Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-13

thief had taken 1t.
The horrid wretch exclaimed O
fat lady in the next seat behind, re-
ferring TO the pickpocket.
My orders are" said the conductor,
Ito collect all fares"
But have no money to pay withT'
George gasped.
Sorry. but l can't help it. You'll
have to get off at the next station"
The conductor passed on. A sympa-
thetic murmur passed through the car.
The fat lady arose in her seat and adj
dressed the passengers. saying:
Some good for nothing, contempt-
bic creature has robbed this young
couple. taking their money and their
tickets. It's pity that they should
make so unfortunate n start on lifes
journey together. They must be help
ed out l have only SIS with me, which
I'll give them If you'n make up the
rest"
How much is needed" cried one
Hello, CONDUCTOR" called another.
whats the price of two tickets to
where these pigeons are going?"
Upon inquiry as to the couples desti-
nation the conductor said the fare
would be $12.40
hat was passed around and money
dropped in it till the requisite amount
was collected and poured into the lap
of the supposed bride. No one present
except George knew the real cause OF
the scarlet flag that was unfurled in
Myra's face. 1t was embarrassing to
be thought a bride when she was not
even engaged, but to accept of this bit
of wedding gift from strangers under
the circumstances was crucitying to
her sensitive nature Turning to the
fat lady who had befriended her she
said:
"Oh. dear, We're not q bridal couple
at all: we're not even engaged. The
rice throwing and all that was joke"
MY goodness graciousr' exclaimed
the fat lady loud enough to be heard
all over the car
whats the matter%' called a voice.
The real facts of the case gradually
became known to the passengers. Some
laughed; some-who had not contrib
uted-grunted that there was a swim
die in the caSe-confldence game. The
young couple were in agony. Some
one called out:
There's Just one way to fix It Let's
have a wedding
Bring a clergyman"
There's one. That man with his
collar buttoned on the back of his
neck"
LET him step forward"
The clergyman advanced. George
looked at Myra with sickly smile.
Myra says she doesn't believe she
was married at all. All she remem-
! bers was a buzzing in her ears, her
cheeks hot as a fiery furnace, a lot OF
excited passengers swimming before
her eyes. n man in clerical dress stand
ing before her reading something out
of book and George putting a ring on
her finger. though where he got it she
didn't know.
/, The ring was loaned by the fat lady
and was needed to Complete the cere-
mony, according to the ritual.
AS soon as the knot was tied and the
couple had submitted to the congratu-
lations of every passenger in the car,
the couple held a brief consultation, in
which it was decided to leave the train
i at the next station, returning the con-
tribution. except a small loan from the
fat lady for immediate expenses. They
would then telephone the fact of their
marriage and ask for funds with which
to make a real wedding tour. They
had scarcely agreed upon this and TAX
en- the fat lady's address when they
reached the station and made their exit
amid the cheers of those they left be-
hind.
Such is the account of the marriage
/. of George Guernsey and Myra Pulver.
1t is needless to say that when the
news of their sudden union reached
their home and their friends it created
/ a profound sensation. A few weeks
later they returned and found room
=, full of wedding presents awaiting
! them. Indeed, they were more liberal
| ly favored than if they had been mar
: ried in the usual conventional way.
l But it must not be expected that the
/ friends who had brought about the
marriage by their pointed attentions
at the station would be satisfied with
a ceremony to which they had not been
T invited The evening Of their return a
party, with the accession of a clergy
/ man. went to the residence Of the
brides parents where the couple were
: and declared that they would not go
away without a ceremony. Myra as
; scented. chose all the girls for brides
' maids. George chose the men for
! groomsmen. and the pair were married
a second time.
. George Guernsey. in telling the story,
never fails to thank the thief who
stole his pocketbook. He says that on
: coming back from the wedding tour he
found an old fame Of Myra's who had
returned from a long absence, and II
she hadn't been married this fellow
would surely have got her away from
. him. Myra always pooh-poohs this
whereupon her husband declares
"Wel then you would have died an
| Old maid. for you could never have
made up your mind to marry me"