Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-05-08
A Breach Of
!. .ConGdence..


had they known how she was to turn
ont. AS it is. nobody ever calls her
| anything but Jack, and in speaking Of
her to those who have never seen or
! known her one necessarily conveys
the idea that she is boy-not only IL
boy but q boy of the worst kind.
The way she has treated me and
her sister certainly deserves a hundred
lashes, and would like to be the fell
low to lay them on. | have always
been taught to consider one who would
betray confidence as worse than n
thief. Jack betrayed our confidence
in the most unblushing manner 1t all
happened only yesterday, and perhaps
I'm not in Il condition to look upon her
act with charity. l hope III never
come into q frame of mind to excuse
her abominable treachery.
1t was this way: Mr.. Merryman
wanted his daughter-his eldest daugh-
ter Harrict-to marry some big gun.
He had no objection to me other than
that l was neither president, member
of the cabinet nor one of the justices
OF the United States supreme court.
Harriet had tried to get his consent to
marry me, but he always put her Off
by saying, What do you want to mar
ry man for who couldn't even set
small rivulet afire, let alone a river?"
Then Harriet would expatiate on my
good sense, good heart and a good
many other things that big guns don't
generally possess, especially the good
heart, for they are usually diabolically
selfish. But her father only laughed
at her.
How we ever came to take Jack into
our confidence when we came to an
agreement to elope don't know. Har-
riet thought she couldn't make her
preparations without Jacks knowing
of them, but l rather put it down to
the fact that she must tell some one.
At any rate, she told her. Jack clap
ped her hands, and her eyes glistened
with glee. An elopement. How ro-
mantle! Just too lovely for anything!
She'd help us all she could. and, as for
keeping the secret. it would be buried
away down in her guileless heart.
We didn't need anything especially
elaborate-no rope ladder. fast team,
andf all that. We concluded Just to
board train, go up the road some
thirty miles to where Il former family
dominic, Mr. Strickland, lived and get
him TO marry us. We would go in the
morning take the afternoon train back
and be forgiven in time for dinner. OF
course / engaged the parson for q
specified day and hour. Jack was in
tensely interested in it all and made us
rgivepher every detail promising to pre-
jpaf6 her parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Merry
man. for what was to come. so that 1t
wouldn't be so much of a shock.
Harriet met me In the open square
near the station. She was trembling
all over, but I treasured her. To avoid
observation we went to'where the fore
most car would stand on the track
when the train came ill., We got away
on time and had the satisfaction to be
in a car that was nearly empty. The
train stopped at the next station on
the road a mile beyond. There the
door opened. and l heard familiar
girls voice say: "Come in here.
There's lots of room in this car"
| turned with rubadub heart to see
whom do you suppose? Jack beckon-
ing to her father and mother, who
were mounting to the car platform.
There they all three hustled into the
car we were in, Jack eXclaiming:
Goodness gracious. if there isn't
Hat! And. declare. Ben too! Where
I'm the world are you two going?
The establishment of the father and
mother was very much overdone. 1t
didn't deceive either of us. | glanced
at Jack and avoided meeting the eyes
of the parents. Mr.. Merryman seemed
overjoyed that our parties should have
met on what he called an improvised
excursion. He asked me where we
were going. and it was no use TO lie.
for nv ticket would give me away. SO
told him. and he was delighted that
we were all going to the same place.
OF the two halves of the party one
was jubilant, the other mad and NOR
titled. We We're obliged to spend an
hour and q half in this way before
reaching our destination. There we all
got out. and Jack proposed stroll.
She walked with her father, while
her mother walked with us. The little
villain led the way to the parsonage.
stopped before the door and proposed
call on the parson Without waiting
for consent, she rang the bell, and we
I'll went In. The parson was expecting
Us, but since / had told him we would
be alone he was trife surprised.
This would be good time for you
and Hat to get spliced." said Jack to
me.
The dominic got his book and waited
for us to take position. What could
we do? | didn't know what Mr.. Mer-
ryman was going to do, but since he
made no move l took Harriet before
the clergyman, and we were married.
Mr.. and Mrs. Merryman came up, gave
me hand and embraced their daugh-
ter. Harriet didn't know whether TO
burst into tears at having had her con-
fidence so abused or to rejoice that she
did not have to go back and ask her
parents forgiveness.
4 T.. nj N FOR