Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-03-05

Finally the gentleman announced that
marriage under the laws of the state
Of Pennsylvania would meet the re-
Quirements of the situation. was a
good deal startled by this definite sug-
gestion, and wrote to my mother on
the subject for the first time. The gen.
tleman took the letter to post, and it
has not been delivered yet, thank heav-
en-!
Before it was time to get an answer
sudden business Of great Importance
called my flance to Philadelphia. How
opportune! Well, Brenda, l packed
little hand bag and went. What must
you think of me?'
Brenda bent down gently and kissed
Elsie's hand and held 1t against her
face.
II don't know the story yet" she said,
"but you have portrayed a thorough
scoundrel. And you have also shown
me trusting and true hearted girl who
went to be married with an innocent
heart. Blessed heaven! Think of a
man for whom young and pure girl
will go out into the world like that, as
II to walk in the fields! Should not ev-
cry fiber Of his soul be thrilled to loyal
ty for all his life?"
"The gentleman in question had no
SOUL" said Elsie. 81 think he will be
shared all punishment hereafter. as the
brutes are. Let us proceed, Brenda,
dear. The remainder of the story is
not long. We took the II o'clock train
and reached Philadelphia in time for
luncheon. Our marriage was to be
kept secret for awhile, and there SEEM
ed to be some slight objection to the
public dining room of the hotel where
our hanson set us down. However,
we lunched there quite hastily, for
had no appetite. Then we re-entered
the hanson and went to look for min
lister. We had remarkable difficulty in
finding one, considering that Philadel-
phia is large city full of churches, but
we finally succeeded. Then it appeared
that we had neglected to comply with
certain formalities, but the clergyman
was able to rectify the matter, and so
we were married pitifully, as see it
now, with stupid old servants and
chance laborer who happened to be Mt
work in the house as our witnesses.
when we got back to the hotel, it
was 6 O'Clock, and was nearly fam
ished. We hurried right into the din
ing room, and my husband ordered n
great spread, with champagne. for our
miserable celebration. and now will
tell you the unromantic part In the
midst of that dinner. and while l fam
cied that l was eating with splendid
appetite, l was suddenly seized with
the most awful pain that ever devas-
tated my poor little stomach. Yes
Brenda. it was regular, terrible
stomach ache-just pain, without a bit
OF nausea. felt as If some one had
my stomach in his hand-a hand about
the size of Captain Neale's-and was
crushing it to pieces.
"My husband said lie guessed it
would soon pass away, but it didn't,
and SO he left his dinner and ran out
to drug store to get me something to
take. When he came back, took it,
and l didn't feel any worse, because
that wasn't possible, but l certainly
felt no better. In few minutes l be-
gan to realize that l was going out of
my wits. l talked insanely and saw
things that weren't there. The next
thing knew we were riding up in an
elevator, and it seemed to go up for
week. Then there was woman lead
Ing me along hall and into room,
and she began to take off my clothes in
the bedroom of a little suit. stared
at her and asked her who she was.
"I'm the assistant housekeeper,' she
said. I belong to the hotel
CONTINUED