Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-20

from rage ElNe.D
know people will blame me, and
say, as the term goes, that ne and
have been in 'cahoots to get my aunt's
money and property. But it is not so.
have been entirely innocent of that.
My aunt has been very good to me.
lutely nothing but the homestead out
on Ninth street There was about So
600 in CASH. think $500 was the
amount on deposit in the banks-and
the homestead, estimated at $4,000, as
her share of the estate of her hus-
band. There is nothing left
Talks of Future.
my aunt has been good TO
ME, and I'm young and strong
I'm a woman-and I'm determined
that she shall not want. I'm
going to work and keep her from
that. III take care of her She took
care of me when l had nothing, and
I'll take care of her, now that neither
of us have anything. All we've got
is the homestead, and my things.
The homestead property title is in
my name. People will probably criti-
else that transaction, too, but | was
absolutely innocent of any wrong Or
wrong intention in that transaction.
do not care to state the reasons for
it's being made over to me. but | did
not know of it at all in advance. |
did not know of it until | was called
in there when the papers were made
out My aunt signed them. Mr. War
rem knew of the transaction. and of
the reasons for it, He has the papers
the deeds-transfering the title to me.
OF course it will be of no good to
him. but he has it. The papers were
made~out in the winter"
Was Devoted Lover.
Il don't see how ne could do it,
repeated Miss Eldridge. He had been
so good TO me and to my aunt. Mrs
Cramer. We never had had any
words or any quarrels except those
that | myself caused. He knew how
felt toward him. but he did not seem
to mind. He was only afraid that
I'd jilt him.
And YOU know how | did misuse
him. remarked Miss Eldridge to a
young woman who accompanied her
| to the station, and who had by
this time entered the private Office,
and taken seat by the side of the
young woman. Miss Eldridge told. OF
| having gone to Milwaukee. and how
Warren had provided for her in every
way, seeing that every comfort was
given her. She said he had been
afraid she would not return, and that
when she did come back here he was
away. trying to find her. While he
was in the west on business trip
| for them, she said. he telegraphed
her every day, and wrote her numer-
Gus letters telling her and Mrs era
mer not to worry, and giving encour-
aging reports in regard to the bust
ness that he had been sent to look
after.
| He was very good about the house
When | was not well he would carry
me up and down stairs. He paid for
everything at the hospital when
was sick there. He was always doing
| things to tighten the cares of my aunt
| and myself. Why. just this morning
He seemed so happy and enthusiastic.
| never had any reason to do other
wise than to trust him. | could not
imagine that any one could treat me
| so, and not be honest and sincere.
| thought there were some honest men
| in the world-some good men When
| met him.
Miss Eldridge denied a report that
Warren had once or twice before
caused her to postpone the time of
their marriage.
Gives Way to Tears.
view with the newspaper men. Miss
Eldridge broke down and cried sew
eral times. She appealed to the men
to consider the very embarrassing pc
sition in which she is placed. She
spoke bitterly of the public suspicion
of her own honesty and sincerity in
the matter. and urged that considera-
tfon be given her statements. ont of
fairness. She expressed gratitude for
the opportunity of hearing by the
newspaper men as representatives of
| the public at large. and for the assur-
ance that an effort would be made to
faithfully record her statements.
1t was but a few minutes after s
O'Clock when Miss Eldridge and her
companions left the station. and
walked up Second avenue past the
Harper house, which was to have been
the scene of the wedding. The par
Tors were then dimly lighted, and
there Sas an air of suppressed excite
ment about the building as a resul
iof the developments of the evening