Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-01

Some years ago, while | was engaged
in natural history pursuits in one of
the back counties CT Florida, was out
hunting one day with young man, Il
typical backwoodsman, and we stop
ped at q small log cabin for drink of
water
A widow and her little girl. about
five years old. lived there had met
the lady before, and SO l presented the
young man TO her.
The widow was Il stout, hardy, en-
ergetic woman, probably thirty-five
years old. The young man was near
ly eighteen and was never thirty miles
from home. had never seen n locomo-
tive. steamboat. bicycle. stove. clock or
mirror. Raised in the dat woods, with
out education, lie could not pick "A"
out of the alphabet. But to his credit.
be it said, he had been working for Sc
4 month to support n widowed moth
er. who was an invalid; crippled
brother and q younger brother and sis
ter. This small amount had supported
this family of five, with the addition
of 81 month which the county gave
the cripple.
Not an evening passed after the
young man was introduced to the wild
Ow that he was not at her house, and
in less than two weeks they were en-
gagged.
Then, the struggle with fate began.
The young man lost his job. a mar
F., riage license would cost 50. He could
| not get the price, and they were not
selling marriage licenses on credit.
| What was he to do? He struggled
hard for two weeks and managed by
| hook or by crook to secure S1.23. Only
10 cents between him and perfect
| bliss, But, alas. With the longest pole
| he could find he could not reach the
| persimmon. He could not, with the
| stoicism cf the fox that could not get
the grapes, dismiss them from his
mind by saying that they were sour,
for he positively knew they were
sweet. No: he could only murmur in
| and yet so far
Thus several days passed away. The
lidarkness of despair seemed to settle
upon him. He became Respondent. \
haggard. carcworn look was on his
face. as if he had not slept for Il
week. Finally. however. with despera-
ton and a courage he did not know
that he possessed, he came to me with
tears in his eyes and opened his whole
heart.
He told me of his trials and troubles,
his expectations ard disappointments,
his hopes, fears ard discouragements,
and then besought me so piteously for
the loan of the OTHER % cents that
did not have it in my heart to refuse
him.
He had to go Immediately to his
ltsweetheart and tell her his good for
tune. He was back in very short
time in an ecstasy Of delight to get me
to write and send for his license to
the county seat, forty miles away.
4 l wrote and directed the letter and
told him to put the two dollar fee in
it and register it for safety. I also
told him that registering and postage
would cost him 10 cents more. Again
his countenanee changed from happi-
ness to despair. He had encountered
what was to him another insurmount-
;. able obstacle, though only the size OF
"A dime.
Gosh" he cried, "what II l do?
hain't got anuther cent. If yer DOM
lend me 10 cents more, I'll hat ter give
1t up. I'll pay yer back, declare te
heaven will!'
4
gave him the additional dime, and
he started of in hurry for the post
office. five miles away, to mail and
register his letter. The postmaster
told him that his license ought to be
back at the postoffice by Friday night
1t was then Monday. 1t seemed 9
long time to wait. but there was nj
help for 1t.
1t was arranged that the bride ant
groom should start early Saturda,