The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-09-05
A Romance Marred.
(Original.]
Crash!

it leaving q young lady TO DE eXtflcat-
ed from the rubbish. She dragged her.
self out, and when young man, white
as death, leaped from the motor she
was standing looking daZedly at the
ruins.
Great heavens" he exclaimed Are
you aive?"
Yes" replied the girl; lat least
think So"
And not hurt?"
''Not at ALL" And she straightway
fell into his arms in dead faint
By this time a crowd had gathered.
The man holding the girl looked about
him for Some place of refuge and, see
ing drug store, carried her there, the
crowd following. A sprinkling and
stimulant revived her, and she ex,
pressed her desire to go to her home.
The chauffeur had meanwhile examin-
ed the automobile, found it but slightly
damaged and pulled it up in front Of
the drug store. The gentleman sup
ported the girl to the sidewalk, put her
in rear seat of the motor and sat
down beside her. The chauffeur turned
the crank, and the preliminary chug-
chugging commenced.
"a romance." shouted one of the
crowd.
isn't it lOvely?" said another.
what pretty pair!'' cried a third.
The vehicle began to move, and the
couple had the extreme relief and
pleasure to escape, followed by such
shouts as:
Send us tickets to the wedding"
1'ThiS June) is a good month for mar.
riages." And one fellow with neither
wit nor delicacy cried, Il wish you a
large family
Now, this might have been the end
Of the unpleasant part of the incident
had it not been that a reporter for a
society paper happened to be among
the crowd. Realizing his opportunity,
he called a cab, followed the couple,
got their names, and the next morn
ing his paper contained an account of
the accident, the embarrassing circum-
stances and the remarks of the crowd
The article. was written in true repor-
torial style and intended to be witty
and facetious, the writer condemning
the remarks as indicate, then scat
tering them broadcast in print
The principals in the comedy were
Albion Grammont, young man of in
dependent fortune, and Alice Hunt.
They were both members of the same
social circle, but had never met. Gram
mont could not Danish the sight of the
lovely figure arising from the wreck
OF lie c,1rriage nor the delicious eXpe
rience Of having that figure in his
arms. The girl dwelt upon the tender
soiicitude she had seen in his hand
some eyes and the comfort she had
felt in knowing that there was one
with her who would take every care
of her. In short, the affair was from
the first just what the crowd affirmed
it to be-a romance, or, in other words,
a sudden case Of love on both sides.
The harm was all done by the re-
porter Had he subordinated his and
his papers interests to that of the
young couple the affair might, not
withstanding the remarks Of the crowd,
have gone smoothly. But had he done
this he would not have been report
err One could as we'll expect a weasel
to spare a couple of spring chickens.
GrammOnt made love to Miss Hunt
he was never seen with her by others
but, the story of their meeting having
gone out among their acquaintances,
the lady vowed that she would never
marry a man with whom her name
had been SO ridiculously connected.
Suppose we are married. she said.
''The papers will contain columns Of
accounts headed "A Romance In High
Life "A Crowds Predictions Realized
He Met His Fate In a Crash, and all
that Then / would have to read it
all over again by the wastebasket full.
No, I'll never consent
II WISH" said Grammont-"I wish |
had that reporters neck on a block
and it was a mile long I'd like to
chop it in a thousand places"
I'D like to stick him full of pins"
said Miss Hunt.
'"'Why not be married priyately?"
suggested the lover.
The lady, who had from. childhood
counted on a fine display at her we'd
ding held off from this for year, but
at last consented to the plan that they
should at once go abroad and remain
there till the incidents of their meet
ing had become an old story This
was by no means in accord with her
station, but there was no other alterna-
tive except to face the jokes OF their
friends and acquaintances and the vo-
luminous accounts Of the affair in the
newspapers. So they were married
with great secrecy and sailed for Eng
land an hour after the wedding. On
the arrival of the next mail after they
had reached London they received
newspaper containing an article
marked in blue pencil with scare
heads:
SHE AROSE FROM THE WRECK AS
VENUS FROM THE SEA.
Was succored by the man whose car
riage caused the damage. Received prema-
ture congratulations from gaping crowd.
The match predicted by this paper came
about in due time. Private wedding or