Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-09-10
TwOMiStdkeS.
One Corrected the Other
After a LonG Interval.
BY sHEELAH ESTHER DUNN

Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Association. Z?
$4,000 :s,..:s:-.:S..- ......s......s.
Returning from shopping. opened
my reticule to take out some samples
when. TO my surprise. found entirely
different contents from what had cx-
pcctcd. In short. had laid my own
reticuc down on n counter and picked
up one belonging TO some one else.
Among the articles | found inside
was a slip Of paper. on which was
written:
Dearest Little Mary-Mcet me ut the
fountain tomorrow at o'clock. have
made all arrangements. We will be mar
ricd al the rcctory and take the evening
train for H. Don't let your fears get the
better Of you. Remember. s O'Clock sharp
/ will be there hnif an hour earlier. II
you think you had better come yelled
carry violots. Your loving J.
Tuesday.
Fifteen years before had received
just such n note. Indeed. there was
something similar in the handwriting
OF tho two missivcs. Then had mar
ricd man whom had been obliged
TO leave before the honeymoon was
over.
A sudden thought struck me. How
would II do for me TO keep this girls
appointment trine ahead OF time. Inn
personate her, yelled and with violets?
] could find out whether she was about
to wreck ler future or marry true
man. II the former. might save her
At half past sailed forth. bought
the violets OF street flower vender on
the way and at quarter TO 5 entered
the square. knew well how to as
sumo hesitating step. for had been
there" before. On nearing the foun.
tain, looking out for j.. saw man
looking eagerly ut the vlolets In my
hand. but of an age more suitable TO
an elopement with me than a young
girl AS drew nearer something in
his face and figure appeared familiar
TO me. Then stopped. overpowered
with astonishment.
No. I was not mistaken. He was tho
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 more than ever bent on
playing the part. He Joined me. and
In n whisper, as though had lost my
voice through excitement. said:
Take mo where we can talk. l have
something TO say 10 you" He replied
that his auto was waiting on the street
and led the way there. got In 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. II we were to have
trouble and separate ! suppose you
would lay all the blame on me
He turned TO look Mt me MS though
taken aback nj my words. He could
not see my face for my veil. but his
eyes we're fixed on that as II they
would pierce 1t.
You women are all alike" he said
presently. We men no sooner stand
you on your feet than you fall down
again. Here at the last minute you
are bringing up what have been at
such infinite pains to SETTLE
But. tell me. don't You blame herf'
'No. | don't blame myself rather
than her. \ newly welded pair are
like two persons floating down tortu-
ous channel full of rocks and snags.
II IL the mans part Ia keep his head
and steer the boat. supposed that
honeymoons were always what the
name implies. found my wife a
prey to all sorts of temporary emo
tions--onc moment loving. the next ir-
rltablc. the next hcsitating. the next
Respondent. should have known that
this. at least To some Compartments. Is
n condition 10 be expectcd-a reaction
upon realizing that ones fate IL irrey-
ocably linked with another personali-
~. Besides. she was very young You
are ten years older than she was at
that time. and confess have looked
TO you for more stcadincss. 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
n divorced man we might he married
sensibly. as becomes our age"
Your first marriage having been
case OF elonement. should suppose,
considering that 1t resulted disastrous
~. you would not care TO try II again
''rhe elopcment has nothing 10 do
with either case. Two people elect to
unite. The method Of their doing so
Is n mere matter of sentiment"
There was silence for n time-at
least nothing but the chugging Of the
auto. We were both thinking. he
probably of the flcklcucss Of woman.
! of how n trlhe may turn the whole