The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-10-03

Returning from shopping. | opened
my reticule to take out some samples
when. to my surprise. found entirely
different contents from what had ex-
pected In short. had laid my own
reticule down on 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-Meet me at the
fountain tomorrow at s O'Clock. l have
made all arrangements We sNill be mar
ried at the rectory and take the evening
train for b. Don't let your fears get the
better of You. Remember. s o'clock sharp
l will be there half an hour earlier. II
you think you had better come yelled
carry violets. Your loving J.
Tuesday.
Fifteen years before had received
just such note. Indeed. there was
OF the two missives. Then hnd mar
ricd man whom had been obliged
to leave before the honeymoon was
over.
sudden thought struck me. How
would 1t do for me to keep this girls
appointment trihe ahead of time. im-
personate her, yelled and with violets?
could find out whether she was about
to wreck her future or marry true
man. If the former. might save her.
At half past 4 | sailed forth. bought
the way and at a quarter TO s entered
the square I 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 at the yiolets In my
hand. but Of an age more suitable to
an elopement with me than young
girl. AS drew nearer something in
his face and figure appeared familiar
10 me. Then stopped. overpowered
with establishment
| No. was not mistaken. He was the
man who had been my husband. Fiji
teen years make marked difference
4 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
III whisper, as though had lost my
voice through excitement, l 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. l got in the
auto, and he ran 1t out Of the town.
IL am not satisfied about this pre-
vious marriage of yours" l 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"
~ 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 at me as though
taken aback at my words. He could
not see my face for my veil. but his
eyes were fixed on that as IL they
would pierce 1t.
You women are oil alike" he said
presently. I'VE 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 al
such infinite pains to SETTLE"
But. tell me, don't you blame herY
mo, don't. ! blame myself rather
than her. A newly welded pair are
like two persons floating down tortu
GUS channel full Of rocks and snags
II is the mans part to keep his head
and steer the boat supposed thai
houeymoons were always what Tho
name implies. | found my wife
prey to all sorts Of temporary emo
tions--one moment loving, the next ir
ritnble. the next hesitating, the mex
despondent. should have known tina
this. at least to some temperaments. 1;
condition to be expected--a reaction
upon realizing that ones fate Is irrev
ocably linked with another PERSONAL
ty. Besides. she was very young. You
are ten years older than she was a
that time, and confess have looked
to you for more steadiness. l an
much disappointed"
"A woman of my age should hav'
more sense than to elope."
"You know the reason for that !
your father and mother had not an ah
surd prejudice against your marrying
divorced man we might be marrie'
sensibly, as becomes our age"
Your first marriage having been
case of elopement, ! should suppose
considering that it resulted disastrous
ly, you would not care to try 1t again.
"The elopement has nothing to d
with either case Two people elect
unite. The method Of their doing s
Is mere matter Of sentiment"
; There was q silence for tines
least nothing but the chugging Of tn
auto. We we're both thinking, !
probably Of the hckleness Of womai
of how q triHe may turn the who
current of two lives. For years ha
: considered that had married brut
True. / had mourned that he had turf
ed out to be such. but had not doub
ed that my Interpretation OF him WI
correct. And now found him accu
A... Ia N