Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-28
The Daily Story
SNATCHED FROM TIE BURNING-BY F. A. mitchell.
Copyrighted by AssoeIatel l,.erarr Bureau

my mother. who. If she could not In
duce me to break with my lover, at
least convinced me that If he was sim
cere he would ask me to be his wife.
So at last he did. but said that his
mother. who was living. would not
consent to the alliance. She was very
feeble and could last but n short time.
SO Harry persuaded me TO marry him
clandestinely.
When remember that was TO be
made the victim of n mock marriage |
realize how far l am now removed
from that age Such weddings were
then common method of victimizing
innocent girls. Now they are unheard
of. The little church where I met
Du Bots IS still standing, though the
persons who worship in it are much
changed. The ceremony was TO take
place at night, for l was pledged 10
keep it a secret from my parents.
remember that passed through a Sc
we're mental struggle before 1 could
bring myself TO deceive them. but I
tried to think of how proud they would
be when 1 was acknowledged as the
wife OF a wealthy and aristocratic
planter. Yet in my heart l knew that
l did not confide in them. for they
would surely prevent the marriage IL
they knew it was to take place.
1t was near midnight when got oCt
of my window on to the veranda and
descended by the limb Of a magnolia
tree that overhung It. I can see now
in the moonlight the manor house. the
negroes white cabins 1anking 1t, the
double row Of moss covered trees lead
ing TO the gate. l had scarcely reached
it when Harry clasped me in his arms.
My legs seemed about to give way be
meath me. and he carried me to a two
wheeled cart, placed me in 1t and drove
me TO the church. 1t was dark, the
reflected light of the moon only shin
ing from pane Of glass.
Some one opened a side door and
was led in, the moonlight streaming
through gothic windows. to the chancel.
There stood a clergyman in his vest
ments. A lamp such as is used to
throw a light on a sermon alone was
burning low. He turned 1t up, its light
falling on a prayer book. Then he be-
gan to read the marriage service. He
| constantly stumbled. But so far as
was able to take cognizance of this
/ attributed it to haste. He came TO the
| part where an opportunity is given to
! enter a protest against the marriage.
/ when a voice from behind said:
Don't make a noise, gentlemen. l
| got word OF your scheme this after
noon. You talked too loud at the st.
I4eger tavern. On the young lady's &c
| count this affair must be kept quiet.
! Du Bots, you are villain of the deep
est dye AS for you, Markham, you are
beneath contempt"
These words sounded in my ears as
If they came from a distance. Others
were spoken. but l don't remember
them Then the same voice spoke TO
me, the light fell for moment on the
speakers features, and saw Courtney
Carroll.
"Will you permit me to get you
home? 1 Will try to do so without your
return being known"
| knew now that l had been tricked
and that L had been saved. l put my
trembling hand on Carroll's arm and
left the church with him. When / got
home was too weak to ascend to my
room as l had come down from it, and
Carroll climbed the magnolia. went
into my room. stepped downstairs and
opene! the door for me. l reached my
chamber without arousing any one.
The next morning l deferred going
downstairs till all had breakfasted.
When | entered the dining room. pale
and trembling, Susan, the servant, said
TO me:
Laws a-massy, Missy Alice. hab 20
hearn de awful newsP
NO. For heavens sake, what Is
it,"
Dis mawnin' about sun up Marse
Courtney Carroll and Marse Harry Du
Bots nit duel. and Marse Carroll done
got pretty nigh killed"
How ] bore this second blow I can
not conceive. 1t took Susan but a
/ moment to hurl the shaft. but the pain
| l suffered Is with me today, an old
woman.
| Courtney Carroll fingered for several
days, then died. Shortly before his
death he sent for me to come to him.
| was carried there in n benumbed
state of feeling and received by his
father l can see to this day on his
face the look of loving sympathy and
distress at his approaching loss. He
J led, or rather supported, me to his
sons chamber and left me there, all
others having gone out at my arrival.
Pardon ny interference in your at
fair" he said. Had l not known
you were to be made a victim I would
, have left you to do as you liked.
: have sent for you not only 20 apollo
2 gize for my interference. but to con-
fess to you that ever since your com
ing here two years ago I have been
] battling with n desire to become 6
} sutton for your hand. Why l was de
tered from doing so need not b.
mentioned. | was about to yield wher
: learned that Du Bots had stepped II
: before me. That is all. / preferred
! that you should know that had NOR,
: than an ordinary reason for becoming
: four champion