The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-08-15
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
AN OUTLAWS BRIDE.
By Donald Allen.

AiiChs
They said of Mildred Drew that she
was frivolous girl, and now that she
was as good as engaged to Stephen
Hazleton they continued to say the
same old thing. They did add, how
ever, shat Stephen, being three years
older and being u conservative young
man, would steady her down.
It's nothing against girl that she
is frivolous. 1t simply means that she
refuses to worry about The things that
her mother does; that she doesn't
want to tie herself up too soon; that
she is falling in love with a new chap
every week or two to study the male
sex; that she is romantic by nature,
and refuses to take the world as ser
iously as others.
Whether folks liked it or not, Miss
Mildred went right on being frivolous.
She thought a great deal Of stephen
HazeltOn, but when he started out
to lecSure her on frivOlity she always
tossed her head and replied that there
were plenty Of other good men in the
world, and that at exactly 10 o'clock
The next forenoon she would be found
walking the top of the back yard
fence.
The evening before Miss Mildred
went down to the country to visit her
aunt, Mr.. HazletOn spoke of having
their engagements announced in the
papers.
why, when were we engaged?" she
asked.
Months ago."
Il never heard of it,"
But 1 have asked you to be my
wife"
And 1 have answered that l didn't
know whether l would be or not. No,
sir, there is no engagement. l may
see someone down in the country L
like better"
Stephen took things very mildly and
refused to contest the point that even
ing, or 20 be perturbed for the sue
ceeding three days. Then happened
what always happens with a conserva-
tive young man who has gone along
thinking he had a sure thing of it and
laughing at would-be rivals. The
green-eyed monster clutched him by
the throat and he found himself the
most wretched man in the state. He
did not know until that hour how
much he loved the girl. She had de-
MED the engagement that he had
looked upon as a settled thing. She
was frivolous, but she had spells of
being very much in earnest.
Stephen had asked for a daily letter.
He didn't get it. Instead he got one at
the end of the week, and its contents
did not satisfy his yearnings at all.
Arrived" read che epistle. Aunt
glad to see me. Dear old souli Cows,
calves, sheep and pigs. Also windmill.
Also strawberry shortcake. Have got
two freckles on my nose, and there is
an actor boarding at the next farm
house. L can hit frog with a stone
every time, and hope you are well.
That actor! Who was he? What
business had he there? Would he have
the cheek to scrape an acquaintance
with Mildred and tiatoer her that it
was her mission TO reform the soage?
He had never heard Mildred say
that she would like to become a great
acJress and give Sarah Burnhardt tips,
but throw her into the society of an
actor for two weeks and how would il
be? And there would be piano men,
sowing machine agenSs and tin ped
dlers driving around the country in
droves.
Mr.. stephen Hazleton stood it for
three days and then started out 20
have matters settled. He did not no
tify Miss Mildred Drew by letters, tele-
phone or wireless that he was coming
He just threw few things into a grip
and started off, He knew she left the
Grain at a village called Kalena, and
in time he reached the place. Only chen
did il occur to him that he didn't
know the aunt's name. He thoughS
Miss Mildred had talked about her
aunt Eliza, but that was no guide to
him now. There might be a dozen
Aunc Elias around there.
There had been a sort of reign of
terror around Kalem for the last three
weeks. Horses had been stolen,
houses entered and farmers held up on
the highway. The Sheriff and con-
stable had been very active, but had
..ccomphshed nothing. They had &C
complished nothing beause they had
not looked in the right direction. The
!. editor of the Kalem weekly said
they hadn't, and editors are always
ut about these things. Look for
someone that no one would suspect,
was his advice.
A constable was at the depot when
Mr.. Hazelton stepped off the train, he
being the only passenger to alight.
After a look around he leaned up
against the depot building.
Hal" whispered the constable.
Here was a man that no one would
suspect. He was a stranger, and he
had an honest look. According 20 the
editor, he should be the outlaw. He
didn't seem perturbed at sight of the
| officers nickel-plated star, but that
case of cheek. Indeed, he ad-
vanced with a laugh to say:
Il am looking for some one, and yet
don't know the name"
That's rather funny" replied the
officer as he felt 20 see if his handouts
were in the usual hind pocket
II admit it." smiled Stephen. "a