Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1913-06-20

the medium height. The latter threw
off his coat and stood In an appropriate
costume for fight. The guardian tool
no notice of him, but caught the gir
by an arm and began to pull her to
ward the door, when the groom at
tracted his attention by blow on the
jaw. The other dropped the girl an(
went for his assailant like bull aftel
red cloth.
The fight lasted ten minutes. The
guardian, though he had plenty of mus
Gle, knew nothing about boxing The
groom, on the contrary, had evidently
been taking lessons in that art, for he
kept out of the way of his opponents
blows and now and again got in one
himself.
The Others stood looking on, the girl
with intense eagerness. for she felt
that her fate depended on the result
of the struggle. Once back in her
guardians hands, he might defy the
law. Every time he made lunge for
her husband she gasped. and every
time her husband got in a blow she
danced for joy. The landlord, fearing
that the woman was really lunatic,
did not care to mix himself up in the
matter. and the parson was man Of
peace
Evidently the younger contestant
was In training for some athletic
event. or perhaps his devotion to his
wheel gave him endurance, for as his
stouter opponent lost his wind the 9th
er gained his own. But matters were
still undecided when the latter got In
blow under the chin that threw his
antagonist backward. He fell on the
floor and, hitting his head against an
oaken chair. lay quiet
Come" said the wife; "let us be off
before he gets on his feet again."
Leaving the fallen man to the care
of the landlord and the parson, the
groom lifted his wife on to her horse.
and, getting on his bicycle, in this in
congruous fashion they rode away.
isn't this too ridiculous for any
thing?" said the bride. IF it were not
a matter possibly Of life or death with
me believe should laugh"
"A prancing steed and bike with a
croak in the rear wheel aren't a well
matched team, are they?"
They had not gone far before horse
man was seen galloping toward them.
When they met he reined in and they
also stopped.
81 feared would be too late," said
the newcomer.
"You are too late" said the girl.
''What do you meanT
"ln order to escape my guardian
was obliged to take husband. This
gentleman kindly offered to help me
out"
Maud" exclaimed the man, you
don't mean to tell me that you are
married!'
"Married-not fifteen minutes ago.
Why were you not at the Antlers when
l arrivedT
II thought had plenty of time"
"What you thought doesn't help
matters. Had 1t not been for this gen.
tleman-my husband-I would now be
going back to my place Of imprison-
ment"
You must get divorce"
"If do don't know that I'll marry
you
"Maudw reproachfully.
"See here" interrupted the groom,
"where do 1 come in in this business"
You don't come In at ALL" said the
other man angrily. "You go out"
perhaps | shall, but I've licked one
man for my bride, and before l give
her up I'll lick another"
"We'll see about that" said the other
savagely, throwing himself Off his
horse. He was angry with himself for
having been too late, and a man angry
with himself is prone to be angry with
every one else. He stalked up to the
groom, who was standing by his wheel,
and, shaking his fist in his face,
growled:
you'll help annul this marriage or
I'll break every bone in your body"
Harry exclaimed Maud. You are
acting like a fool. You can't bring
about an annulment that way"
But before the last word was spoken
Harry and the impromptu husband
were pummeling each other unmerci-
fully. Harry, whose tardiness had oc-
CURED from having stopped at a road
house to refresh himself, was by no
means in the condition of his enemy
and was knocked out in half the time
required to do the guardian. After a
fall he rried to rise, but, failing, sat in
the road covered with dust and blood,
the latter from his nose.
"Now, my dear wife," said the hus-
band. consider yourself free to go
with this gentleman or with me
Which do you prefer"
She looked at the spectacle sitting in
the road, then at her champion.
"You-for the present at least"
Again the bIcyclist mounted his
wheel. and the two, leaving the discom-
6ted man, proceeded on their wedding
journey. Looking back. they saw him
limplng toward his horse
The improvised husband turned out
to be a wealthy young man who was
about entering upon bis worlds work.
After a season he and bis wife agreed
to stop certain annulment proceedings
that had been started and went on a
new wedding tour But this time It
was not in the ridiculous fashion Of a
horse and a bicycle. They took a par
Ior car.
Reform should be conducted In
81