The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-25

swagger family. He therefore gave
my father his choice of either compell-
ing me to marry the girl, or going 10
state prison himself,
Mary.
1 told you he was a hero as soon
as he asked for cold victuals,' an
swered Title.
. Think of the situation, ladies' Ny
love was sworn to Marie. and yet un-
less 1 married q girl with pale blue
eyes. turned-uD nose and a chin with
mole on it. our family was to be
dragged down from its high position
and disgraced forever Father and [
talked for hours and hours, but we
could see only the one way out of it.
Late as was the hour when we got
through, went off to the house of the
iceman to see If I could not melt his
cold heart. I found It Of different ma
terlal than his ice. It grew colder all
the time instead of melting. He ut
terly refused to recede from his posi-
ton. When I said that the blow would
Kill Marie and me. he offered to make
the price of our ice 80 cents a hum
dred for the next season, but that was
the best he would do.
9 Base villainl Kissed Mary.
g 'Sordid wretch" Kissed Title.
ut was a terrific struggle between
love and duty, but duty finally pre-
vailed. After being in bed for a
month with brain fever sent for the
iceman and agreed to his terms He
brought his daughter right over in his
ice wagon and we were married. and
the forged check was given to father
to tear up
j" What noble SOM whispered
ed TilIie.
= A week later, when I was a little
stronger. I wrote to Marie. There were
i IH f-7F II III
every line and word I hid nothing from
her. but told her the solemn truth I
told her 1t Wrenehed my heart, but
that there was hope ahead. In the
course Of year I would put rusty nails
around where my wife must step on
them and meet her death by lockjaw
and then I would fly to France and
make my love my own. received nc
reply to my letter-not from Marie
Her mother wrote that upon receiving
my epistle the dear girl had started fol
America on tramp steamer with this
object Of killing herself on my door
step. and that I should look out fol
her coming
'Tinie, did we ever read anything
Ike it In novel; asked Mary.
:. No, dear, we never did. replied
For three long years I looked fol-
| the coming of sweet Maine. but she
! came not I had an alarm bell attached
| to the front steps so that II she came
/ IN the night would be ava keued. bu
the bell never rang. I hated the woman
I had married. and she hated me.
kept house in the hall and she in tn
parlor, and we never met when W
could help 1t. I realized that my If
was wrecked. and father was a broker
and penniless man. Driven to despera
ton at last IL
" Don't say that you murdered you
wife," pleaded Mary.
If he did, and did it gently, I 70
one VIII forgive him., answered TilIie
No. I did not murder her Sh
was lying III with the humps whei
lightning struck the house and brough
her end. What was left Of 1t wa
seized next day by the sheriff for deb
my father was sent to Blackwell
Island fer six months for breaking
show window. and in my loneliness an
desperation I took to the road
And have you never found you
Marie2 Didn't she come to America
:. That Is why I grieve and griev
and refuse to be comforted. Iearne
that she did reach these shores an
! started for my home and then suddenl
!, turned I'd missanZ No one can to-