Evening journal., 1910-12-09
A Matrimonial
Escape
By ARTHUR w. BREWSTER
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

eStal 1Shment Wnere l could 90 tnlS
and other work pertaining to mines.
My place was receptacle for gold
dust. large quantities Of which were
left with me continually.
Miss Rebecca Wright my typewrit-
er. was a very circumspeet young lady.
/ attempted occasionally to joke with
her. but met with no response. On
one or two occasions l ventured to say
something a bit tender to her. but met
with no encouragement But when a
mans mind Is set on producing re-
suits. especially with woman. he will
not let up until he has accomplished
them or is obliged 20 give II up. What
wished, all wished at least. at first
was TO see Miss Wright show a con-
sciousness Of my admiration and some
appreciation OF the fact.
But something happened which led
me to forget Miss Wright and any one
else except one unknown person. That
person was getting away with gold
dust in sufficient quantities to ruin me
If the leakage continued.
No great quantity was taken at one
time. Indeed. what / missed at a
weighing had but the value of few
dollars. But 1 missed these small
amounts continually. l had nothing
laid up. and the amounts / was losing
made up an accumulating debt. / set
a watch on every one connected with
4 the establishment except Miss Wright.
/ l did not propose to have any one spy
upon a girl who had every evidence Of
rectitude.
Then the stealing ceased for awhile.
I began again to think Of my stenogra-
pher and. yielding to plque. recon-
Fmenced my efforts to break through
that iciness which characterized all
her actions toward me. She accepted
my attentions. but passively. She
even permitted me 70 retain her hand
when / took 1t In mine on meeting her
after a brief absence Matters pro
gressed between us until / came to
driving her out occasionally. was
not especially in love with her. though
l might have been had she received
my attentions more warmly. II was
with me rather a matter Of curiosity
though since / lived lonely life in q
country where there was little of wo
mans society l often thought of mar
rying Miss Wright. If could gain hei
consent for the sake of a home.
Then suddenly the leakages in gold
dust recommended. l charged severa
persons in my employ with being the
thief. hoping that some one Of then
would break down under the accuse
ton and confess. Among others l ac
cused the woman who kept my prem
ises in order. She turned on me like
fury:
"If ye want to know where ye
= gold dust is goin' I'll tell ye. TIL
young Teddy you're drivin' out an
sayin' sweet things to is relievin' ye G
t."
was too indignant to ask her n sir
gle question as to what ground sh
based her charges upon. Indeed.
. feared Miss Wright might hear hel
, and to be charged with such a Grim
e would break her heart. / therefor
. dismissed the allegation with contemp
and from that time felt more tende
! than ever toward the injured girl.
/, Indeed. was daily becoming NOR
! and more inclined to enter into a maj
rimonial partnership with Miss Wrigh
| grew more and more demonstrativ'
! In many ways indicating my intention
I Miss Wright's demeanor underwent n
. change. She would permit me to er
4 circle her waist to kiss her; but. as fo
responding. she made no respons
whatever l confess that this excite
my amour propre. though at times
felt inclined TO cease my demonstri
tions. feeling that l might as we
caress a stone.
One evening I was sitting on a sof
S beside Miss Wright. our heads yer
n near together asked her why sh
r was so unresponsive. She said sh
L didn't know; she had always bee
= called undemonstratlve. ! wished
: propose to her. but she was so col
. that I couldn't bring myself TO do 81
Though my arm was about her wal.
and her head rested on my shoulde
sun lutIe Wuo hV lpNS NhAAShb AuhhAh
between us.
j. That night on taking OF my coat
saw something glitter on its shoulde
L recognized particles of gold dust.
q struck me at once. that the particle
c were where MISS Wright's head ha
been. Then terrible thought came
me. Was the woman was thinkin
Of making my wife a thief? Was st
carrying away the dust in her hairl
I did not sleep much that night an
4 the next day went away for a brit
season. employing a woman TO spy Q
l. Miss Wright When I returned my d
i tective reported that every night Il
6 girl washed her hair and poured Off II
( water in the bowl. leaving a sedlmen
l. which she scraped together and put
a little box.
: Not for worlds would I expose OF
= whom had so nearly asked to be n
wife. | went away again. leaving
note for her informing her Of my di
covery and telling her not to let n
find her when returned.
have tried in vain TO make up n
mind to propose to some other woma
My mind has been so warped wi
this one experience-then narrowness
my escape from marrying a thief
that I am forced TO be unjust TO I
rest. Perhaps some day shall real
fall in love. and that will end my 81
picions.
YOu must read this If You want I