Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-11-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
Married in Haste-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

Get up; Johns terribly Ill. You
must go for a DOCTOR
I heard the words as spoken from
a distance or while in a dream, for I
had been working night and day with
but a few hours sleep each night and
was exhausted. Then I felt a violent
shaking which caused me to open my
eyes. After much repetition I was
made to understand that I was to go
at once for a doctor. I managed to
get into my clothes, and, being told
that the residence Of the physician
| was % Hawthorne street, one of
a row of stone front dwellings, I sal
lied forth. On the way l was obliged
to pinch myself to keep sufficiently
awake to avoid falling against objects
1 passed. On reaching the block
found the numbers were all in the
vestibules where no light shone upon
them. 1 finally found a number that
appeared to be %, but could not be
sure. failed to find the doctors sign.
but the darkness of the street would
| account for that. I rang the bell. A
colored girl came to the door. asked
If the doctor was at home. She said
he was not; he had gone out to see a
person who was at the point of death.
I asked when he might be expected
home. to which she replied that he
| might come any minute. I concluded
to wait awhile and. going inside. sat
down on a sofa IN a far corner of the
room. There was light. in the hall
| which was turned low, the only light
on the main, floor.
In few minutes was sound asleep.
Again / heard voice. this time
| woman's, trying sto awaken me.
Wake up, We haven't a moment
to lose Father will be here in a few
minutes. and it will be too late"
I reused myself and stood up. A
soft hand took mine. and. only partly
awake. I heard a mans voice mum
bling something There was no light
in the hail or, in the room 1 was in.
though figures could be discerned from
what light came from the street. The
mumbling ended with the words IMAM
and wife" Then the soft voice said:
"Come quick"
was led out of the house. the hand
still holding mine. and found a car
rage waiting at the door. The figure
that led me got into it and shut the
door.
Remember she said, tomorrow
at f." -s...-.
By this time was sufficiently awake
to realize that something Of consider
able Importance was at hand. I thrust
my hand into my pocket where I car
RED box of-matches, drew 1t forth,
struck light and revealed the as
tonished face of girl apparently
about twenty years Of age.
"Oh, heavens." she exclaimed.
A clatter, OF wheels was heard coming
rapidly. ~.s,.s.:-..-..
Drive on"
The coachman whipped up his horses
and in another moment my uninten
donal bride was whirled- away.
Her carriage had, scarcely turned a
corner where its rattle was not so
distinctly heard when another came
tearing down the street and stopped
before the doctors door. l concluded
that. having got another mans sweet
heart, / was liable to the wrath her
father might be disposed to vent upon
him. moved away few PAGES where
1 would not be seen and awaited fur
Their Developments. 4 man jumped out
Of the carriage, ran up the steps or the
doctors residence and pulled the bell
furiously. Some one came to the door,
and heard questions and answers. but
not with sufficient distinctness to make
out their purport. Then the man ran
down the steps. got into the carriage
and was driven away.
notwithstanding the seriousness OF
the situation. there was something lu
dicrous about it. While John was suf-
fering for the want of a doctor and
might have died for all knew. in
stead of getting him one 1 had got
married Could anything be more
ridiculous? The curiosity that had led |
me to flash a match'in my wife's face |
to see what she was like prompted |
me to investigate further. AS soon as |
l was sure the last carriage was at |
safe distance I mounted the steps of |
the doctors house and rang the bell.
A man in clerical dress answered the |
summons. He seemed very much dis |
turbed and in an irritated voice said:
well. STRIP
Does DIR. Brainard live hereT
mo. sir. DR.. Brainard lives next |
door. No. 2S. This is &C."
went home. My mother was the |
only one in the house still up. She
was waiting for me.
Where have you been all the timer
she asked impatiently
Mother I'm married!'