The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-03-05
A MODERN OLD STORY
IoriginaIl

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
be 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 stately mansion near the
border line between New York and
Pennsylvania. Within the house two
people on the very threshold of life, a
youth Of eighteen In leather dress and
a maiden Of sixteen en- princesse, stood
in a drawing room furnished in Louis
QuatorZe style. At tie windows were
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, II have a confession to
make"
make it." she replied, with shud-
der
II am a 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 in
Pennsylvania. A suit for alimony has
established the fact that the Pennsyl-
vanIa laws do not recognize the South
Dakota divorce. am free to wed you
here. In Pennsylvania my marriage
would be blgamy."
Her head fell on his shoulder. He
raised her face and saw that she was
weeping. Then she spoke
II, too, Lawrence, have confession
to make. l was married at fifteen and
only secured my divorce month ago,
as in your case, in Dakota. My hus-
band has contested the divorce in
Pennsylvania, from which state we
have but recently removed, and lost
his suit There l 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 sharp ring at the telephone. Go
ing to the instrument, she took up the
receiver and said softly:
"Hellow
After listening few moments she
dropped the receiver, staggering, when
her lover caught her in his arms.
"Heavensw she cried. "It was my
lawyer. He says that my divorced
husband has got an order for me to
show cause for something or other and
l must get out of the Jurisdiction of
the court. What shall / doP'
my automobile is at the door. Let
us go at once"
As she passed through the hall she
took up dust proof wrap and put on
a pair of goggles, as did her lover.
Both jumped into the machine stand
ing at the door and sped away at twice
the speed allowed by the city ordi-
nances.
Dearest" he said, "why should low
ing hearts regard these conflicting
laws2 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 at 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 herculean effort he
pulled the dominic into the machine
and was or like the wind
1--WE are followed by an officer of the
court" he explained, "and cannot stop
for marriage. Marry US as we GO"
The dominic demurred to such an I'M
usual proceeding, but after much per-
suaslon consented and performed the
ceremony. Scarcely had he pronounced
the couple man and wife when Law
renee gave groan.
What is 1t dearest" asked his wife
that is, II she was his wife
"We are headed southwark and haye
either passed or are passing or about to
pass the Pennsylvania line"
There my marriage Is legal" she
said quickly.
"And there am bigamist"
what shall we doY'
we cannot turn. We are followed
too closely. The slightest curve would
upset the machine. We must go on.
Thank heaven, dearest. you will be
free from these odlous laws"
"And you viii be liable to arrestY"
Far in the distance appeared cloud
or dust cloud as large as a mans
hand. which the fugitlves supposed was
nothing to them but a 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 upsettlng The automobile be.
hind had gained perceptibly and was