Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-02-14
A CASE OF
DESERTION
TOriginal.1

together like two turtledoves." 1t
created, therefore, a sensation when
week after the marriage Andy d1Sap-
peared. The only explanation given by
his wife was that they had quarreled.
The truth was that under the influence
of physical ailment Molly had acted
very unreasonably and harshly. Andy,
whose experience in marital life was
confined to a few days, argued, II this
is the beginning, what will be the
end? Being determined fellow as
well as having a dread of discord, he
made up his mind to correct what he
considered mistake at the very out
set by leaving his wife. Nevertheless
he was not so unmanly as to force her
TO take care of herself. He left with
her half his savings, and before they
were gone he began to send monthly
remittances. Then suddenly the remit
tances stopped, for Andy fell sick. Six
months later they were resumed, but
as Molly had left the place in which
she had lived they were returned to
Andy.
Molly had been offered a position in
the city and had gone there to keep
from starvation, taking with her lit
tie girl who had been born to her. But
when Molly reached the city she ar
rived without her baby, whom she had
left in a foundlings' home.
The child was so pretty and attrac-
tive that a number of ladies without
children wished to adopt her. The lady
president resolved to put Molly up at
auction, the proceeds to be settled upon
the child in the hands of a trustee,
oil 70 ral I'm cd 6nyrn n thn high
est bidder. On the day of the sale the
home matron mounted a table with
Molly in her arms and called for bids.
There were in attendance besides the
ladies mentioned a number of poorer
people who wanted a child.
Fifty dollars was bid and the amount
run up to $3.50 by the poorer classes
when the ladies took hold and raised 1T
to $1,000. AT this point man behind
the crowd dressed like a workingman
began to bid A lady who was resolved
to have the child bid against him till
the sum of $1,000 was reached. when
she withdrew, and the child was
knocked down to the man.
'EWhat name?" asked the matron.
ANDREW Sumwalt''
"Sumwalt? That was the name
pinned to the child's dress when she
was brought in here"
AZ know all about her." said the man.
give been tracking her mother for
weeks, but 1 haven't gained any infor-
nation except of the child"
He pulled great roll from his pocket
and counted twenty 500 bills without
sensibly lessening the bulk of the roll
Handing the money to the matron, he
al -, III nd q
expression of his face was delight to
look upon.
Andy had hunted for gold in the west
and found a coal mine. This had given
him a fortune He had lived with a
married couple in the far west and had
noticed how much they had to bear
and forbear. Then it occurred to him
that he had fed in the face of an inev-
liable attendant upon marriage, the
getting used to each other, and had he
waited for his child she would have
been q bond far stronger than all 9th
ers.
Upon proving his story he was named
trustee for his child, and the president
of the home took sufficient interest in
finding his wife, the mother of his
child, to enter upon the work herself
But she made slow progress, and after
months of endeavor gave up the work
as hopeless. Meanwhile Andy hired q
comfortable country home and nurse
and waited.
One spring morning John was work
ing in his garden while Molly wa:
chasing butterflies over the grass.
carriage came up the road and turned
into the gate Andy stood leaning OIL
his spade, looking at it. A preSentimen
came to him that his wife was within
But, no; she could never come to him il
such style The carriage stopped
short distance from him, and the lad.
president of the home alighted. Johl
was disappointed; but, noticing anoth
er woman about to alight, his pulls
ouickened again. Once more he wa
doomed to disappointment at seeing
the woman dressed in the black ant
white of servant, for she must surel
be the lady's maid Then the vision o
his life flashed before him, the lady
maid running to him with outstretche
arms In another moment husban
and wife were in each others embrace
and little Molly, coming up, was take
between them.
Molly had at last found it possible
support her child and had gone to tn
home in quest of her.
ST have often met" said the lad
president little later in Andy's sittin
room, leases like this, desertion imm'
diately or very soon after marriage
and have wondered at the cause. SURE
" there must be some great discover.
some bitter disappointment ask 9
my reward for bringing you two t.
gether that you tell me the cause
this CASE
Andy and Molly hung their heads.
'It was all my fault" said Molly.
Gall mine," said Andy.
"The cause?'' asked the lady again.
s"There was no cause" said Moll
seThe. starter was that 1 asked And