Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-29

Hongkong. China. went out there to
live. He prospered, but somehow new
er reached a point where he felt salts
fed with his exile. 1t occurred to him
that If he were married he would cease
to be constantly pining for home and be
content Ito wait before returning to
America till he could make himself
financially independent
As to marrying a Chinese woman.
that was not TO be thought of. The
English women he met in China he did
not fancy. and there were very few
Americans there. 1t would be next to
impossible for him TO return home. and
even if he could do so to make such q
trip for the purpose of marrying wife
with no woman in view would be ab-
surd. 1t occurred TO him that he might
open a correspondence with some one
of the girls he had known before his
departure for China. which might rip
en- into. if not love, at least u matri-
monial arrangement that would bring
love after marriage.
Almost every young man who has ex-
lied himself can think of some girl he
has left behind him whom he would
prefer TO others. Southmayd had look
ed with a kindly eye upon Julia Court
ney. the sister Of an intimate friend of
his. He had never made love to her.
nor had she shown any special prefer
ence for him. Nevertheless if she
could be induced-for the sake of a
home. if nothing more-to come out to
China and marry him he was perfectly
ready to fulfill his part of such a plan
himself.
So he sat down and wrote her broth
er Stephen long letter. telling him
about his prospects. the life he led. etc,
and asking him to reply, giving him all
the home news. In his letter be adopt
ed method common with women7he
put the principal part of it in a post
script:
II you haven't time to write me the home
news please ask your sister to take pity
on a poor exile and do 1t for you.
| Whether or not Julia had an inkling
of what this meant when her brother
showed her the postscript and said TO
her that what Southmayd wanted she
could do better than he, she said. she
! would see about it, and in time wrote
/ ten or twelve pages of home news, a
part of which was rather home gossip.
and sent it off over the waters to Err
nest Southmayd.
In due time the plan worked out as
the recipient had intended. After writ
ing for time on general topics South
mayd began to hint ut what he wished
/ for. and Julia. being practical person,
helped him on by writing what might
mean nothing or might mean q great
deal.
The truth is Julia was twenty-four
years of age. No matrimonial rain
cloud had appeared in the sky, and she
began to fear perpetual drought
After months of correspondence she
not only consented to marry South.
mayd. but agreed to so to China fol
that purpose.
BY the time the young woman start
ed on her journey. which. If not n bird
al trip, was at least trip for the pur
pose of becoming a bride. eleven
months had elapsed since the CORE
spondence had been opened. From
practical planning Southmayd had
worked himself up to fever heat. The
last letters he wrote to Julia to reach
her before she sailed were almost low
er-like She would proceed all the way
by water. crossing the Atlantic. sailing
the length of the Mediterranean. thence
through the Suez canal to eastern wa
tiers.
Southmayd counted every day til
she was due to arrive in HongkOng
When the ship came in he was on hant
to meet her: but, though he watched
for her among the passengers to come
ashore. he saw nothing of her Wher
the last person had passed him he fel
sure that he had seen every woman!
face but one. That one woman wa
yelled and was attended by an Eng
lishman in army uniform.
The groom expectant was surprised
appalled,. What did it mean? Board
ing the steamer. he asked the purser +
the name of Julia Courtney appeared
ON the passenger list. He was inform
cd that a passenger by that name haC
been transferred from a ship sailin.
from New York to Naples. but she has
been married soon after passing on
from the Suez canal to Captain Clap
ham of the Seventyflrst regiment o
British foot
Southmayd reeled. Something wa
surely wrong.
why" he said. Miss Julia Courtne.
came from New York to marry me"'
The purser looked at the disappoint
ed man pityingly. My dear SIR" HI
said. you're not the first man witt
has expected a bride and found one
the bride of another. I've been on tn,
salt water many years. and there
something about II that draws thu
sexes together. I've seen young WON
en- start out to be missionaries anC
turned into wives before reaching port
And can count up a number of won
en- during my sen life that have gon
out TO marry certain men and go
switched of with others during tn
voyage"
Southmayd went home greatly dis
appointed. For year he had beel
planning TO bring out n wife for him
self, only to nave ner snapped up U
another before he could get her I