The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-27

her. OF course, if she were going on the
stage she must do it In the most romantic
fashion. She should run away, and the pa
pers would ring with her story. 1t was the
only way.
They left the next morning, Bess sobbng
and laughing together at the last moment
on her aunt's shoulder and leaving hys-
terical message for Bert. When she was ia
nous he should come to her in New York
Paris perhaps-and they would be married
and live happy ever after. Bert listened to
the message grimly, said some bitter things
to the now thoroughly frightened aunt aud
stormed back to his stuffy shop.
OF one thing he was convinced-Bess cared
nothing for the crafty Burnside. And with
Burnside it was Bess and her money as a
bait for the manager Bert knew this some
how, though he had never seen a line of the
correspondence between Burnside and the
manager. His little sweethearts head was
turned, but her heart was loyal to him.
And having thus settled the question in his
own mind, Bert was quick to act. Train to
Morgan? Just one day, and the runaways
had boarded that. Livery rig? fierce storm
had arisen, the first of the year, and the
phlegmatic proprietor of the Palace stables
refused to rent team. Good horsefesh was
not to be risked in the face Of such storm
Bert was desperate. He rushed up the
street, and the keen wind from the east struck
him full in the face. With it came an idea
he would skate up the river to Morgan. The
furious eastern gale would fairly carry him
to his beloved.
Three hours later a strange figure. swathed
in fur coat edged with small icicles and
hung with sleet staggered into the Ashland
hotel at Morgan.
''Is Miss Bess Ainsworth stopping here2'
came to the clerk in gasping tones. The as
tonished man nodded ~
Il want to see her right away"
He strobe up to the parlor, and when Bess
entered he stood shivering and haggard in
the dim light
Bert she exclaimed, then stopped awk-
wardy.
He seized her hands.
II had to come, Bess, to save you from a
life you would hate. Twelve risked my life
to do it, Bess, and you won't refuse to go
back with me-?
hands.
Bert, dear, Im-glad-you came"
J But it was not until they had been hur-
| riedly married by the nearest justice and had
| taken apartments at a hotel far removed
| from the stopping-place Of the Empire Com
| edy company that Bess opened her heart to
| her husband
! 20, Bert, it wasn't at all what I expected!
! We had a rehearsal the first thing. The girls
| whispered and made fun of the way l read
my lines. That horrd manag er-h-h Rugged
| ne O, Bert, don't look like that! l pulled
right away from him, and heard one of the
| men say that Burnside had found another
| easy mark. Now, what did he mean by that?'
I'm sure can't imagine" answered Bert,
| with we'll assumed innocence; but a few min
uteS later he asked, in the most casual way
| Whether she had given Burnside her money
to take care Of.
20, no. she replied. Aunt told me to be
sure to sew it in my underskirt pocket /
just lent him enough for our fare and to get
his wardrobe out of the express Office
Express office is good murmured Der,
| under his breath, then aloud: Never mind
little woman We can afford to lose that ter
times over: The gale saved my railroad fare
too, you know