Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-07

they passed all these years under a
misunderstanding
Meanwhile Witridge had become an
active business man. He grew wealthy.
or was considered so, belonged to
a number of Select clubs and went
somewhat fn society. One evening at
a social function he met Miss Ander-
son, now a woman Of thirty. not yet
past the line between youth and mid
die age. the moment the two got to-
gether the smouldering fire within be-
gan to show dame. Something the
lady said induced her lover to believe
that he had made a mistake. The
next day he called, and the next week
they were engaged to be married.
It was about this time that finan-
cial panic occurred, and while it was
coming on arrangements were being
made for the wedding.
One day, two months after the en-
gagement had been announced, Wit
ridge went to the Office where mar
rage licenses are procured and called
for the license that had been twice re-
turned. The clock Of fate struck 3.
The wedding day was bright and
beautiful, and it seemed that the long
unused marriage license would serve
its purpose. But the fates had not yet
finished their work. On entering his
carriage to go to the church Mr.. Wit
ridge was arrested on a criminal charge
of misrepresentation Of funds. He had
for some time, like many others, been
struggling against a want of ready
money in business and was considered
rather "shaky'' by some of his credit
ors. One Of them, fearing that he was
about to fail, took this method on the
eve of the debtors marriage to force
an immediate payment Of his claim.
WitrIdge was unable to meet his de-
mands and instead Of going TO the
bridal went to jail. The act Of
this creditor brought about witridge's
failure, and as soon as the former
found that his attempt to force his
debtor had failed he withdrew the
charge, and Witridge went forth a free
but ruined man.
Miss Anderson Is now a woman, and
it is time, If ever, that she shall
show whether she is the same i'm
pulSive creature as ever or has grown
cold with increasing years. She sent
a note to the man who had been 30
ruthlessly torn away from her saying
that she believed he would clear him
self of the charge and he could count
on her if he did.
When Miss Anderson saw her lover
again he was much changed. He
looked fifty instead Of forty and was
Il IL fnanrnn
which to support a wife, he had no
capital with which to embark again
in business, and he felt that his good
name had been smirched. Miss An
derson had sent word asking him
when he left the jail to come at once
to her. When Witridge entered the
drawing room at her home he en-
countered a pair OF arms that were
thrown violently around his neck, and
his face was covered with kisses.
Then the two sat down together, and
she said to him:
'I have some property, as you know.
and have turned it all into cash, real
izing $4,000. Here is a check for the
amount to your order. It is not much
to start in business with, but you have
host of friends, and that is capital
in itself You must begin tomorrow"
A light rose in his melancholy eyes
as he said:
you are the same girl you were at
the husking. Bray a fool in a NOR
tar -
And she will be the same girl that
tried to bluff you when we went to be
married the second. time" she finished.
eff it hadn't been for both our i'm
pulses we might have been happy to-
gether long ago." he said. with a Sigh.
"And If it hadn't been for my i'm
pulses now I might leave you to n
frightful old age. Go at once and get
that ancient marriage license"
And the same day the clock Of fate
struck 4.