a min
lister. While he was gone Julia. being
alone and an easy prey to remorse. be-
gan 10 think of what she had done
how she would anger her father and
distress her mother. The result was
that. yielding to impulse, she went out
to the door where the horse and buggy
were standing and. getting into the
buggy, started to go back home.
Presently Aubrey came to the hotel
with n minister and was surprised not
to see the horse and buggy in the place
where he had left them He FASTENED
into the parlor. intending to tell Julia
of the disappearance. but found no
Julia there. Instead he was informed
that she had taken the equipage and
driven back in the direction whence
they had come. Getting a horse and
wagon from q livery stable. he started
after her. Overtaking her. he asked
her what she meant Ashamed to ac-
knowledge the truth, she told her lover
that she had forgotten all about Il
trousseau and must have one before
the wedding Aubrey. convinced that
the girl was weak. acquiesced with
surprising readiness.
Il must take this rig back" he said.
You go on home"
NO" replied Julia. In go back
with you."
Each driving team, they wentjslow-
~ back i'm silence. Presently Julia.
piqued Mt her lovers Indifference. cali
ed to him that she had from the first
suspected that he did not love her suffi-
GENTLY to be her husbands: that her re-
turn was really to test him and her
suspicious had been confirmed, Aubrey
said nothing. but when they reached
the livery stable and he had returned
his team he got into the buggy with
her and turned the horses head toward
home. Julia said nothing for the first
mile. but before finishing the second
charged Aubrey with making fool of
her by running away with her and
then driving her back without n mar
rage.
II want you to have a trousseau."
said Aubrey.
You mean that you are glad for an
excuse to break with me-"
81 would spoil your test If ] acted
differently"
VERY well: this ends all between u.s."
"Oh. no. Wen be married after you
get your rousseau"
Aubrey drove TO Julia's house. where
she alighted. Without a word or a look
she went up to tine door and into the
house. Then Aubrey drove away.
Aubrey in thinking the matter over
concluded that perhaps he had acted
unwisely and risked losing the girl he
loved. He went to see Julia the next
day and proposed that they forget all
about the unfortunate episode. Julia
scorned his advances. He left the
house with the very disagreeable feel
ing that in interfering with his lady
loves privilege to change her mind he
had committed u blunder. However
Il
bear it. and he tried to satisfy himself
With the reflection that Julia had been
weak and would not make a safe life
companion.
Months passed. during which Julia
only hardened and Aubrey grew more
miserable.
whats the matter. Aubrey?" asked
his cousin. an attractive girl of twenty.
one day.
Aubrey confided his trouble.
Julia has treated you just as you
deserve. You put a great slight on
her by not insisting on the marriage.
When a woman goes of to be married.
it is a great modification to her to re-
turn unmarried"
But it was her own doing"
"Not after she had had time to re-
feet and
Change her mind again"
THAT was her privilege"
'What shall do?"
Tell her you regret having acted so
brutality"
1--WE done all that sort of thing. 1t
hasn't any effect on her."
You can't expect anything else after
the abomiEable''-
Never mind that. Help me out"
well. I'll try. Perhaps you had bet
ter como to see me quite often. and
may think of something to move her"
Aubrey did as his cousin suggested.
Indeed he was with her nearly all his
spare time for month. One day when
the two were walking together they
met .Iulin- There WAS an ominnns fash