Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-08
DAILY. STORY.
A MODERN OLD STORY.

pSeudOnym or Ilonel Mdicoiul, hdi
been writing realistic stories wherein
nothing happened, the humdrum Of life
went on as it really is. people marry
ing and dying in the ordinary way. till
he was wearied. He determined to try
his hand at the old fashioned tale OF
complicated events. He realized that
his story. though old in method. must
he new in substance. Unfortunately he
could not overcome literary habits that
had controlled him for years. Here Is
the result of his labor:
An automobile. twenty horsepower
and of the latest pattern. stood before
the door of a stately mansion near the
border line between New York and
Pennsylvania. Within the house two
people on the very threshold of life,
youth of eighteen in leather dress and
il maiden of sixteen ell princeSse, stood
in a drawing room furnished in Louis
QuatOrZe style At the windows We're
curtains of rich renaissance lace. Over
those hung heavy satin brocade. The
girl was looking up timidly into the
youths face.
"Luella," he said. taking both her
hands in his, Il have Il confession to
make
Make it," she replied, with a shud
der.
Il am n married man."
She moaned a low, deep, melancholy
moan.
Il was married at eighteen, divorced
in South Dakota at eighteen and six
months, and my former wife lives i'll
Pennsylvania. \ suit for alimOny has
established the fact that the Pennsyl-
vania laws do not recognize the South
Dakota divorce. | am free to wed yOH
here In Pennsylvania my marriage
would be bigamy."
Her head fell on his shoulder. He
raised her face and SAW that she was
weeping. Then she spoke:
a., too. Lawrence. have Il confession
10 make. | was married at fifteen and
only secured my divorce a month ago,
as i'll your case, in Dakota. My nus
band has contested the divorce in
Pennsylvania. from which state We
have but recently removed. and lost
his suit. There | am free to marry
again. But, alas. he has followed me
here. and my lawyer tells me that the
New York laws make me still his
wife,
She had no sooner spoken than there
was Il sharp ring ut the telephone. Co
ing to the instrument. she took up the
receiver and said softly:
Hello"
After listening a few moments she
dropped the receiver. staggering. when
her lover caught her i'll his arms.
"HeaVenS.' she cried. 1T was my
lawyer. He says that my divorced
husband has got an order for me to
show cause for something or other and
! must get out of the jurisdiction of
the court. What shall I dog
My automobile is at the door. Let
us go at once
As she passed through the hall she
| took up Il dust proof wrap and put on
Il pair of goggles, as did her lover.
Both jumped into the machine stand
| ing at the door and sped away ut twice
| the speed allowed by the city Ordi-
! nanceS.
Dearest" he said. why should low
| ing hearts regard these conflicting
| laws: Let us be married and defy
| them"
Her head dropped upon his leather
| sleeve
Passing the rectOry of st. James
| church. he saw the rector coming down
| the steps. Drawing up ut the side
| walk. the fugitive hastily asked him to
| perform the marriage ceremony. Law
renee. turning his head anXiously, saw
an automobile coming rapidly down
| the street With hercuIean effort he
| pulled the dominic into the machine
and was off like the wind.
I'VE are followed by an officer Of the
| court he explained, land cannot stop
for marriage. Marry us as we GO
The dominic demurred To such an I'M
| usual proceeding. but after much per-
| SuaSiOn consented and performed the
ceremony. Scarcely had lie pronounced
the couple man and wife when Law
renee gave Il |rOan.
| What is it deareStt" asked his wife
| that is. if she was his wife.
I'VE are headed southwark and have
either passed or are passing or about to
pass the Pennsylvania line"
There my marriage is legal" she
said quickly.
And there l am Il bigamist."
what shall we dO:'
| I'VE cannot turn. We are followed
too closely. The slightest curve would
| upset the machine We must 20 on.
Thank heaven. dearest, you will he
| free from these odious laws"
| And you will be liable to arrest?"
Far in the distance appeared cloud
| of dust, Il cloud as large as mans
hand. which the fugitives supposed was
nothing to them but coming automo-
bile which they must pass by. keeping
to the right as the law directs Alas.
how little we know what is in store for
us. Just before meeting the coming
| machine Lawrence saw an opportunity
to take a road to the left which curved
and would enable him to go northward
without upsetting. The automobile be-
hin had m 4