Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-03
}OAILY SHORT STORY
,coNcroENcE OF THE BROWNS.
lOriginal.1

Brown, a widower, had married Mrs.
Brown. a widow. They had buried
their hearts with their former part
ners, but they liked each other. each
needed a companion, and each had
high opinion OF the others integrity.
A few months after the marriage
Mrs. Brown took up a newspaper and
turned pale From that time forward
she tried ia vain 10 CONCEAL from her
husband that she was much troubled.
She denied having anything TO distress
her, but Mr. Brown noticed that she
was watching the newspapers, which
she had never been used to reading he
fore
One evening the husband instead OF
coming home at the usual time sent
note to his wife saying that he had
been suddenly called out of town. on
his return he seemed very much de
pressed and, taking his wife into the
library, drew her down beside him and
said:
My dear. l have a confession to
make-a confession 1 must preface by
a story. There is n romance connected
with my former marrIag e-not only a
romance, but q mystery. Twenty eight
years ago | loved and was loved. We
met a a summer resort. While strollinR
amid mountains. listening To the tum-
bling streams or watching the setting
sun gid the peaks. oar love was born.
"Our homes were In different cities.
When we returned To them both re-
ceived a fat refusal TO our union from
our parents. We were both very young.
and there was no money in either fam
lily. Under the circumstances II was
pointed out to us that marriage would
be suicidal
I'VE resolved on an elOpement. had
800 in bank, which had come from a
legacy. This l divided with the girl
loved, and we agreed TO meet on a GER
tain steamer that was to sail for
Havre. To elbde pursuit Il was agreed
that we would remain in cOncealment
until the ship was we'll ON at sea.
I'VE met at a clergyman's study In
the city. from which we were to sail,
and were married; then separated to
meet on the steamer. The morning
after sailing l searched the ship for my
wife and searched In vain. She was
not on board
He paused. Mrs. Brown was draw
ing long breaths. "GO on" she said
lmpatiently.
You can imagine my agony, doomed
to cross the ocean without her. The
days seemed endless till l could reach
the other side and return. But on the
voyage l was robbed OF what little
money l had left and was unable to
purchase return ticket. / went TO
work 10 earn the money to do so. but
i'll success attended my efforts, and /
entered upon life of poverty. By the
time 1 got enough together for the trip
il seemed to me that TO return would
be useless. Doubtless my wife's par
ents had secured for her an annulment
Of our marriage. Instead Of going
home 1 went to Australia. A few
years ago l came to America with no
more means than had when / left.
zone day l saw 1t announced in a
newspaper that my wife's parents had
died, leaving property, and my wife,
the only heir, had eloped years before
and had never since been heard from
[ laid claim TO the estate as her hus-
band, and Ia time 1t was paid over to
me-"
Mrs. Brown was looking Into her hus-
bands face intentIy. eagerly, and at
this last announcement drew a long
breath.
GO on"
81 dare not"
60 on"
"Our marriage IL void A few days
ago l saw Il announced that my wife
had returned and claimed the estate"
Mrs. Brown burst into q merry peal
Of laughter, so happy. SO exhilarated,
that her husband feared the news had
made mental wreck OF her
She is an impOstOr"' she fairly
shouted 81 am your wife When we
eloped boarded by mistake a steamer
bound for Rio de JaneIrO There. l
taught school for twenty years. Then.
hearing that an estate had fallen to
You, l returned and did exactly what
you did with mine / claimed IL as
your wife"
My dear" mOaned the husband.
"the blow has been too much for you"
But Mrs. Browns arms were around
his neck, and she was beside herself
with natural, not an insane, Joy.
. DO you mean said the husband
Il mean that what ! say is true,
though would not have believed IL In
another case. Two persons knowing
the circumstances Of our disappearance
and Inheritance have consplred TO per
senate us and secure our estates. Since
saw q notice that you had returned
and claimed your estate | have been.
like You, in misery"
The husband was at last convinced.
much 10 his relief and joy
My dear" he said presently. there
is psychological feature of this case
as strange as the coincidence We both
buried our hearts years ago. yet when.
each believed the other had returned
we were misera BILE"
Mrs. Brown hung her head
That was" she stammered, be
cause l loved my second husband bet
ter-better-than'-