The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1911-04-08


suppressed an exclamation OF dis
may.
Margaret fought down a desire to
scream aloud. Il was hard enough 10
have been married against her Will,
but to have her husband force HIS so
ciety upon her. when II was impos-
sible 70 escape him without a scene,
was unbearable.
She had refused only two days ago.
To-day he was her husbandl She
closed her eyes and saw Il al again.
Kittio 0uthrey's parlor. the dozen
young people assembled there. dressed
IN the quaint, old-fashioned clothes
1nttio had dragged from an attic
trunk: while from the doorway. the
round. Jolly face Of the justice. Kittie's
father. beamed upon them.
they had been playing charades and
Margaret wearing Kittie's grand
mothers white satin wedding gown,
veil and wreath OF faded orange bios
SONS, had been the central figure in
tableau. Then. as one in a dream. she
had found herself taking part In a
marriage service. Mechanically she
had repeated her responses. vaguely
conscious Of the girls giggling and the
boys broad grins, but with a dim
sense Of awe, as the justice repeated
the solemn words OF the ceremony.
Perhaps Il had been only a dream.
Perhaps there was no license, nor
justice, nor ceremony: and she was
still free.
Opening her eyes suddenly her
glance fell upon the hand which lay
upon the window sill There was the
ring which Fred had placed on her
finger. plain gold band, which he
had detached from his watch guard.
Once he had told her that 1t was his
mothers wedding ring.
She clenched her hands and stared at
the flying landscape. Her anger against
the man beside her rose In turbulent
waves. submerging all other feelings.
Why had he taken such a mean adj
vantage7 She would not have believed
he could do It How triumphant he
must feel.
Why did you do it7" she asked,
aloud. without turning her head. DO
you suppose that because you have
trapped me into marriage, you can
compel me TO live with your Perhaps
you thought Of kidnapping me, and con-
fining me In q -toweri"
Her low, well-modulated tones, vibra-
ting with scorn, broke the intolerable
silence as sharp knife cuts a taut
cord.
rs Il possible that you believe am
responsible for what happened last
nightr Cartoons voice expressed
panied surprise. Il knew you did not
love me. but I thought | still retained
your respect II you had waited a mo-
ment longer. you would have known
that had no part In the plot which
turned our frivolous play into sober
reality. At first I was too bewildered
TO understand that the license was
genuine and the marriage legal And
when would have rushed after you.
the boys held me while Morris ex-
planned II was all wretched, prac-
ticai Joke, which he and Williams bad
planned. Surprising that We were en-
gagged. they thought we would relish
the idea OF an impromptu marriage. as
much as they did"
The conductor was making his
rounds. Carleton handed him his own
and Margarets tickets and frowned
absently at him until be had passed.
The energetic trainboy came and went
followed by the pompous negro porter.
Margaret's face was still averted. but
a restless movement betrayed her Inn
patience with the rest OF Cartoons
story.
They had no trouble in getting the
license be continued. Grant. tho