Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-09-07
Two Mistakes
One Corrected the Other
After q Long Interval.
by sHEELAl1 ESTHER DUNN
} Copyright. 1910. by American Press ,
Association
by sHEELAl1 ESTHER DUNN

x Association. Yl
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Returning from shopping. opened
my reticule TO take out some samples
when. to my surprise. found entirely
different contents from what had ex-
pccted. In short. 1 had laid my own
rcticule down on counter and picked
up one belonging to some ono else.
Among the articles ] found inside
was slip OF paper on which was
written:
Dearest Attis Mary-Meet me at tho
fountnin tomorrow at o'clock. have
made all ARRANGEMENTS. We Will DO mar
ried at tho rectory and take the evening
train for u. Don't let your fears get the
better OF you. Remember. 8 o. clock shsrp
| 1 Will DO tbcre half en- hour earlier II
you mink you had better come yelled
carry violets. Your loving J.
Tuesday
Fifteen years before i had received
just such a note. Indeed. there was
something similar I'm the handwriting
or the two missives. Then I had mnr-
ricd n man whom I had been obliged
to leave before the honeymoon was
over.
sudden thought struck me. How
would II do for mo to keep this girls
appointment q trifie ahead of time. i'm
pcrsonats her, veiled and with violetsf
l could end out whether she was about
to wreck her future or marry true
man IL the former. might save her.
At half past sailed forth. bought
tho violets OF a street flower vender on
the way ana ut a quarter to s entered
the square. I knew well how TO az
sumo hesitating step. for had been
there" before. On nearing the foun-
tain. looking out for j.. 1 saw a man
looking eagerly ut the vioiets In my
hand. but OF an age moro suitable TO
on elopemcnt with me than n young
girl. AS 1 drew nearer something in
his face md figure appeared familiar
10 me. Then stopped. overpowered
with astonishment.
No. was not mistaken. He was the
man who had been my husband. Fiji
teen years make marked difference
In ones appearance. and they had
changed him more than they usually
change men.
was now moro than ever bent on
playing the part. He Joined me, and
In whisper, as though had lost my
voice through excitement. said:
Take me where we can talk. I have
something to say TO you" He replied
that his auto was waiting on the street
and led the way there. ] got I'm the
auto, and he ran It out of the town.
II am not satisfied about this pre-
vious marriage Of yours" said
, Great heavens. Haven't we gone
over that sufficiently? You have heard
my explanation. and the last time we
met you expressed yourself entirely
satisfied"
II don't like your laying the blame
on your wife. IL we were to have
trouble and separate suppose you
would lay all the blame on me-"
He turned 10 look at me MS though
taken aback at my words. He could
not sea my face for my veil. but his
eyes were fixed on that as II they
would pierce 80.
you women are all alike" he said
presently. I'VE men no sooner stand
you on your feet than you fall down
again. Here Mt the last minute you
are bringing up what I have been at
such infinite pains 10 settle"
But. tell me. don't you blame herr
| "No. don't blame myself rather
than her. A newly welded pair are
like two persons floating down n tortu-
Gus channel full OF rocks and snags.
1t Is the mans part to keep his head
aud steer the boat. supposed that
honeymoons were always what the
name implies. ] found my wife q
prey TO all sorts OF temporary emo
tions--ono moment loving. the next ir-
ritable the next hesltatlDg. the next
respondent. should have known that
this. Mt least TO some tempernments. Is
q condition TO be expected-n reaction
, upon realizing That ones fate is lrrev-
ocably linked with another PERSONAL
~. Besides. she was very young. You
are ten years older thin she was at
that time. and l confess have looked
20 you for more steadIness. am
much disappointed"
"A woman OF my age should have
more sense than TO elope"
You know the reason for that. II
your father and mother had not an alb
surd prejudice against your marrying
divorced man we might be married
sensibly, as becomes our age"
; Your first marriage having been
case OF elopement. I should suppose,
considering that It resulted disastrous
ly. you would not care 20 try II again"
THE elopement has nothing TO do
with either case. Two people elect 90
unite. The method OF their doing so
is mere mntter Of sentiment"
There was n silence for time-Ht
least nothing but the chugging OF the
auto. We we're both thinking, he
probably Of the fickleness Of woman,
| OF how a tri6e may turn the whole
current Of two lives. For years ! had