The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1910-12-29
A Matrimonial
Escape
By ARTHUR W. BREWSTER
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

lived in a gold mining region where
great deal Of assaying needed to be
done and, being a chemist. set up an
establishment where | could do this
and other work pertaining to mines.
NV place was a receptacle for gold
dust, large quantities of which were
left with me continually.
Miss Rebecca Wright. my typewrit-
or was a very clrcumspect young lady.
| attempted occasionally to joke with
her but met with no response On
one or two occasions | ventured to say
something bit tender to her but met
with no encouragement. But when a
mans mind is set on producing re.
suits. especially with woman. he viii
no. let up until be has accomplished
them or is obliged to give 1t up. What
wished, all ] wished at least. at first
was to see Miss Wright show 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
II the leakage continued.
No great quantity was taken Mt one
time Indeed, what / missed at a
weighing had but the value of few
dollars. But missed these small
amounts continually. | had nothing
laid up, and the amounts was losing
made up an accommodating debt / set
watch on every one connected with
the establishment except Miss Wright.
did not propose to have any one spy
upon girl who had every evidence Of
rectitude.
Then the stealing ceased for awhile.
! began again to think of my stenogra-
pher and. yielding to pique. recon-
menced my efforts to break through
that iciness which characterized an
her actions toward me- She accepted
my attentions. but passively. She
even permitted me to retain her hand
when | took 1t In mine on meeting her
crossed between us until came to
driving her out occasionally. | was
not especially in love with her. though
] might have been had she received
my attentions more warmly. Ii was
with me rather a matter Of curiosity.
though since lived a lonely life in
country where there was little of wo-
mans society often thought of mar
rying Miss Wright. If could gain her
consent, for the sake of a home.
Then suddenly the leakages in gold
dust recommended. l charged several
persons in my employ with being the
thief. hoping that some one Of them
would break down under the accusa-
ton and confess. Among others &C.
cused the woman who kept my prem
lses in order. She turned on me like
fury:
''If We want TO know where yer
gold dust is goin I'll tell We. The
young Teddy you're drivin' out and
sayin' sweet things to is relievin' We of
It."
was too indignant to ask her sin
gle question as to what ground she
based her charges upon. Indeed.
feared Miss Wright might hear her,
and to be charged with such a crime
would break her heart. | therefore
dismissed the allegation with contempt
and from that time felt more tender
than ever toward the injured girl.
Indeed. was daily becoming more
and more inclined to enter into a mat.
rimonial partnership with Miss Wright
| grew more and more demonstrative,
in many ways indicating my intention.
Miss Wright's demeanor underwent no
change. She would permit me to en-
circle her waist. to kiss her; but. as for
responding. she made no response
whatever. l confess that this excited
my amour propre. though at times !
felt inclined to cease my demonstra-
tions, feeling that might as well
earess stone
One evening was sitting on a sofa
beside Miss Wright. our heads very
near together ! asked her why she
was so unresponsive. She said she
didn't know; she had always been
called undemonstrative / wished to
propose to her, but she was so cold
that l couldn't bring myself to do so,
Though my arm was about her waist
end her head rested on my shoulder,
still there was no love current running
between us.
That night on taking off my coat I
saw something glitter on its shoulder.
recognized particles Of gold dust. IT
struck me at once that the particles
were where Miss wright's head had
been. Then a terrible thought came to
me. Was the woman / was thinking
& o. making my wife thief Was she
CARRYING away the dust in her hair?
did not sleep much that night and
tho next day went away for brief
] season. employing woman to spy on
q Miss Wright When ! returned my de.
4 teetive reported that every night the
4 girl washed her hair and poured off the
a water in the bowl. leaving sediment,
81 which she scraped together and put in
little box.
Not for worlds would expose one
8 whom / had so nearly asked to be my
wife. l went away again. leaving a
aote for her informing her of my dis.
covery and telling her net to let me
Ind her when returned.
81 have tried in vain to make up my
mind to propose TO some other woman.
81 Ny mind has been so warped with