Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-22

was half minded to stop the ma,
ter where IL was, but when We a..
half minded we are as liable to decida
wrong as right I drove On TO the ma,
sonage and pulled up before the door
go in." she said, "and see ~ ,bar
are all there; then come back for me y
| "Hadn't you better go In with rne5,
asked.
mo; won't be married witbop,
Bess."
Always persuaded to what did No.
approve of. / went to the front door
rang the bell and was admitted 7
| found Arnold Brown waiting for M
but no Bessie Angel. Stepping to n.
telephone, I called up her home ara
asked for her. She came to the tsIa
phone, and 1 asked her why she us.
not at the parsonage. She replied tba,
she had not been certain from wba,
Lillian had said to her when they had
last met whether the wedding vvould
come Off or not. To this 1 expressed
surprise. After dialogue, very unsat.
fsfactory to me, it was agreed that sbs
should hold the wire while went ont
to Lillian, and II returned with a re.
quest from her friend TO come to the
parsonage she would come at once.
Setting down the receiver, ran out TO
the car.
It was where i had left II, but M
Lillian.
Ny heart went down Hike lead.
looked in every direction, though mot
expecting to see her. Flight was a At
ting climax to the vacillation she had
shown. 1 stood on the steps, wonder.
ing what to do.
When we are In hole we naturally
turn to something or some one to pull
us out. 1 thought Of Agnes Anterior.
My own judgment had been led so far ,
astray by Lillian that 1 could not at
once get it in working order 1 didn't
know what to do about Arnold Brown.
/ shrank from telling him / had been
left in the lurch by one was about to
make my life partner. Returning to
him, said:
ARNOLD, there is a hitch; wait here
till straighten IT out"
He saw that was fiurried and told
me to go slow; he would wait for me
there till the crack of doom. Hurrying
out, 1 drove to Agnes home, and fortu-
nate1y L found her there.
I told her the whole story.
udu LuTOWn myself Oh Il SOFA, ana
she sat down beside me, taking my
hand in hers soothingly.
1T seems to me-" she said, "that
there is nothing for. you to do but tell
the truth to your friend, Mr. Brown,
and that will end the matter"
81 dare say you're right, but would
rather do a six months term in state
prison than confess to him that have
been such fooP'-
1 stopped short, and for a few mo-
ments there was silence between US, at
the end Of which Agnes asked:
Has Mr.. Brown ever seem
Lillian? No"
'sPll tell you what I'll do for you.
You seem all cut up, and 1 would like
to help you out My law OF action is
the intent 1 will go with you to the
parsonage, marry you, and we will
have the marriage annulled at our
leisure"
Never in so short a space OF time
was a revelation made to any human
being. Here was woman, worthy Of
the devotion of the best man living
whom 1 had turned down for the
weakest It all came upon me with
force Clasping Agnes
In my arms, said: :.
cit will never be annulled with my
Fastening to phone, called up the
parsonage, got Arnold and said:
THE tangle is unraveled. 1 and the
bride will be with you presently"
In less than half an hour Agnes and
were in the parsonage. I introduced
her to Brown; then the clergyman was
called from his study and performed
the wedding ceremony, neither he nor
the single witness suspecting that in
twinkling there had been a change in
The bride.
After the ceremony there were still
several hours before the end Of the
day, and / drove my wife into the
country. What passed between US
could not be condensed within few
words. would not care TO give 1t II
t were possible. We settled cur mu-
ual affairs to the satisfaction of both.
Agnes confessipg before our return
hat when I told her OF my engage
nent I gave her a shock since she had
llways wished me for herself And so
turned out that instead OF getting
,irl who was not worthy of me got
me of whom / was not worthy. we
arranged our affairs so that no one
would be shocked at the hastiness OF
ur marriage and in due time appeared
,efore the world as man and wife.
Lillian Gray is married TO very
Wealthy man. Whether or not she re-
-rets me don't know, but doubt II
he realized the weakness she display
d In her relations with me- Agnes
avs that lillian is so wrapped up 10
be world of fashion that she doubtless
,oks upon her affair with me as mar
ow escape from a very foolish move
hove that would have condemned her
D a humdrum life.
Nav % - American